Mattias Ritola Explained

Mattias Ritola
Birth Date:14 March 1987
Birth Place:Borlänge, Sweden
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lb:192
Position:Right wing
Shoots:Left
Ntl Team:SWE
Played For:Leksands IF
Detroit Red Wings
Tampa Bay Lightning
Modo Hockey
Skellefteå AIK
HC Fribourg-Gottéron
Draft:103rd overall
Draft Year:2005
Draft Team:Detroit Red Wings
Career Start:2007
Career End:2021

Mattias Kenneth Ritola (born March 14, 1987) is a former[1] Swedish professional ice hockey forward.

Playing career

Ritola made his debut in Sweden's top-tier SHL with Leksands IF during the 2005-06 season, after being drafted 103rd overall in the fourth round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Detroit Red Wings. Ritola joined the Red Wings for the 2007-08 season and played his first NHL game on March 15, 2008, against the Nashville Predators. Ritola did not qualify to be engraved on the cup because he did not play in a post-season game, but he was awarded a Stanley Cup ring, and he was included on the 2008 Detroit Red Wings Stanley Cup picture. Ritola played in his first post-season game on May 6, 2010, in a 7–1 win over the San Jose Sharks.

On Tuesday October 6, 2010, Ritola was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Lightning.[2] He scored his first NHL goal on October 30, 2010, against Ilya Bryzgalov of the Phoenix Coyotes. In late 2010, he was diagnosed with the Meniere's disease.[3] Early in November 2011, Ritola cleared regular waivers and was assigned to Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League, however Ritola refused to report to the AHL club. On November 9, 2011, Ritola cleared unconditional waivers and his contract with Tampa Bay was terminated so he would be free to pursue playing opportunities in Europe.[4] On November 10, 2011, Modo Hockey announced that he signed a contract to play until the 2012–13 season of Elitserien.[5] His contract was extended to the 2015–16 season on January 4, 2013.[6]

During the 2014–15 season, after 10 games with Modo, Ritola transferred to return to his original and fellow SHL club, Leksands IF on October 13, 2014.[7] After spending the 2014-15 season with Leksands, he moved on to another SHL side, Skellefteå AIK. He was a regular on a Skellefteå squad that progressed to the SHL finals, where they were beaten by Frölunda HC.

On May 31, 2016, he signed a two-year deal with HC Fribourg-Gottéron of the Swiss National League A (NLA)[8] and left the club on January 18, 2017, for personal reasons.[9] He returned to Leksands IF shortly after parting ways with Fribourg.[10]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Team League GP GPG A Pts PIM
2002–03Borlänge HFSWE.325614204
2003–04Västra Frölunda HCJ18 Allsv114111535727912
2003–04Västra Frölunda HCJ20247411850110
2004–05Frölunda HCJ2092686
2004–05Leksands IFJ2018810181451122
2005–06Leksands IFJ201442616
2005–06Leksands IFSEL3003310
2006–07Leksands IFJ2012571216
2006–07Leksands IFAllsv231454
2006–07Arboga IFKAllsv31012
2006–07Borlänge HFSWE.311461014
2007–08Grand Rapids GriffinsAHL727152262
2007–08Detroit Red WingsNHL20110
2008–09Grand Rapids GriffinsAHL661527423280220
2009–10Grand Rapids GriffinsAHL7319234250
2009–10Detroit Red WingsNHL5000010000
2010–11Tampa Bay LightningNHL314481110000
2010–11Norfolk AdmiralsAHL1791827841450
2011–12Tampa Bay LightningNHL50006
2011–12Modo HockeySEL35713203061128
2012–13Modo HockeySEL501113241252134
2013–14Modo HockeySHL38711182621010
2014–15Modo HockeySHL1022412
2014–15Leksands IFSHL4210223218
2015–16Skellefteå AIKSHL33923321616581310
2016–17HC Fribourg–GottéronNLA274131722
2016–17Leksands IFSHL161676
2017–18Leksands IFAllsv4716173330101344
2018–19Leksands IFAllsv11279010381114
2019–20Leksands IFSHL47891742
2020–21Leksands IFSHL235712440222
SHL totals32460109169176339122124
AHL totals2285083133152121670
NHL totals434591720000

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2005SwedenWJC1871348
2006SwedenWJC5th62242
2016SwedenWC6th80112
Junior totals 1335810
Senior totals 80112

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Beskedet: Avslutar nu spelarkarriären . 2022-06-22 . www.expressen.se . 16 June 2022 . sv.
  2. Web site: Mattias Ritola - player profile and career stats. redwings.nhl.com. March 17, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080305090104/http://redwings.nhl.com/team/app?page=PlayerDetail&playerId=8471668&service=page. March 5, 2008. dead.
  3. Web site: Tampa Bay Lightning's Mattias Ritola to get injection for Meniere's disease. https://web.archive.org/web/20101215160820/http://www.tampabay.com/sports/hockey/lightning/tampa-bay-lightnings-mattias-ritola-to-get-injection-for-menieres-disease/1139611. dead. December 15, 2010. Tampa Bay Times. 2016-05-31.
  4. Web site: Lightning notes: Ritola and team part ways . TBO.com . 2011-11-09 . 2011-11-09.
  5. Web site: Modo signs Ritola for two years . . 2011-11-10 . 2011-11-10.
  6. Web site: Mattias Ritola förlänger med MODO Hockey!.
  7. Web site: Mattias Ritola returns to Leksands . . 2014-10-13 . 2014-10-13 . Swedish.
  8. Web site: Mattias Ritola (SWE) pour 2 saisons avec Fribourg-Gottéron HC Fribourg-Gottéron. www.gotteron.ch. 2016-05-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20160611191554/http://www.gotteron.ch/news/details.html?tx_gotteronnews_gotteronnewsdetail%5Bcontroller%5D=GotteronNews&tx_gotteronnews_gotteronnewsdetail%5Baction%5D=detail&tx_gotteronnews_gotteronnewsdetail%5Bnews%5D=2502&cHash=533110692c379b0eb5c4c137478404fd. 2016-06-11. dead.
  9. Web site: Actualité - Mattias Ritola quitte subitement FR-Gottéron Planète Hockey. Planète Hockey. fr-CH. 2017-01-18.
  10. Web site: Ritola flyttar hem - Leksands IF. www.leksandsif.se. sv. 2017-01-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20170127080146/http://www.leksandsif.se/artikel/juvhaiy4o-30ead/ritola-flyttar-hem. 2017-01-27. dead.