Heikki Riihiranta

Infobox Ice Hockey Player


played_for = SM-liiga
HIFK
WHA
Winnipeg Jets
league = SM-l
position = Defence
shoots = Left
height_ft = 5
height_in = 10
weight_lb = 185
nickname = Hexi
nationality = FIN
birth_date = birth date and age|1948|10|04
birth_place = Helsinki, FIN
draft =
draft_year =
draft_team =
career_start = 1967
career_end = 1983

Heikki Riihiranta (born October 4, 1948 in Helsinki, Finland) is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga and World Hockey Association.

Playing career

Career in Finland

Riihiranta started out his career as an Forward in Helsinki club HIFK but was moved to play Defence by then HIFK Player-Coach and former NHL'er Carl Brewer.

Riihiranta had a good career in Finland and was one of the premier players for the National Team at his time.

Career in WHA

Heikki Riihiranta was one of the first Finns move to play in North America.

Riihiranta played for 3 full seasons in Winnipeg Jets, a Canadian WHA team.

After his retirement as a player in 1983, he was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991 for his doings as a player.

Non-Playing Career

Team Manager for Finnish National Team

In 1993, Heikki Riihijärvi was named as the Team Manager for Finnish National Ice Hockey Team.

During his time, Riihiranta worked with 3 different Head Coaches. The coaches were: Pentti Matikainen, Curt Lindström and Hannu Aravirta.

Riihiranta had his finest moment when he shed tears in the players bench after Finland won the World Championships over Sweden in 1995.

Riihiranta retired from his position after the 2003 Ice Hockey World Championship's.