Jani Markus Rita (born July 25, 1981) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey winger who last played with Jokerit of the Russian KHL, for whom he played most of his career.[1]

Jani Rita
Rita with Jokerit in 2011
Born (1981-07-25) July 25, 1981 (age 42)
Helsinki, Finland
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 209 lb (95 kg; 14 st 13 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for Jokerit
Edmonton Oilers
HPK
Pittsburgh Penguins
National team  Finland
NHL Draft 13th overall, 1999
Edmonton Oilers
Playing career 1998–2016

Playing career edit

Despite limited NHL experience, Rita has played extensively in the American Hockey League and in the SM-liiga in his native Finland. Rita started his hockey career in a youth team of EKS (Espoon Kiekkoseura). He played his first seasons of pro hockey for Jokerit, Helsinki, and was drafted 13th overall in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers.

Rita played for HPK in the SM-liiga during the 2004–05 NHL lockout, winning the bronze medal. That season he was awarded the Raimo Kilpiö trophy, and led the league in scoring during the playoffs. He also represented Finland at the 2005 World Hockey Championship, earning one assist. He had signed with Jokerit for the 2005–06 season with a contractual clause enabling him to return to the NHL. When the Oilers offered him a one-year contract in August 2005, Rita signed on to return to North America.

Although once considered a premier prospect at the NHL level, Rita's slow development showed cause for concern to Oilers management. On January 26, 2006, Rita was traded along with Cory Cross, to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Dick Tärnström. He finished the season with just 10 points in 51 games.

It was announced on 2 May 2006 that Rita was to depart Pittsburgh to return to his original club, Jokerit. He was the best goal scorer of SM-liiga in 2006–07 season. After ten more years with Jokerit including the club's transition from the Finnish Liiga to the KHL in 2014, Rita announced his retirement in June 2016.[2]

Career statistics edit

Regular season and playoffs edit

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1997–98 Jokerit FIN U18 7 7 4 11 2
1997–98 Jokerit FIN U20 36 15 9 24 2 8 4 1 5 0
1998–99 Jokerit FIN U20 20 9 13 22 8 6 1 1 2 8
1998–99 Jokerit SM-l 41 3 2 5 39
1999–2000 Jokerit FIN U20 1 1 0 1 0
1999–2000 Jokerit SM-l 49 6 3 9 10 11 1 0 1 0
2000–01 Jokerit FIN U20 3 3 2 5 0
2000–01 Jokerit SM-l 50 5 10 15 18 5 0 0 0 2
2001–02 Edmonton Oilers NHL 1 0 0 0 0
2001–02 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 76 25 17 42 32 15 8 4 12 0
2002–03 Edmonton Oilers NHL 12 3 1 4 0
2002–03 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 64 21 27 48 18 23 3 4 7 2
2003–04 Edmonton Oilers NHL 2 0 0 0 0
2003–04 Toronto Roadrunners AHL 64 17 24 41 18 1 1 0 1 0
2004–05 HPK SM-l 56 21 18 39 12 10 7 4 11 4
2005–06 Edmonton Oilers NHL 21 3 0 3 6
2005–06 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 30 3 4 7 4
2006–07 Jokerit SM-l 56 32 20 52 28 10 6 1 7 2
2007–08 Jokerit SM-l 37 10 10 20 16 14 6 4 10 0
2008–09 Jokerit SM-l 58 15 16 31 12 5 0 2 2 0
2009–10 Jokerit SM-l 58 13 15 28 26 3 0 2 2 27
2010–11 Jokerit SM-l 8 2 0 2 2 7 0 1 1 2
2011–12 Jokerit SM-l 60 17 14 31 20 10 0 2 2 4
2012–13 Jokerit SM-l 50 11 5 16 6 6 1 1 2 2
2013–14 Jokerit Liiga 60 11 10 21 6 2 1 0 1 2
2014–15 Jokerit KHL 34 3 2 5 8 4 0 0 0 2
2015–16 Jokerit KHL 56 3 5 8 28 3 0 0 0 2
SM-l/Liiga totals 583 146 123 269 195 83 22 17 39 45
NHL totals 66 9 5 14 10
AHL totals 204 63 68 131 68 39 12 8 20 2

International edit

Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
1998 Finland EJC 6 2 3 5 6
1999 Finland WJC 6 1 1 2 2
2000 Finland WJC 7 0 3 3 0
2001 Finland WJC 7 8 1 9 0
2005 Finland WC 7 0 2 2 6
2006 Finland WC 6 1 0 1 0
Junior totals 26 11 8 19 8
Senior totals 13 1 2 3 6

Awards edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Jokerien jokeri Jani Rita lopettaa uransa" (in Finnish). yle.fi. 2016-06-27. Retrieved 2016-06-27.
  2. ^ "Jani Rita lägger skridskorna på hyllan – satsar på studierna". Retrieved 2016-06-29.

External links edit

Preceded by Edmonton Oilers first round draft pick
1999
Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the Raimo Kilpiö trophy
2004–05
Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the Aarne Honkavaara trophy
2006–07
Succeeded by