Playing career

Veli-Pekka Ketola played in the Finnish League, World Hockey Association, and National Hockey League. While Ketola was playing for the Ässät of the Finnish League, he won the league scoring twice in 1971 and 1978 and was a six-time all-star.

In 1974, Ketola came to North America to play for the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association. He played just over two and a half seasons, from 1974-75 to 1976-77, for the Jets and he played the last 17 games of the 1976-77 WHA season for the Calgary Cowboys. After those three years in the WHA, he went back to Finland to once again play for the Ässät Pori. Despite being signed by the Vancouver Canucks on 6 March 1979, he didn't play for a North American team again until he played 44 games for the Colorado Rockies of the NHL during the 1981-82 season.

Coaching career

Veli-Pekka Ketola coached Ässät Pori of the Finnish League from 1993-94 season to 1996-97 season's first six games.

Honours and accolades

• Six-time all-star in Finland.
• Elected to the Finnish Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990 as a player.
• Won the Best Hockey Player of Finland Trophy in 1974 and 1978.
• Won the Matti Keinonen trophy in 1978-79.
• His number 13 was retired by Assat Pori.
• He won the Veli-Pekka Ketola trophy the year it was introduced (1978).
• Led the Finnish League in scoring in 1971.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1963-64	Karhut	SM-s		2	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1964-65	Karhut	SM-s		18	4	1	5	2		—	—	—	—	—
1965-66	Karhut	SM-s		19	8	3	11	12		—	—	—	—	—
1966-67	Karhut	SM-s		22	15	10	25	30		—	—	—	—	—
1967-68	Ässät	SM-s		20	12	13	25	16		—	—	—	—	—
1968-69	Ässät	SM-s		20	15	9	24	22		—	—	—	—	—
1969-70	Jokerit	SM-s		22	25	12	37	26		—	—	—	—	—
1970-71	Ässät	SM-s		31	25	17	42	31		—	—	—	—	—
1971-72	Ässät	SM-s		32	16	14	30	25		—	—	—	—	—
1972-73	Ässät	SM-s		36	25	16	41	74		—	—	—	—	—
1973-74	Ässät	SM-s		35	23	21	44	44		—	—	—	—	—
1974-75	Winnipeg Jets	WHA		74	23	28	51	25		—	—	—	—	—
1975-76	Winnipeg Jets	WHA		80	32	36	68	32		13	7	5	12	2
1976-77	Winnipeg Jets	WHA		64	25	29	54	59		—	—	—	—	—
1976-77	Calgary Cowboys	WHA		17	4	6	10	2		—	—	—	—	—
1977-78	Ässät	SM-l		36	27	29	56	59		9	10	10	20	22
1978-79	Ässät	SM-l		36	23	49	72	66		8	1	6	7	30
1979-80	Ässät	SM-l		36	22	38	60	61		7	3	7	10	40
1980-81	Ässät	SM-l		36	23	39	62	61		2	0	0	0	2
1981-82	Colorado Rockies	NHL		44	9	5	14	4		—	—	—	—	—
1980-81	KalPa	I-Div		6	4	8	12	6		—	—	—	—	—
SM-l totals				144	95	155	250	247		26	14	23	37	94
SM-s totals				257	168	116	284	282		—	—	—	—	—
WHA totals				235	84	99	183	118		13	7	5	12	2

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1968	Finland	OLY		8	3	3	6	10
1969	Finland	WC		8	0	2	2	2
1970	Finland	WC		10	3	4	7	32
1971	Finland	WC		6	5	1	6	4
1972	Finland	OLY		6	1	3	4	7
1972	Finland	WC		9	4	3	7	4
1973	Finland	WC		10	2	2	4	12
1974	Finland	WC		10	7	3	10	4
1976	Finland	CC		5	0	0	0	2
1981	Finland	CC		5	0	0	0	6
Senior totals				77	25	21	46	83

[ Source: Wikipedia ]