Rick Grimes Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=9251&cHash=d4ad815db9bf948824090c61b299906d HELSINKI – Former Finnish national team player Jarkko Ruutu decided to hang up his skates after a professional career that spanned over 19 years. “It seems that it is time,” Ruutu started his press release sent out on Monday highlighting wearing the Finnish jersey at Olympics and World Championships, playing 11 seasons in the NHL and reaching the Stanley Cup finals as his career highlights. The 39-year-old was known and feared for his physical play. He was assessed over 1,000 penalty minutes in the NHL, and as well in the Finnish Liiga. But despite that trademark Ruutu wasn’t a classic enforcer. Although he had the ability to get under the opponents’ skin, he was also able to score goals. Goalkeepers feared him as much in shootouts as skaters on the ice. In his offensively most productive season he scored 14 goals and had 15 assists in 88 games (regular season and playoffs) with the Ottawa Senators 2009/2010. That was also his strongest international season when he contributed two goals and three points en route to an Olympic bronze medal in Vancouver to add to his silver medal from Turin 2006. Ruutu also won three World Championship silver medals (1998, 2001, 2007) and a bronze (2006). He also represented Finland in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey finishing second. Ruutu left his hometown team HIFK Helsinki as a 24-year-old to spend most of his NHL career with the Vancouver Canucks. After seven years he moved on to Pittsburgh, Ottawa and Anaheim. In 2011 he returned to Finland to play for Jokerit Helsinki. After the team’s move from the Finnish Liiga to the Russian-based Kontinental Hockey League earlier this year he was without contract and only played five games this season for Swiss club EHC Biel. MARTIN MERK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bombastik der Teutone Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 allways liked him ...and lol at Phagoof best ever all the best jarkko Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Vintage Canuck- Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 That is the only moment I will never forget during his time with the Canucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coryberg Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Guys a legend, even has his own song. Had a few epic fights with tucker over the years. Between him and Rypien they sure made the opponents cringe when they saw #37 in canucks colours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honeydew Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Met Jarkko when I was a kid really cool guy loved his trolling tactics on the ice when he was still with the Canucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jägermeister Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Whenever I think of Ruutu, I always feel like he was a Canuck a lot longer than he actually was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatedkid666 Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Always loved Ruutu. Best of luck to him! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CookieCrumbs Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 One of my favourite Canucks. Guy was such a pain in the a$$. All the best, Jarkko. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gurn Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 While playing he was a borderline, chippy, pest. But he would answer the bell from time to time. I liked him more than Cooke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter.S-Kerouac Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 For a guy who took a ton of pim's he always drew more than he took. One of my favorite love to hate players the guy was Sean Avery level hated around the league. Him Kes Cooke and Burr on the same team was too much he helped build the reputation around the league that we are still paying for. Sure was fun to watch him make guys snap and take dumb penalties though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avelanch Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 I'll always associate him with my friend's roommate who "dated" him for a bit back in the 00-01 season. he never left his car or said hi to us, even when we were outside. he just drove up, honked and waited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mejohnathan Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 My dad said that he sucked in vacouver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck Surfer Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=9251&cHash=d4ad815db9bf948824090c61b299906d As with others here; single funniest thing Canuck moment I can ever remember... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazzle Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 I'll always associate him with my friend's roommate who "dated" him for a bit back in the 00-01 season. he never left his car or said hi to us, even when we were outside. he just drove up, honked and waited. Define "dated".... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazzle Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 My dad said that he sucked in vacouver Your dad was Dion Phaneuf. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coconuts Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 He was a good one for us, fun to watch too. All the best to him! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avelanch Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Define "dated".... disappeared for a couple hours, came back all disheveled, never gave details. i'm sure everything was on the up and up.... pretty sure one time she said they were going to the roxy.... We were not "clubbing" types so we didn't go meet her there, plus i really didn't want to go spend time with Ruutu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apple Juice Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Loved Ruutu when he was here.. His face looks like a troll with his goofy smile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steen Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 He was my favorite player while he was here. Loved how goofy he was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Moody Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=9251&cHash=d4ad815db9bf948824090c61b299906d Man we had a lot of plugs on that team hahaha.. Goren, green, park, the lot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.