Antero Lehtonen
Antero Lehtonen ( born April 12, 1954 in Tampere ) is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey player who has played in its active period from 1971 to 1987, including for the Washington Capitals in the National Hockey League. His brother Erkki Lehtonen was also a professional hockey player.
Career
Antero Lehtonen started his career as a hockey player in his hometown at Tappara Tampere, for the first team he in the SM- sarja and in 1975 its successor league SM- liiga was active from 1971 to 1976 initially. With Tappara he cashed in the season 1974/75 the Finnish championship and in 1974 and 1976 respectively vice-champion with his team. Subsequently, the winger moved to Tapparas League rival TPS Turku, with whom he his former club Tappara in playoff finals defeated in the 1976/77 season. After spending the 1978/79 season again in Tampere at Tappara with which he was champion for the second time, he signed on 16 September 1979, as a free agent contract with the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League. For this he came in the 1979/80 season to nine goals and twelve templates in 65 NHL games. In addition, he stood in four games for their farm team, the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, on the ice.
After a year in North America Lehtonen returned to his home club Tappara Tampere, with whom he again was runner-up in 1981. This was followed by a further three years at TPS Turku and in the season 1981/82 another runner. Finally, the former Finnish international joined the second division JYP HT, with whom he immediately ascended into the SM- liiga in 1985. At JYP he ended following the 1986/87 season at the age of 33 years of his career.
Internationally
For Finland took Lehtonen at the Junior World Cup in 1974, and the A World Championships 1977, 1979 and 1981 in part. At the World Championships he scored at senior level in 25 games and four goals were seven templates.