IFK's historical facts

• IFK Helsinki, sporting club, was founded 1897
• hockey wasn't introduced into club's program until 1929
• gained promotion to the Finnish Elite League in 1966-67-season and has been there ever since
• has won six times finnish championships ('69, '70, '74, '80, '83 and '98)
• other medals: 3 silver and 8 bronze.
• has retired six numbers: #1 Stig Wetzell, #5 Heikki Riihiranta, #7 Simo Saarinen, #17 Matti Murto, #20 Matti Hagman and #23 Pertti Lehtonen
• defenseman Pertti Lehtonen's number was on 26th of September 1998, before season's first game between local rivalries IFK and Jokerit. Lehtonen's jersey was lifted to the rafters with sell-out crowd giving a standing ovation.
  "Pepe" played during his amazing carreer 23 seasons in Finnish Elite League, 22 of those with IFK. Lehtonen also played 17 consecutive seasons scoring at least 20 points. He has played most games in FEL ever (864 regular season games).
  Lehtonen's slapshot from the blueline is well-known among hockeypeople in Finland earning him the nickname "Ruoska" (Whipslash).
  One of his carreer's highlights was scoring of the game-winner of game 5 in final seriers against local rivals Jokerit in 1983. This goal clinched IFK's fifth finnish championship.
• first ever finnish (and international) draft pick was IFK's Tommi Salmelainen in 1969. He was drafted by St. Louis Blues on 5th round (66th overall). Salmelainen attended Blues' training camp, and signed with St.Louis' farm team Kansas City Blues of Central Hockey League. He played 1969-70 season with the CHL's Blues, scoring 22 points (6+16) in 62 games. After the season he returned to IFK and ended his carreer in 1981. He's at the moment a member of IFK's board.
  Tommi Salmelainen's stats with IFK

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