Juuso Riikola

Juuso Riikola
Riikola with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2019
Born	(1993-11-09) 9 November 1993 (age 31) Joensuu, Finland
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	189 lb (86 kg; 13 st 7 lb)
Position	Defence
Shoots	Left
NL team Former teams	SCL Tigers KalPa Pittsburgh Penguins IK Oskarshamn
National team	Finland
NHL draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2012–present

Juuso Riikola (born 9 November 1993) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing with SCL Tigers of the National League (NL). His brother, Simo-Pekka also played professionally.

Playing career

Riikola made his SM-liiga debut playing with KalPa as a 19-year-old during the 2012–13 SM-liiga season.[1] He dressed for 20 games while posting 6 assists from the blueline.

In his sixth season with KalPa in 2017–18, and while serving as an alternate captain, Riikola scored a career high 8 goals for 24 points in 59 games.

On 17 May 2018, as an undrafted free agent, Riikola signed a one-year, entry-level deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL for a reported $925,000.[2] He made his NHL debut on 11 October 2018 against the Vegas Golden Knights at PPG Paints Arena.[3] Riikola recorded his first career NHL point, an assist, on 28 November against the Colorado Avalanche.[4] He scored his first NHL goal on 29 December 2018 against the St. Louis Blues.[5]

On 30 May 2019, the Penguins re-signed Riikola to a one-year, one-way contract extension worth $850,000.[6] On 16 October 2019, against the Colorado Avalanche, Riikola played as a left winger due to injuries to several Penguins forwards.[7]

On 5 September 2020, the Penguins signed Riikola to a two-year, $2.3 million extension.[8]

After four seasons within the Penguins organization and as a pending free agent, Riikola opted to return to Europe in securing a one-year contract with Swedish club, IK Oskarshamn of the SHL, on 25 May 2022.[9]

International play

Riikola played for the Finland national team at the 2018 IIHF World Championship.[10]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2010–11	KalPa	Jr. A		28	3	7	10	24		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	KalPa	Jr. A		37	4	9	13	65		8	2	1	3	6
2012–13	KalPa	Jr. A		14	2	3	5	12		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	KalPa	SM-l		20	0	6	6	6		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	KalPa	Liiga		54	1	4	5	28		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	KalPa	Jr. A		6	0	2	2	10		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	KalPa	Liiga		40	6	8	14	24		4	1	0	1	25
2014–15	KalPa	Jr. A		1	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	KalPa	Liiga		51	5	10	15	24		3	0	1	1	2
2016–17	KalPa	Liiga		59	6	19	25	28		18	1	6	7	4
2017–18	KalPa	Liiga		59	8	16	24	14		6	0	1	1	4
2018–19	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		37	2	3	5	10		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		5	0	2	2	0		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		36	1	6	7	6		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		2	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		53	1	34	35	24		6	0	0	0	0
2021–22	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		5	0	1	1	2		—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	IK Oskarshamn	SHL		42	2	17	19	16		2	0	0	0	0
2023–24	SCL Tigers	NL		43	3	14	17	20		—	—	—	—	—
Liiga totals				283	26	63	89	124		31	2	8	10	35
NHL totals				80	3	10	13	18		—	—	—	—	—

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2013	Finland	WJC	7th		6	0	1	1	4
2018	Finland	WC	5th		8	0	2	2	4
2024	Finland	WC	8th		8	1	1	2	4
Junior totals					6	0	1	1	4
Senior totals					16	1	3	4	8

References

1. "2012–13 KalPa player statistics". Eliteprospects.com. 28 March 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
2. "Penguins sign defenseman Juuso Riikola". Pittsburgh Penguins. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
3. Bombulie, Jonathan (12 October 2018). "Penguins defenseman Juuso Riikola earns rave reviews for NHL debut". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
4. Hallikainen, Topi (29 November 2018). "NHL-kierroksen topit ja flopit: Riikola saalisti ensimmäisen NHL-tehopisteensä Crosbyn hattutempussa, Matthews palasi säkenöivänä". jatkoaika.com (in Finnish). Retrieved 29 November 2018.
5. @Penguins (29 December 2018). "GOAL! JUUSO RIIKOLA! You never forget your first. Congratulations, Juuso! The Penguins lead 2-0 with 14:47 remaining in the 2nd period" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
6. "Penguins Re-Sign Juuso Riikola to a One-Year Contract". Pittsburgh Penguins. 30 May 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
7. "Tanev OT goal helps Penguins hand Avalanche first loss of season". NHL.com.
8. "Penguins Re-Sign Defenseman Juuso Riikola to a Two-Year Contract". Pittsburgh Penguins. 5 September 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
9. "Juuso Riikola joins from Pittsburgh Penguins organization" (in Swedish). IK Oskarshamn. 25 May 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
10. "Nämä Liiga-pelaajat mukana Leijonien MM-kisamiehistössä". liiga.fi.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database