Tommi Santala
Tommi Santala (* June 27, 1979 in Helsinki ) is a Finnish professional ice hockey player. He currently plays in Switzerland for the Kloten Flyers in the National League A.
- 2.1 International
Career
Tommi Santala began his career as a professional player in 1998 with Jokerit Helsinki after he had there through the junior sections. In the NHL Entry Draft in 1999, he was selected by the Atlanta Thrashers in the ninth round at a total of 245 point. However Santala remained in Finland and moved during the 1999/00 season to league rivals HPK Hämeenlinna.
After three good and a bad year at the club he dared to step 2003 to North America. He played 33 games in the National Hockey League for the Atlanta Thrashers, where he scored one goal and two assists. However, most of the time he spent in the American Hockey League for the Chicago Wolves, so also the season 2004/05. For the 2005/06 season he returned to Jokerit Helsinki since loaned him the Thrashers there so he did not have to spend again in the AHL the last year of his contract. After the season Atlanta transferred his rights to the Vancouver Canucks, who brought him back to North America. But he made the final breakthrough again not because it failed due to a knee injury last. After a season with the Canucks and their farm team, the Manitoba Moose, he returned again to Jokerit Helsinki, as his contract had expired. He played his best season with 58 points scorer, prompting many European clubs showed interest in him. Finally, he signed a contract with the Kloten Flyers of the Swiss National League A.
Internationally
Santala participated with the Finnish national team at the World Ice Hockey Championships in 2003 and 2006. He was able to win the bronze medal in 2006. Another success was the first place in the Karjala Cup 2002. Moreover, he played at junior level at the Junior World Championship in 1999.
Career Stats
Internationally
Represented Finland at:
- U20 Junior World Championship 1999
- 2003 World Cup
- World Cup 2006
- World Cup 2009
- World Cup 2010
( 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 )