Veli-Pekka Ketola

Veli-Pekka Ketola (b. March 28, 1948 in Pori, Finland) is a former professional ice hockey centre. He began his career in 1963 with the Karhut Pori (that became in 1967 the Ässät Pori). He played 10 seasons in the SM-liiga, with Pori and the Jokerit Helsinki, obtaining a lot of success, before being tempted by North America. Ketola crossed the ocean in 1974 to defend the Winnipeg Jets' and the Calgary Cowboys' colours in the World Hockey Association for 3 seasons, before going back to Finland for 3 more seasons, playing for the KalPa Kuopio. Even though he signed with the Vancouver Canucks on March 6, 1979, Ketola didn't appear in a north american game before the NHL season 1981-82, where he played 44 games with the Colorado Rockies. The following season, Ketola retired after 6 games with Kuopio.

Ketola has been inducted in the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990.

He was Ässät Pori's head coach for 1993-94 and 1996-97.