Rasmus Ristolainen
Rasmus Ristolainen ( born October 27, 1994, Turku, Finland ) is a Finnish professional ice hockey player on the position of the defender, who stands in July 2013 in the Buffalo Sabres in the National Hockey League under contract and in parallel for their farm team, the Rochester Americans, in the American Hockey League.
- 3.1 International
Career
Rasmus Ristolainen dates back to the junior level of TPS Turku. At the age of 16, he made his professional debut for TPS Turku in the Finnish SM- liiga. During the rest of the season he played mostly for U20 team of the club. However, during the playoffs the U18 championship he reinforced the U18 team.
In the season 2011/2012 played Ristolainen 40 games for the first team of TPS Turku. At the end of the season recorded Ristolainen three goals and five assists, had a minus -21 balance and 78 penalty minutes. Average he played during 16:33 minutes per game. In two playoff games in which he participated, he reached a minus - 2 balance. In eight games, which he took for the U20 team, he scored four assists (plus -4- balance sheet). During the KHL Junior Draft 2012, he was pulled in a total of 12 point.
In the 2012/13 season Ristolainen completed 52 appearances for the first team.
Ristolainen was the best scorer of the defenders of the team. He scored three goals and 12 assists, reaching a minus -7- balance and was occupied by a total of 32 penalty minutes; average while he played 21:40 minutes. At the Junior World Championships, he scored a total of two goals and four assists (plus -5 footprint ) during six games. During the playoffs the U20 team, where he completed five matches, he scored two goals and one assist (minus -5- accounts).
During the NHL Entry Draft in 2013, he was selected by the Buffalo Sabres to a total eighth.
Internationally
Ristolainen represented his native country with the Finnish U17 national team at the World U -17 Hockey Challenge in 2010 and 2011. During the 2011/12 season he played for Finland at the U18 and U20 World Championships. In the U-20 World Championship, he played in all seven games, where he recorded three assists ( plus-1 balance ). In the U18 World Cup, he was elected assistant captain and reached in seven games, scored two goals, one assist and ten penalty minutes.
In 2013 he played in the U20 World Youth Championship in Ufa, scored six points scorer, finishing with the U20 selection in seventh place. A year later, at the U20 World Youth Championship in Malmö, he scored a total of three goals. One of which he scored in extra time of the final against Sweden, and thus secured the gold medal for the Finnish U20 selection. In recognition of the services shown he was awarded as the best defender of the tournament and was elected to the All- Star team of the event.
Awards and achievements
- 2009 Finnish runner-up of the Junior C SM- sarja with TPS Turku
- 2011 Finnish runner-up of the Junior B SM- sarja with TPS Turku
- 2014 Gold medal at the U20 World Junior Championships
- 2014 All- Star Team and Best defender of the U20 World Junior Championships
Career Stats
Internationally
( Key to Career statistics: Sp or GP = Games Played, T or G = goals scored, V or A = achieved assists; Pts or Pts = scored points scorer, SM or PIM = received penalty minutes, / - = Plus / Minus balance sheet; PP = scored majority gates; SH = scored shorthanded goals, GW = achieved victory gates; Play-downs/Relegation 1 )