Hannu Virta

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
position = Defence
shot =
height_ft = 6
height_in = 0
weight_lb = 180
nickname = Hantta
prospect_team =
prospect_league =
nationality = FIN
birth_date = Birth date and age|1963|3|22|mf=y
birth_place = Turku, FIN
career_start = 1981
career_end = 1998
draft = 38th overall
draft_year = 1981
draft_team = Buffalo Sabres
played_for = SM-liiga
TPS
NHL
Buffalo Sabres
Nationalliga A
ZSC Lions
Nationalliga B
Grasshopper Zürich

Hannu Virta (born March 22, 1963, in Turku, Finland) is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman. He was named the best defenceman in the Finnish Elite League (SM-liiga) four times, and was a five-time all-star. He also won the Jarmo Wasama memorial trophy as rookie of the year in 1981-82. [http://www.azhockey.com/]

Virta was drafted in the second round, 38th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft. He played 245 National Hockey League games with the Sabres over five seasons, scoring 25 goals and adding 101 assists. He also appeared in 17 playoff games with Buffalo, scoring one goal and tallying three assists.

He returned to the SM-liiga in Finland in 1986, where he played for TPS Turku until 1994, as well as in 1996-97. He helped his team win the league championship three consecutive years beginning in 1988-89. In 461 league games, he scored 68 goals and 213 assists for 281 points. He also played in Switzerland, in the Swiss B League with the GCK Lions from 1994 to 1996 and in the Swiss A League with the ZSC Lions in 1997-98. [http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=3351]

Internationally, Virta won a bronze medal at the Under-20 World Junior Championships in 1982. As an adult, he won a bronze medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics playing for Finland's national ice hockey team. He played at seven IIHF World Championships, winning gold in 1995 and silver in 1994, and leading the tournament in assists in 1996. He also played in the 1987 Canada Cup and 1996 World Cup of Hockey. [http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=3351]

Virta's number 23 was retired by TPS Turku. He coached in the SM-liigga with the Espoo Blues from 2003-04, and as of 2008, he coaches for his old team TPS. [http://www.nordictrophy.com/teams.php]

External links

*