Stig Wetzell

Infobox Ice Hockey Player


played_for = SM-liiga
UPa
HJK
HIFK
league = SM-liiga
position = Goaltender
catches = Left
height_ft = 5
height_in = 11
weight_lb = 173
nickname = Stiiku
nationality = FIN
birth_date = birth date and age|1945|10|07
birth_place = Vaasa, FIN
draft =
draft_year =
draft_team =
career_start = 1967
career_end = 1983

Stig Wetzell (born October 7, 1945 in Vaasa, Finland) is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga. He played for HJK and HIFK.

Playing career

Stig Wetzell started his SM-liiga career in 1967. Wetzell played in SM-liiga for 16 years before retiring in 1983.

Wetzell won SM-liiga Championship twice, in 1974 and 1983. Wetzell played on both occasions for HIFK, which was his team for the most of his career.

1974 Doping Controversy

Wetzell's perhaps most infamous moment came when he was caught from doping during the 1974 Ice Hockey World Championship tournament in Finland. Doping testers caught Wetzell from having illegal amounts of Ephedrine on his urine sample.

Wetzell's positive A- and B-samples caused Finland to lose the 5-2 win of Czechoslovakia and lose 5-0 to Czechs. It is still muchly debated if Wetzell intentionally was using illegal substances or not. If Finland's 5-2 victory over Czechoslovakia had stayed, Finland would have won Bronze medals from the tournament

Wetzell received an International Competition ban from his doping in 1974 Championship Tournament.

Later on, Wetzell was apoligized by Finnish Ice Hockey Association and he was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004.

External links

* [http://www.tampere.fi/jaakiekkomuseo/players.htm Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame bio]