Reijo Ruotsalainen
Reijo Juhani " Rexi " Ruotsalainen ( born April 1, 1960 in Oulu ) is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey player who played from 1981 to 1990 for the New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers and New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League.
Career
His career began in 1979 with Ruotsalainen Kärpät Oulu, with whom he won the 1981 Finnish Champion title. Already at the NHL Entry Draft 1980, the New York Rangers had selected him as 119. On October 5, 1981 Reijo Ruotsalainen played at New York's Madison Square Garden in front of 17,000 spectators his first NHL game. The Detroit Red Wings were defeated 5-1, with Ruotsalainen contributed an assist.
The Finn played more than 500 games in the NHL. This for the New York Rangers, the New Jersey Devils and the Edmonton Oilers, with whom he won the Stanley Cup twice. After four seasons followed at SC Bern ( 1986/87; 1990/91 and 1991/ 92) with three Swiss league titles and one season in Sweden with HV 71 Jönköping. The 1995-96 season, he played with the Zurich Ice Club ( ZSC Lions ) and finished after his active career.
Between 2007 and 2012 Ruotsalainen was hired as an assistant coach for the EC Red Bull Salzburg, with whom he repeatedly won the Austrian championship in the subsequent period.
Awards and achievements
- Stanley Cup winner: twice with the Edmonton Oilers
- Swiss champion: three times with the SC Bern
- Finnish Champion, once with Kärpät Oulu
- Olympics: 1988 silver medal with Finland in Calgary
- A total of 122 caps for Finland
- Lynces Academici Defenceman Award ( SM- liiga 79-80 )
- Best Defender (U20 World Cup 1980, SM- liiga 1979/80, 1980/81 )
- All-Star Team (SM- liiga 1979/80, 1980/81; U20 World Cup 1980 Izvestia Cup 80; NLA 1992/93 )
- NHL All-Star Game ( 85-86 )
- Foreign -player All star team 1991-92
- IIHF Continental Cup win with the EC Red Bull Salzburg ( as assistant coach )