39-year-old Petri Kontiola returns to the hockey SM league, even though he ended his career already once in the spring.
Petri Kontiola39, has signed a contract for the rest of the season with Tampere Tappara, who plays in the hockey SM league.
Kontiola already had time to end his career last spring in Ilves, but now he is returning to Tappara after a 16-year break. Kontiola’s contract will come into force at the start of the international break in November.
Kontiola already hinted during the summer that his playing career was not necessarily over. The return was finally confirmed in October.
– It was finally confirmed a week, two, ago. We talked to the coach Richard (Grönborg) and then we pretty much agreed on things, Kontiola states in the press release.
In his career, the familiar from Leijon has also played a few games in the NHL, but in the end, despite two attempts, his career in North America never opened.
Kontiola has spoken many times in interviews about how he would like to experience a championship in hockey. So far, he has only played once in the finals in his club team career with the KHL club Traktor Chelyabinsk. The series ended in defeat.
In the national team, Kontiola has achieved three World Championship silvers, one World Championship bronze and Olympic bronze.
– It is clear that we are going to chase the championship here, says Kontiola.
Age: 39
Breeders’ association: S-Puck
Revival: Tappara (2003–2007), Chicago Blackhawks, NHL and Rockford IceHogs, AHL (2007–2009), Metallurg Magnitogorsk, KHL (2009–2011), Traktor Chelyabinsk, KHL (2011–2014), Toronto Marlies, AHL (2014), Lokomotiv Jaroslavl, KHL (2014–2019), Jokerit, KHL (2019–2020), HPK (2020–21), Ilves (2021–23).
Track record: three World Cup silvers, World Cup bronze, Olympic bronze, WC bronze. 2013 World Cup home games best striker and point exchange winner.