Jani Rita

Jani Markus Rita (born July 25, 1981) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey winger who last played with Jokerit of the Russian KHL, for whom he played most of his career.

Playing career Despite limited NHL experience, Rita has played extensively in the American Hockey League and in the SM-liiga in his native Finland. Rita started his hockey career in a youth team of EKS (Espoon Kiekkoseura). He played his first seasons of pro hockey for Jokerit, Helsinki, and was drafted 13th overall in the 1999 NHL entry draft by the Edmonton Oilers.

Rita played for HPK in the SM-liiga during the 2004–05 NHL lockout, winning the bronze medal. That season he was awarded the Raimo Kilpiö trophy, and led the league in scoring during the playoffs. He also represented Finland at the 2005 World Hockey Championship, earning one assist. He had signed with Jokerit for the 2005–06 season with a contractual clause enabling him to return to the NHL. When the Oilers offered him a one-year contract in August 2005, Rita signed on to return to North America.

Although once considered a premier prospect at the NHL level, Rita's slow development showed cause for concern to Oilers management. On January 26, 2006, Rita was traded along with Cory Cross, to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Dick Tärnström. He finished the season with just 10 points in 51 games.

It was announced on 2 May 2006 that Rita was to depart Pittsburgh to return to his original club, Jokerit. He was the best goal scorer of SM-liiga in 2006–07 season. After ten more years with Jokerit including the club's transition from the Finnish Liiga to the KHL in 2014, Rita announced his retirement in June 2016.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1997–98 Jokerit FIN U18 7 7 4 11 2 — — — — — 1997–98 Jokerit FIN U20 36 15 9 24 2 8 4 1 5 0 1998–99 Jokerit FIN U20 20 9 13 22 8 6 1 1 2 8 1998–99 Jokerit SM-l 41 3 2 5 39 — — — — — 1999–2000 Jokerit FIN U20 1 1 0 1 0 — — — — — 1999–2000 Jokerit SM-l 49 6 3 9 10 11 1 0 1 0 2000–01 Jokerit FIN U20 3 3 2 5 0 — — — — — 2000–01 Jokerit SM-l 50 5 10 15 18 5 0 0 0 2 2001–02 Edmonton Oilers NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2001–02 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 76 25 17 42 32 15 8 4 12 0 2002–03 Edmonton Oilers NHL 12 3 1 4 0 — — — — — 2002–03 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 64 21 27 48 18 23 3 4 7 2 2003–04 Edmonton Oilers NHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2003–04 Toronto Roadrunners AHL 64 17 24 41 18 1 1 0 1 0 2004–05 HPK SM-l 56 21 18 39 12 10 7 4 11 4 2005–06 Edmonton Oilers NHL 21 3 0 3 6 — — — — — 2005–06 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 30 3 4 7 4 — — — — — 2006–07 Jokerit SM-l 56 32 20 52 28 10 6 1 7 2 2007–08 Jokerit SM-l 37 10 10 20 16 14 6 4 10 0 2008–09 Jokerit SM-l 58 15 16 31 12 5 0 2 2 0 2009–10 Jokerit SM-l 58 13 15 28 26 3 0 2 2 27 2010–11 Jokerit SM-l 8 2 0 2 2 7 0 1 1 2 2011–12 Jokerit SM-l 60 17 14 31 20 10 0 2 2 4 2012–13 Jokerit SM-l 50 11 5 16 6 6 1 1 2 2 2013–14 Jokerit Liiga 60 11 10 21 6 2 1 0 1 2 2014–15 Jokerit KHL 34 3 2 5 8 4 0 0 0 2 2015–16 Jokerit KHL 56 3 5 8 28 3 0 0 0 2 SM-l/Liiga totals 583 146 123 269 195 83 22 17 39 45 NHL totals 66 9 5 14 10 — — — — — AHL totals 204 63 68 131 68 39 12 8 20 2

International Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 1998 Finland EJC 6 2 3 5 6 1999 Finland WJC 6 1 1 2 2 2000 Finland WJC 7 0 3 3 0 2001 Finland WJC 7 8 1 9 0 2005 Finland WC 7 0 2 2 6 2006 Finland WC 6 1 0 1 0 Junior totals 26 11 8 19 8 Senior totals 13 1 2 3 6

Awards Raimo Kilpiö trophy for gentleman player - 2005 Aarne Honkavaara trophy for best goal scorer - 2007