Peter Ahola

Peter Kristian Ahola (born 14 May 1968) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins, Calgary Flames, and the San Jose Sharks.

Peter Ahola
Born	(1968-05-14) 14 May 1968 (age 57) Espoo, Finland
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Los Angeles Kings Pittsburgh Penguins San Jose Sharks Calgary Flames Espoo Blues HIFK TPS Södertälje SK
NHL draft	Undrafted
Playing career	1987–2003

Playing career

In his rookie year in Los Angeles, Ahola led the Kings in +/- with a +12 in the 1991–92 NHL season. He also scored 7 goals and 12 assists for 19 points in 71 games. He was then traded to Pittsburgh for Jeff Chychrun during the next season. In Pittsburgh, he played 22 games and didn't register a goal and only scored one assist. Ahola was then traded a second time in that season to the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks traded him to the Tampa Bay Lightning on 19 June 1993 for Jack Capuano, but then was traded to the Calgary Flames for cash on 5 October 1993. This was his fourth trade in eleven months.^[1] He only played two games on the Flames before he got sent down to the minor league team, the Saint John Flames.

In total, Ahola played 123 regular season games, scoring 10 goals and 17 assists for 27 points and collecting 137 penalty minutes. He also played six playoff games during his rookie season with the Kings but didn't register a point. Ahola went back to Finland's SM-liiga in 1994 and then to Sweden's Elitserien in 2001 before retiring in 2003.

Personal

Ahola is a formerly top-rated water-skier in his homeland of Finland.^[2] He currently serves as a European scout for the Vegas Golden Knights of the NHL, serving in the role since the 2016–17 season.^[3][4]

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1987–88	Kiekko-Espoo	FIN-3		28	6	10	16	44		—	—	—	—	—
1988–89	Kiekko-Espoo	FIN-2		44	5	10	15	62		—	—	—	—	—
1989–90	Boston University	HE		43	3	20	23	65		—	—	—	—	—
1990–91	Boston University	HE		39	12	24	36	88		—	—	—	—	—
1991–92	Phoenix Roadrunners	IHL		7	3	3	6	34		—	—	—	—	—
1991–92	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		71	7	12	19	101		6	0	0	0	2
1992–93	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		8	1	1	2	6		—	—	—	—	—
1992–93	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		22	0	1	1	14		—	—	—	—	—
1992–93	Cleveland Lumberjacks	IHL		9	1	0	1	4		—	—	—	—	—
1992–93	San Jose Sharks	NHL		20	2	3	5	16		—	—	—	—	—
1993–94	Calgary Flames	NHL		2	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1993–94	Saint John Flames	AHL		66	9	29	28	59		6	1	2	3	12
1994–95	Kiekko-Espoo	FIN		50	12	21	33	96		4	5	1	6	10
1995–96	HIFK	FIN		34	7	7	14	58		3	1	0	1	2
1996–97	HIFK	FIN		50	8	12	20	89		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	TPS	FIN		46	6	17	23	36		4	0	0	0	6
1998–99	TPS	FIN		47	12	21	33	93		10	3	7	10	12
1999–00	Espoo Blues	FIN		50	12	24	36	110		4	1	2	3	38
2000–01	Espoo Blues	FIN		51	8	13	21	112		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Södertälje SK	SEL		49	4	14	18	91		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Södertälje SK	SEL		47	6	4	10	48		—	—	—	—	—
FIN totals				328	65	115	180	594		25	10	10	20	68
NHL totals				123	10	17	27	137		6	0	0	0	2

Awards and honors

Award	Year
College
All-Hockey East Rookie Team	1989–90
AHCA West Second-Team All-American	1989–90
Hockey East All-Tournament Team	1991	[5]
SM-liiga
Champion (TPS Turku)	1999

Transactions

• On 5 April 1991 the Los Angeles Kings signed free agent Peter Ahola.
• On 6 November 1992 the Los Angeles Kings traded Peter Ahola to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Jeff Chychrun.
• On 26 February 1993 the Pittsburgh Penguins traded Peter Ahola to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for future considerations.
• On 19 June 1993 the San Jose Sharks traded Peter Ahola to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Dave Capuano.
• On 5 October 1993 the Tampa Bay Lightning traded Peter Ahola to the Calgary Flames in exchange for cash.