Risto Jalo

Risto Jalo (born July 18, 1962 in Humppila, Finland) is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga and National Hockey League. He played for Ilves, HPK, and Edmonton Oilers. He was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004.

Risto Jalo was a talented centre who spent most of his career playing domestic and international hockey in his native Finland. His NHL experience consisted of a three-game trial with the powerful Edmonton Oilers in 1985-86.

A native of Tampere, Finland, Jalo excelled with the Koovee club as a 17-year old in 1979-80. The next year he played his first of eleven seasons with the formidable Ilves Tampere team. Jalo was an integral part of this club remaining competitive in the Finnish Elite division and winning the championship in 1984-85. In 1983-84 he scored 45 points in 30 games and was voted on to the Finnish first all-star team.

During the 1980s, Jalo represented his country at several high profile tournaments. At the World Junior Championships he helped the Finns win the silver medal in 1981 and the bronze the next year. Jalo became a fixture in the country's national roster, participating at the 1984 Olympics and the World Championships in 1983, 1985, 1987, and 1990.

Jalo later sampled other domestic leagues, suiting up for the Swiss club Vita Hasten in 1990-91 and HC Fassa of Italy in 1992-93. He eventually returned to Finland to play with Ilves Tampere then HPK Hameelinna. Jalo was a part of the latter team when it took part in the new European Hockey League in 1997-98.

Awards

 * 1982-83 Raimo Kilpiö trophy (gentlemanly player SM-Liiga)
 * 1987-88 Matti Keinonen trophy (Plus/minus leader SM-Liiga)