Jorma Valtonen

Who is Jorma Valtonen?

Pertti Leo Jorma Valtonen is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga.

Valtonen, who was born in Turku, Finland, played for Jokerit, TPS, RU-38 and Ässät. In Italy Valtonen played for HC Gherdëina and HC Alleghe. In West Germany he played for EHC 70 München on season 1980–81. He was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 1989 and IIHF Hall of Fame in 1999. Valtonen was the goalie for the Finnish Olympic team in 1980 that placed 4th and lost to the U.S. 4-2 in the final game that earned the U.S. their improbable gold medal. Valtonen is Italian champion and three time Finnish champion.

At present Valtonen is the goalie coach of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl which plays in Kontinental Hockey League. He was not aboard the airplane that crashed in Tunoshna Airport near Yaroslavl on 7 September 2011. All players from the main roster, four players from the youth team and eleven staff members perished in that crash, except for main roster player Maxim Zyuzyakin, who was not aboard the plane. Valtonen was asked to stay behind to work with the junior team.