Toni Rajala

Toni Rajala (born March 29, 1991) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward for EHC Biel of the National League (NL). He was drafted 101st overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2009 NHL entry draft.

Playing career Rajala began playing junior hockey with the Ilves Tampere system in 2005–06. By 2007–08, he had worked his way up to the Junior A level of the SM-Liiga, tallying 35 points in 33 games. Rajala turned pro with Ilves Tampere in 2008–09, tallying 5 points in 21 games during his professional rookie season in the SM-Liiga.

Rajala was selected in the first round of the 2009 CHL Import Draft (14th overall) by the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He joined the Wheat Kings for the 2009–10 WHL season.

On July 16, 2009, Rajala signed a two-way contract with the Edmonton Oilers.

With the impending 2012–13 NHL lockout, The Oilers directly assigned him to the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League on September 15, 2012.

On August 25, 2013, with the prospects of another season in the American minor leagues, Rajala opted to be mutually released from his contract with the Oilers and later returned to Europe to sign a one-year contract with Swedish Hockey League club, HV71 on October 15, 2013.

International play

Rajala debuted internationally for Finland at the 2008 IIHF World U18 Championships, recording 5 points in 6 games as Finland placed sixth. The following year, he was named to Finland's under-20 team for the 2009 World Junior Championships in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and managed 3 points in 6 games; Finland finished in seventh place.

Later that year, in April 2009, Rajala competed for Finland at the 2009 IIHF World U18 Championships in the United States. He led the tournament in scoring with ten goals and nine assists and broke the previous point record held by Alexander Ovechkin. Rajala was selected as the best forward in the tournament, and was named to the tournament All-Star Team, helping Finland to a bronze medal. Rajala also represented Finland at the 2010 World Junior Championships, which were held in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2006–07 Ilves FIN U18 30 18 26 44 32 — — — — — 2006–07 Ilves Jr. A 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2007–08 Ilves FIN U18 13 10 15 25 18 — — — — — 2007–08 Ilves Jr. A 33 13 22 35 10 5 1 3 4 8 2008–09 Ilves Jr. A 31 14 17 31 18 — — — — — 2008–09 Ilves SM-l 21 2 3 5 0 3 0 0 0 2 2008–09 Suomi U20 Mestis 4 1 2 3 2 — — — — — 2009–10 Brandon Wheat Kings WHL 60 26 37 63 24 15 4 3 7 8 2010–11 Ilves SM-l 44 9 13 22 4 6 4 0 4 0 2010–11 Suomi U20 Mestis 2 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 2010–11 LeKi Mestis 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2011–12 Ilves SM-l 51 16 13 29 24 — — — — — 2012–13 Stockton Thunder ECHL 29 18 20 38 10 — — — — — 2012–13 Oklahoma City Barons AHL 46 17 28 45 16 17 4 12 16 8 2013–14 HV71 SHL 37 13 17 30 12 7 1 4 5 4 2014–15 HC Yugra KHL 21 3 9 12 6 — — — — — 2014–15 Färjestad BK SHL 31 14 13 27 12 3 0 2 2 0 2015–16 Luleå HF SHL 52 17 15 32 8 11 0 2 2 6 2016–17 EHC Biel NLA 36 16 8 24 14 5 2 3 5 2 2017–18 EHC Biel NL 44 16 19 35 8 12 9 5 14 0 2018–19 EHC Biel NL 50 27 21 48 36 12 5 1 6 2 2019–20 EHC Biel NL 50 23 23 46 10 — — — — — 2020–21 EHC Biel NL 46 12 20 32 22 2 0 0 0 0 2021–22 EHC Biel NL 51 22 26 48 10 7 2 3 5 4 2022–23 EHC Biel NL 51 16 22 38 18 17 10 5 15 2 2023–24 EHC Biel NL 51 18 22 40 41 8 1 1 2 6 2024–25 EHC Biel NL 49 17 19 36 30 — — — — — 2025–26 EHC Biel NL 49 14 19 33 4 2 1 0 1 0 Liiga totals 116 27 29 56 28 9 4 0 4 2 NL totals 477 181 199 380 193 65 30 18 48 16

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2008 Finland U17 6th 5 6 5 11 6 2008 Finland WJC18 6th 6 3 2 5 2 2009 Finland WJC 7th 6 2 1 3 4 2009 Finland WJC18 6 10 9 19 6 2010 Finland WJC 5th 6 1 2 3 0 2011 Finland WJC 6th 6 0 4 4 2 2019 Finland WC 10 1 4 5 2 2022 Finland OG 1 0 0 0 0 2022 Finland WC 10 4 2 6 0 Junior totals 35 22 23 45 20 Senior totals 21 5 6 11 2

Awards and honours Award Year CHL George Parsons Trophy 2010 IIHF U18 Best Forward 2009 U18 All-Star Team 2009