Eetu Tuulola Explained

Eetu Tuulola
Birth Date:1998 3, df=yes
Birth Place:Hämeenlinna, Finland
Height Ft:6
Height In:3
Weight Kg:102
Position:Right wing
Shoots:Right
Team:Ilves
League:Liiga
Former Teams:HPK
SaiPa
Draft:156th overall
Draft Year:2016
Draft Team:Calgary Flames
Career Start:2015

Eetu Tuulola (born 17 March 1998) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward currently playing under contract with Ilves of the Liiga. He was selected by the Calgary Flames in the sixth round, 156th overall, of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Tuulola made his professional debut as a 17-year old with HPK during the 2015–16, collecting 1 assist in 10 games.[1] Following his selection by the Flames at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Tuulola moved to North America to play major junior hockey with the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League in the 2016–17 season. He signed with the Silvertips after he was originally selected by the club at the 2016 CHL Import Draft.[2]

Tuulola contributed with 18 goals and 31 points in 62 games with the Silvertips, before opting to return to Finland to resume his professional career with HPK for the 2017–18 season. On December 7, 2017, Tuulola was signed to a two-year contract extension to remain with HPK through to 2020.[3] In 60 games during the 2018–19 season, he contributed a career high marker with 23 assists for 36 points. He recorded 6 points in 18 playoff games to help HPK claim the Championship.

On 13 June 2019, Tuulola was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Calgary Flames.[4]

On 23 September 2020, with the 2020–21 North American season delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tuulola was loaned by the Flames to resume playing in the Swedish HockeyAllsvenskan, with Västerviks IK.[5] He made 11 appearances in the Swedish second-tier league, collecting 4 points, before leaving after securing a loan in his native Finland, with Liiga club SaiPa, on 16 November 2020.[6] Tuulola was scoreless in 4 games with SaiPa before his loan agreement ended, returning to North America to join the Flames' training camp.

At the conclusion of his entry-level deal with the Flames, Tuulola as an impending restricted free agent opted to return to Finland in agreeing to a one-year contract with Ilves of the Liiga on 23 June 2022.[7]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Team League GP GPG A Pts PIM
2014–15HPKJr. A3321728301127914
2015–16HPKJr. A29951422601127
2015–16HPKLiiga100110
2016–17Everett SilvertipsWHL6218133134106174
2017–18HPKLiiga5116102634
2017–18HPKJr. A51012
2018–19HPKLiiga6013233644183368
2019–20Stockton HeatAHL5010132323
2020–21Västerviks IKAllsv112242
2020–21SaiPaLiiga40002
2020–21Stockton HeatAHL2934712
2021–22Stockton HeatAHL6114112550133144
Liiga totals12529346380183368

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2014FinlandU174th61124
2015FinlandIH184th52242
2016FinlandU1872240
2018FinlandWJC6th30000
Junior totals 2155106

Awards & honors

AwardYear
Liiga
Champion (HPK)2019

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tilastot - #82 Tuulola, Eetu - Liiga. liiga.fi.
  2. Web site: Silvertips sign '16 imports Tuulola and Mucka . . 2016-08-09 . 2016-08-09.
  3. Web site: HPK secure Tuulola to long term contract . . Finnish . 2017-12-07 . 2017-12-07.
  4. Web site: Flames sign Eetu Tuulola . . 13 June 2019 . 13 June 2019.
  5. Web site: Tuulola assigned to Vasterviks IK . . September 23, 2020 . September 23, 2020.
  6. Web site: Eetu Tuulola joins SaiPa on loan from NHL . . 16 November 2020 . 16 November 2020 . Finnish.
  7. Web site: Ilves announce six player contracts . . 23 June 2022 . 23 June 2022 . Finnish.