Pekka Rautakallio
Pekka Rautakallio ( born July 25, 1953 in Pori ) is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey player and current coach, who in his active years from 1970 to 1989, among other things for the Atlanta Flames and Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League, and the Phoenix Roadrunners in who has played World Hockey Association. He was most recently between 2011 and November 2012 the head coach at Dinamo Riga.
Career
As a player
Pekka Rautakallio began his career as a hockey player in his hometown at Ässät Pori, for he held until 1975 in the SM- sarja was active from 1970 and in the 1970/71 season was the first time Finnish Champion. From 1975 to 1977 the defender played for the Phoenix Roadrunners in the World Hockey Association, before he returned for two further years Ässät Pori in the newly established SM- liiga. On June 5, 1979, he signed as a free agent contract with the Atlanta Flames of the National Hockey League. After the franchise was relocated to Calgary in Canada a year later, the Finn also played two seasons for Atlanta's successor team Calgary Flames.
For the 1982/83 season signed a contract with HIFK Helsinki Rautakallio from the SM- liiga, with the second time in his career he won the Finnish championship in the same season. His active career ended the links Sagittarius at SC Rapperswil -Jona, for which he Swiss National League B, he stood on the ice from 1987 to 1989.
After the Rautakallio Pekka - Rautakallio trophy for the best defender of the SM- liiga is named, which he himself received three times.
Internationally
For Rautakallio Finland took part in the World Championships 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1983. In addition, he was in the squad Finland to the Canada Cup in 1976 and 1981.
As a coach
After his career end Rautakallio began working as a hockey coach. In the 1990/91 season, he was responsible for the Under-18 Junior of Kiekko Espoo. Between 1993 and 1998 he was head coach of the SC Rapperswil -Jona and led it out of the National League B in the National League A. Before the following season he was introduced as the new coach of the Espoo Blues, but at the end of November 1998 released.
In the seasons 1999/2000 and 2000/ 01 he was responsible for the SC Bern of the National League A. From 13 November 2001 until March 20, 2003 was Rautakallio full-time coach of the ZSC Lions.
From the mid- season 2004 /05 sparked Rautakallio Hannu Virta as head coach at the Espoo Blues from, but returned again in 2005 to return to Switzerland and was until 2007 the head coach of HC Ambri -Piotta. His successor at the HCAP was Larry Huras.
In the 2009/10 season he coached their league rivals Ässät Pori, before he was hired in April 2011 from Dinamo Riga. In November 2012 Rautakallio was dismissed after a series defeat of Dinamo.