Tapio Levo
Tapio Levo (* September 24, 1955 in Pori ) is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey player who in his playing days from 1972 to 1993 played Devils in the National Hockey League, among others, for the Colorado Rockies and New Jersey.
Career
Tapio Levo began his career as a hockey player in his hometown in the junior level of Ässät Pori, for the first team, he was its successor league SM- liiga, active from 1972 to 1981, first in the SM- sarja and 1975. Pori with the defender won in season 1977/78 for the first and only time in his career, the Finnish Championship. In the following two seasons, he failed each with his team in the playoff finals. During his time at Ässät Pori the national team had been selected in the NHL Amateur Draft 1975 in the eighth round when a total of 139 players from the Pittsburgh Penguins, for which, however, he never played.
On July 8, 1981 Levo signed as a free agent contract with the Colorado Rockies, where he made his debut in the National Hockey League in the 1981/82 season. He scored in his rookie year in 34 games nine goals and had 13 assists. When the team was relocated after this season to New Jersey, the Finn remained in the franchise and was in the 1982/83 season only European key players in the newly formed New Jersey Devils. From 1983 to 1992, the Olympian from 1980 was again at Ässät Pori under contract by which he was defeated in the 1983/84 season in the playoff finals Tappara Tampere. In the 1989/90 season with his team, he managed to direct re-emergence of the second-rate I divisioona after relegation last year. His career ended the former NHL player at the age of 37 years following the 1992/93 season, in which he had stood at JHT Kalajoki from the I divisioona and HPK Hämeenlinna under contract. With HPK he lost also TPS Turku in the playoff finals.
Internationally
For Levo Finland took part in the World Championships 1976, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1983. In addition, he was in the squad Finland at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.