Jani Rita
Jani Rita Markus (born 25 July 1981 in Helsinki ) is a Finnish professional ice hockey player who is since 2006 in Helsinki Jokerit in the Finnish SM- liiga under contract.
- 2.1 International
Career
Jani Rita began his career as a hockey player with Jokerit Helsinki, for which he was active from 1997 to 2001 in the SM- liiga. The capital club 1998 when he was third in the Finnish championship in 2000 and Finnish runner. During this time he was also selected in the NHL Entry Draft in 1999 in the first round as the 13th overall player of the Edmonton Oilers, for whom he made his debut in the National Hockey League in the 2001/ 02 season. However, he was just in a game was on the ice, where he remained no points. In the following two seasons, the Finn was only used sporadically in the NHL team the Oilers and played mainly for their farm team of the American Hockey League, the Hamilton Bulldogs and Toronto Roadrunners.
During the lockout in the 2004/ 05 NHL season Rita returned as a free agent in his Finnish homeland, where he finished in third place with HPK Hämeenlinna. Subsequently, the Edmonton Oilers took him back under contract, but the charges him already on 26 January 2006 together with defender Cory Cross to the Pittsburgh Penguins. In return, the Swede Dick Tärnström joined the Canadian metropolis. After the season, the attacker was obliged by his former club Jokerit Helsinki, for which he has performed since then and with which he was runner-up in 2007.
Internationally
For Finland, Rita took the U20 World Junior Championships in 1999, 2000 and 2001, as well as the World Championships in 2005 and 2006 in part.
Awards and achievements
- 2000 Finnish runner with Jokerit Helsinki
- 2005 Raimo - Kilpiö Trophy
- 2007 Finnish runner with Jokerit Helsinki
- 2007 Aarne - Honkavaara Trophy
Internationally
- 2001 Silver medal at the U20 World Junior Championships
- 2001 All- Star team U-20 World Youth Championship
- 2006 bronze medal at the World Championships
NHL stats
(End of season 2010/11)