Teemu Riihijärvi

Teemu Riihijärvi (* March 1, 1977 in Espoo ) is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey player. During his career he played between 1993 and 2006 in the Finnish SM- liiga for the Espoo Blues, Lukko Rauma, the Pelicans Lahti and Jokerit Lapeenranta and for Södertälje SK in the Swedish Elitserien

Career

Riihijärvi played in 1993 at the age of 16 years, his first games with the Espoo Blues in the Finnish top league, the SM- liiga. In 1995 he participated in the Under-18 European Junior Championships in 1995, winning the gold medal. Because of his great talent at that time the San Jose Sharks selected him after two seasons in Finland at the age of 18 years in the NHL Entry Draft in 1995 in the first round to 12th position, but the Finn first played until 1997 for the Blues. In the following seasons, he moved within the Finnish League several times and played so until the end of the season 2002/ 03 for Lukko Rauma, the Pelicans Lahti and Jokerit Lapeenranta.

Before the season 2003/ 04 Riihijärvi signed a two year contract with the Swedish Elitserienklub Södertälje SK. After the end of the contract he returned to Finland to his original club, the Espoo Blues, back. There he finished after the 2005/06 season his 13 - year professional career. Riihijärvi despite his early selection in the NHL Entry Draft never played one game in the National Hockey League.