Topi Jaakola (born 15 November 1983) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing for the ZSC Lions in the National League (NL). He was drafted by the Florida Panthers, 134th overall, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft however opted to remain in Europe to pursue his professional career. Internationally he has represented Finland at several World Championships, where he won the 2011 World Championship.

Topi Jaakola
Jaakola (left) at the 2016 IIHF World Championship
Born (1983-11-15) 15 November 1983 (age 40)
Oulu, Finland
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 198 lb (90 kg; 14 st 2 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
NL team
Former teams
ZSC Lions
Oulun Kärpät
Södertälje SK
Luleå HF
Amur Khabarovsk
HC Lev Praha
Jokerit
HV71
HC TPS
National team  Finland
NHL draft 134th overall, 2002
Florida Panthers
Playing career 2000–2020
Medal record
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2011 Slovakia
Silver medal – second place 2016 Russia
World Junior Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2002 Czech Republic
Bronze medal – third place 2003 Canada
World U18 Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2001 Finland

Playing career

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He played his first games at senior level during the 2000–01 season and became a regular player during the following season. He spent his entire Finnish career in the Liiga with Oulun Kärpät, winning four championships (2004, 2005, 2007, 2008). For the 2008–09 season he moved to Sweden to play in Södertälje SK.

On 30 July 2014, at the completion of his contract with HC Lev Praha, Jaakola remained in the KHL but returned to Finland in agreeing to a two-year contract with Jokerit.[1]

International play

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Jaakola has played for Finland at seven World Championships. He won the gold at the 2011 World Championship and a silver in 2016. He also played for the Finnish national junior team, and won bronze medals in 2002 and 2003.

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1999–2000 Kärpät FIN U18 33 5 12 17 71 5 1 1 2 4
1999–2000 Kärpät FIN U20 3 0 0 0 0
2000–01 Kärpät FIN U18 2 1 1 2 0
2000–01 Kärpät FIN U20 33 3 9 12 47 6 0 2 2 6
2000–01 Kärpät SM-liiga 4 0 0 0 2 4 0 0 0 0
2001–02 Kärpät FIN U20 3 0 0 0 2 2 1 0 1 0
2001–02 Kärpät SM-liiga 44 0 4 4 18 4 0 0 0 4
2002–03 Kärpät FIN U20 1 0 0 0 0
2002–03 Kärpät SM-liiga 52 2 2 4 18 15 0 0 0 8
2003–04 Kärpät SM-liiga 52 0 4 4 12 14 0 1 1 6
2004–05 Kärpät SM-liiga 33 1 3 4 6
2005–06 Kärpät SM-liiga 55 1 7 8 28 11 0 0 0 2
2006–07 Kärpät SM-liiga 56 2 6 8 36 10 0 3 3 8
2007–08 Kärpät SM-liiga 55 3 11 14 46 14 4 5 9 10
2008–09 Södertälje SK SEL 51 0 11 11 22
2009–10 Södertälje SK SEL 30 0 4 4 8
2010–11 Luleå HF SEL 55 2 5 7 14 13 0 5 5 2
2011–12 Luleå HF SEL 54 2 13 15 18 5 0 1 1 0
2012–13 Amur Khabarovsk KHL 27 5 5 10 16
2013–14 HC Lev Praha KHL 48 9 4 13 16 11 0 1 1 4
2014–15 Jokerit KHL 54 4 10 14 24 10 0 2 2 0
2015–16 Jokerit KHL 57 10 15 25 45 5 0 2 2 25
2016–17 Jokerit KHL 55 3 16 19 37 4 0 2 2 2
2017–18 HV71 SHL 39 2 6 8 16
2018–19 TPS Liiga 1 0 0 0 0
2019–20 Pelicans Liiga 38 3 14 17 33
2019–20 ZSC Lions NL 1 0 0 0 0
SM-liiga/Liiga totals 390 12 51 63 199 72 4 9 13 38
SEL/SHL totals 229 6 39 45 78 38 2 11 13 12
KHL totals 241 31 50 81 138 30 0 7 7 31

International

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Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
2000 Finland U17 3 0 0 0 0
2001 Finland WJC18 6 1 1 2 4
2002 Finland WJC 6 0 0 0 2
2003 Finland WJC 7 1 1 2 4
2009 Finland WC 7 0 0 0 4
2010 Finland WC 7 0 1 1 4
2011 Finland WC 9 0 1 1 6
2012 Finland WC 10 0 0 0 2
2015 Finland WC 8 0 1 1 6
2016 Finland WC 10 0 2 2 0
2017 Finland WC 10 1 0 1 2
Junior totals 22 2 2 4 10
Senior totals 61 1 5 6 24

References

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  1. ^ "Jaakola to improve the defense" (in Finnish). Jokerit. 30 July 2014. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
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