Urpo Ylönen
Encyclopedia
Urpo Yrjö Juhani Ylönen is a goaltending coach and a retired professional ice hockey
player who played in the SM-liiga
. He played for TuTo
and TPS
. He was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame
in 1988 and to the IIHF Hall of Fame
in 1997. SM-liiga has named the goalie of the year award after him; the Urpo Ylönen trophy
.
After his career he has been the head goaltending coach of TPS
. Many European experts have called Ylönen "the best goaltending coach in Europe, if not in the world". Ylönen has been producing top level goalies year after year, including Miikka Kiprusoff
, Fredrik Norrena
, Antero Niittymäki
, Jani Hurme
, Alexander Salak
and Ari Sulander
.
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 played in the 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...
. He played for TuTo
TuTo
TuTo is a Finnish ice hockey team based at the new Kupittaan jäähalli , Turku. Established in 1929. TuTo plays in Turku, Finland, and is one of two clubs in that city . Full name of the club is TuTo Hockey...
and TPS
TPS (ice hockey)
TPS or Turun Palloseura is an ice hockey team and 11-time champion of SM-liiga. They play in Turku, Finland at the HK Arena. In terms of championships, TPS is the most successful team in SM-liiga history.-Team history:...
. He was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame
Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame
The Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame is part of the Vapriikki Museum Centre in Tampere, Finland and was created in 1979 to honor those individuals who have contributed to Finnish ice hockey...
in 1988 and to the IIHF Hall of Fame
IIHF Hall of Fame
The IIHF Hall of Fame is a hall of fame which was established by the International Ice Hockey Federation in 1997, when 30 individuals were inducted at the world championships in Helsinki...
in 1997. SM-liiga has named the goalie of the year award after him; the Urpo Ylönen trophy
Urpo Ylönen trophy
The Urpo Ylönen trophy is an ice hockey award given by the Finnish SM-liiga to the best goalie of the season.Trophy winners:1977-78: Antero Kivelä 1978-79: Jorma Valtonen 1979-80: Jorma Valtonen 1980-81: Hannu Kamppuri...
.
After his career he has been the head goaltending coach of TPS
TPS (ice hockey)
TPS or Turun Palloseura is an ice hockey team and 11-time champion of SM-liiga. They play in Turku, Finland at the HK Arena. In terms of championships, TPS is the most successful team in SM-liiga history.-Team history:...
. Many European experts have called Ylönen "the best goaltending coach in Europe, if not in the world". Ylönen has been producing top level goalies year after year, including Miikka Kiprusoff
Miikka Kiprusoff
Miikka Sakari Kiprusoff is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He was selected in the fifth round, 116th overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. He has also played for TPS of the Finnish SM-liiga...
, Fredrik Norrena
Fredrik Norrena
Fredrik Jan Elis Norrena is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for Linköping of the Swedish Elitserien.- Playing career :...
, Antero Niittymäki
Antero Niittymäki
Antero Pertti Elias Niittymäki is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently a member of the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League. He has previously played for the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning, as well as in the SM-liiga and the American Hockey League...
, Jani Hurme
Jani Hurme
Jani Hurme is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for Ilves in the Finnish SM-liiga. He was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the third round of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft with the 58th overall pick....
, Alexander Salak
Alexander Salak
Alexander Salák , is a professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing with the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League.-Early Career in Czech Republic:...
and Ari Sulander
Ari Sulander
Ari Sulander, also nicknamed Sulo , is a professional ice hockey goaltender.-Career in Finland:...
.