Janne Ojanen
Encyclopedia
Janne Juhani Ojanen is a professional ice hockey
player who is best known from his long time in SM-liiga
team Tappara
from Tampere
.
the following year by New Jersey Devils
. Ojanen played his first adult international tournaments in 1987 as he was selected to Finland's Canada Cup and World Championship teams. Ojanen was part of the 1988 Olympic Team which won Finland's first International tournament medal. Ojanen won the SM-liiga Championship twice in 1987 and 1988 during his early years in Tappara.
.
On the following season, Ojanen did have more games in the Devils and he did stay on the roster for the whole season. Ojanen scored 30 points in 64 games. After his first full season in Devils, Ojanen decided to return to Finland
, making 9 points for Cyclones. After the end of the season Ojanen went back to Finland.
The colour of his World Championship medal would improve as Janne Ojanen was part of the first and to date only World Championship winning team of Finland, when the Finns won their rivals from Sweden 4 goals to 1 in the finals and the Tournament was played in Sweden, which increased the value of the victory. During the 1994–95 season Ojanen played also for Swiss
HC Lugano in Nationalliga A Play-Offs, as Tappara's SM-liiga season had ended to regular season.
Ojanen played the following season for Tappara and was selected to World Cup and World Championship squads.
Elitserien
side Malmö IF Redhawks
. Ojanen had signed a two year contract to Malmö and played well in Sweden. During his first season in Sweden, Ojanen was selected to 1997 World Championship team.
After his two year stay in Sweden, Ojanen made his return to Tappara. Although Ojanen was already 30 years old, he still was one of the top Finnish players in SM-liiga and had a big role in Tappara. Ojanen had a consistent form during his seasons and was selected to World Championships for the last time in 2002.
in the Finals. Ojanen had acquired the captaincy of Tappara in 2000 and his time as captain has lasted for 8 years. He has announced that he will continue to play one more season 2008–2009. During his time in Tappara, Ojanen has been viewed as the premier player for Tappara like Erik Hämäläinen
is for Lukko
and Raimo Helminen
is for Ilves
. Ojanen's has played his entire SM-liiga career in Tappara.
On November 28, 2009 Ojanen became top scorer all-time in SM-liiga, surpassing Arto Javanainen
who had held a record for 16 years.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player who is best known from his long time in SM-liiga
SM-liiga
The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice...
team Tappara
Tappara
Tappara is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga. They play in Tampere, Finland at Tampereen jäähalli. The team have won 15 league championships ....
from Tampere
Tampere
Tampere is a city in southern Finland. It is the most populous inland city in any of the Nordic countries. The city has a population of , growing to approximately 300,000 people in the conurbation and over 340,000 in the metropolitan area. Tampere is the third most-populous municipality in...
.
Early Career in Finland
Janne Ojanen started his playing career playing for his hometown team Tappara. Ojanen played 3 SM-liiga games on his first season. Two years earlier Ojanen was selected as the best player in Pohjola Leiri, an annual youth training camp where the best under-18 players play and are selected to Youth National Team. Ojanen was drafted to NHLNational Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
the following year by New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. Ojanen played his first adult international tournaments in 1987 as he was selected to Finland's Canada Cup and World Championship teams. Ojanen was part of the 1988 Olympic Team which won Finland's first International tournament medal. Ojanen won the SM-liiga Championship twice in 1987 and 1988 during his early years in Tappara.
First Attempt in NHL
In 1988, Janne Ojanen was acquired by New Jersey Devils, the team which had drafted Ojanen in 1986. Ojanen's debut season consisted of 3 games in NHL and 72 in Devils affiliate team Utica DevilsUtica Devils
The Utica Devils were an ice hockey team of the American Hockey League. The team played in Utica, New York at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.-History:...
.
On the following season, Ojanen did have more games in the Devils and he did stay on the roster for the whole season. Ojanen scored 30 points in 64 games. After his first full season in Devils, Ojanen decided to return to Finland
Brief return to Finland
After his two years in North America, Ojanen returned to Tappara and played two seasons for the Tampere team. Ojanen also played in the 1991 Canada Cup. During 1991–92 Season Ojanen returned to New Jersey.Second NHL Visit
Ojanen made his NHL return in 1991–92 NHL Play Offs and played 3 games for New Jersey Devils. Ojanen's fourth NHL season however was not that good. Ojanen played 31 times for Devils during the 1992–93 NHL season and played 7 games for Cincinnati CyclonesCincinnati Cyclones
The Cincinnati Cyclones are a professional hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team is a member of the ECHL. Founded in 1990, the team first played their games in the Cincinnati Gardens and now play at U.S. Bank Arena....
, making 9 points for Cyclones. After the end of the season Ojanen went back to Finland.
Return to Finland
Ojanen returned to Tappara for the 1993–94 SM-liiga season and proved to be in good shape as he was one of the leading players for Tappara. Ojanen also had some International glory during his first season back in Europe. Ojanen played in the 1994 Winter Olympics and 1994 World Championships, winning Olympic Bronze and World Championships Silver.The colour of his World Championship medal would improve as Janne Ojanen was part of the first and to date only World Championship winning team of Finland, when the Finns won their rivals from Sweden 4 goals to 1 in the finals and the Tournament was played in Sweden, which increased the value of the victory. During the 1994–95 season Ojanen played also for Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
HC Lugano in Nationalliga A Play-Offs, as Tappara's SM-liiga season had ended to regular season.
Ojanen played the following season for Tappara and was selected to World Cup and World Championship squads.
Visit to Sweden and final return to Finland
After 3 seasons in Tappara, Janne Ojanen was contraced by SwedishSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
Elitserien
Elitserien
Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden...
side Malmö IF Redhawks
Malmö Redhawks
The Malmö Redhawks is an ice hockey club from Malmö, Sweden. The team is currently playing in the second highest league in Sweden, HockeyAllsvenskan. Malmö has played 16 seasons in the top Swedish league Elitserien .-History:...
. Ojanen had signed a two year contract to Malmö and played well in Sweden. During his first season in Sweden, Ojanen was selected to 1997 World Championship team.
After his two year stay in Sweden, Ojanen made his return to Tappara. Although Ojanen was already 30 years old, he still was one of the top Finnish players in SM-liiga and had a big role in Tappara. Ojanen had a consistent form during his seasons and was selected to World Championships for the last time in 2002.
Late career
Ojanen won his final SM-liiga Championship in 2003 when Tappara won KärpätKärpät
Oulun Kärpät is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga based in Oulu, Finland. Their logo features a stoat ; "kärpät" is Finnish for stoats or ermines. The team has won five league championships .-History:...
in the Finals. Ojanen had acquired the captaincy of Tappara in 2000 and his time as captain has lasted for 8 years. He has announced that he will continue to play one more season 2008–2009. During his time in Tappara, Ojanen has been viewed as the premier player for Tappara like Erik Hämäläinen
Erik Hämäläinen
Vesa Erik Hämäläinen is a left-handed retired Finnish ice hockey defenceman. Hämäläinen currently is an Ice hockey coach, employed by SM-liiga team Lukko-Early career:...
is for Lukko
Lukko
Lukko is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga, formed 1936. The full name of the club is Rauman Lukko. They play in Rauma, Finland at the Äijänsuo Arena. They have won the national championship once, in 1963...
and Raimo Helminen
Raimo Helminen
Raimo Ilmari Helminen is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player. He is often called "Raipe" or "Maestro" by his fans...
is for Ilves
Ilves
Ilves is a Finnish sports club nowadays mostly known for their youth work. The ice hockey team plays in the SM-liiga at the Tampereen jäähalli in Hakametsä...
. Ojanen's has played his entire SM-liiga career in Tappara.
On November 28, 2009 Ojanen became top scorer all-time in SM-liiga, surpassing Arto Javanainen
Arto Javanainen
Arto Kalevi Javanainen was a professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga. He was the first European draft pick in Pittsburgh Penguins history, going in the fifth round .-Career:...
who had held a record for 16 years.