Waltteri Immonen

Infobox Ice Hockey Player


image_size =
position = Defence
shoots = Left
height_ft = 5
height_in = 8
weight_lb = 171
nickname = Wade
played_for = Jokerit
nationality = FIN
birth_date = birth date and age|1967|04|3
birth_place = Helsinki, FIN
draft =
draft_year =
draft_team =
career_start = 1987
career_end = 1999

Waltteri Immonen (b. 3.4.1967 in Helsinki, Finland) is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman and former coach of SM-liiga team Jokerit.

Playing career

Immonen started his playing career in Helsingin Jokerit, an Ice Hockey team from Helsinki. Immonen played his first full season for Jokerit during the 1988-89 1. division league of ice hockey in Finland. Immonen led the defence of Jokerit and played alongside with players like Teemu Selänne, Ari Sulander, Mika Strömberg and during the 1994-95 NHL lockout he was joined by NHL-star Jari Kurri and for the second time Teemu Selänne. Immonen was appointed as the Captain of Jokerit in the beginning of 1991-92 SM-liiga season by then head coach Boris Majorov. Immonen won the SM-liiga 4 times as the captain of Jokerit and was also winning the 1995 European Cup with Jokerit. Immonen retired after 1998-99 SM-liiga season. Immonen's playing number 24 is currently retired by Jokerit in honour of his services as the longtime captain of the team.

Coaching career

After retiring, Immonen soon became the Team Manager of Jokerit and after Hannu Jortikka left, Immonen was named the as the new Head Coach of Jokerit. After a poor start, Immonen was fired from his position but remained in the club in the role of Coach. Immonen was part of the Jokerit coaching staff until 2008, when he followed the departing Doug Shedden to Nationalliga A team EV Zug where he will start out as an assistant coach to Shedden.