Olli Palola

Olli Palola (born 8 April 1988) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who currently plays professionally for Timrå IK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).

Olli Palola
Born (1988-04-08) 8 April 1988
Oulu, Finland
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 176 lb (80 kg; 12 st 8 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Right
SHL team
Former teams		 Timrå IK
Ilves
Lukko Rauma
Tappara
HC Vityaz
Växjö Lakers
Jokerit
Kunlun Red Star
Rögle BK
HIFK
National team  Finland
Playing career 2006–present

Playing career

Palola saw his first action in the Finnish top-flight Liiga during the 2006–07 season, playing six contests for Ilves. He then spent four years with fellow Liiga team Lukko,[1] helping the team to a third-place finish in 2010–11. After having transferred to Tappara, he made it to the 2013 and 2014 Liiga finals with the team. During the 2013-14 campaign, Palola scored 30 goals and dealt out 26 assists in 80 games and was presented with the Aarne Honkavaara Trophy as the league's best goalscorer. He won the award also the following season (2014–15) after tallying 40 goals and 25 assists in 80 games en route to another Liiga runner-up finish.[2]

Palola then opted to continue his career in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), he signed with HC Vityaz for the 2015–16 season.[3] His number went down in Russia: He saw the ice in 27 KHL games, scoring one goal and dishing out four assists.

In May 2016, he signed a contract with the Växjö Lakers of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).[4] After returning to the KHL the following season with Jokerit, Palola signed as a free agent to a one-year contract with Chinese outfit, Kunlun Red Star, for the 2018–19 season on May 2, 2018.[5]

International play
Medal record
Representing  Finland
Ice hockey
World Championships
Silver medal – second place2014 Minsk

Palola won his first caps for Finland's men's national team during the 2013–14 season: He played at the Euro Hockey Tour and won a silver medal with Team Finland at the 2014 IIHF World Championships in Minsk. Palola made ten appearances during the tournament, chipping in with four goals.[6]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2005–06 Ilves Jr. A 29 8 3 11 60 3 0 0 0 8
2006–07 Ilves Jr. A 30 17 15 32 30 5 0 1 1 4
2006–07 Ilves SM-l 6 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2007–08 Ilves Jr. A 41 12 13 25 53 — — — — —
2007–08 Ilves SM-l 8 0 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 0
2008–09 Ilves Jr. A 35 21 36 57 38 — — — — —
2008–09 Ilves SM-l 5 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2009–10 Ilves Jr. A 4 2 4 6 4 — — — — —
2009–10 Ilves SM-l 45 3 4 7 12 2 0 0 0 0
2010–11 Ilves SM-l 41 2 2 4 18 9 0 0 0 6
2010–11 Hokki Mestis 2 1 1 2 0 — — — — —
2010–11 LeKi Mestis 2 1 0 1 2 — — — — —
2011–12 Tappara SM-l 45 5 8 13 22 — — — — —
2011–12 Sport Mestis 2 0 1 1 2 — — — — —
2012–13 Tappara SM-l 36 4 3 7 33 15 6 1 7 0
2012–13 LeKi Mestis 18 9 7 16 8 — — — — —
2013–14 Tappara Liiga 60 27 17 44 46 20 3 7 10 8
2014–15 Tappara Liiga 60 29 20 49 42 20 11 5 16 12
2015–16 HC Vityaz KHL 27 1 4 5 10 — — — — —
2016–17 Växjö Lakers SHL 52 21 27 48 18 6 1 3 4 4
2017–18 Jokerit KHL 50 7 17 24 16 10 6 1 7 4
2018–19 Kunlun Red Star KHL 61 19 6 25 16 — — — — —
2019–20 Kunlun Red Star KHL 38 5 3 8 12 — — — — —
2020–21 Rögle BK SHL 43 12 14 26 26 14 6 0 6 2
2021–22 HIFK Liiga 37 14 12 26 28 7 1 3 4 4
2022–23 HIFK Liiga 23 3 2 5 8 — — — — —
Liiga totals 366 87 70 157 211 75 21 16 37 30
KHL totals 176 32 30 62 54 10 6 1 7 4
SHL totals 95 33 41 74 44 20 7 3 10 6

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2014 Finland WC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 10 4 0 4 8
2018 Finland WC 5th 6 0 0 0 0
Senior totals 16 4 0 4 8

References
  1. 2010-11 Scoring for Lukko Rauma (SM-liiga)
  2. "Elite Prospects - Hockey Awards". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  3. "Olli Palola siirtyy Vitjazin paitaan". Jatkoaika.com - Kaikki jääkiekosta. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  4. "Olli Palola klar för Växjö Lakers". Växjö Lakers. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  5. "New additions with Palola added to squad" (in Russian). Kunlun Red Star. 2 May 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  6. "Finland - 2014 WM - International Ice Hockey Federation IIHF". www.iihfworlds2014.com. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
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