Simo Saarinen

Simo Saarinen (born February 14, 1963 in Helsinki, Finland) is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman

Playing career
Simo Saarinen started his career for his hometown team HIFK Helsinki. Saarinen played once in the European Junior Ice Hockey Championships and twice in the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and was soon noticed by NHL scouts. Saarinen was drafted by New York Rangers 193rd overall in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. After the 1984 Olympic Ice Hockey tournament Saarinen went to the NHL. Saarinen was injured during his debut season for the New York Rangers. Due to the injuries Saarinen did not play in the 1985–86 season and returned to HIFK for 1986–87 season. Saarinen played for HIFK until 1996 when he finally retired from active playing.

After retirement
After retiring in 1996 Saarinen started to referee ice hockey games in Finland. Saarinen refereed his first SM-liiga games in the 2001–2002 SM-Liiga season. Currently Saarinen referees hockey games in Helsinki and Southern Finland area.

International play
Saarinen played twice for Finland in Ice Hockey World Championships and three times in Olympic Hockey Tournament. Saarinen was part of the historic 1988 Winter Olympics Ice Hockey Team which won Finland's first international tournament medal, a silver one.