Waltteri Immonen

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Position	Defence
Shoots	Left
Nickname(s)	Wade
Height Weight	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 171 lb (78 kg/12 st 3 lb)
Pro clubs	Jokerit
Nationality	Finland
Born	April 3, 1967 (1967-04-03) (age 41), Helsinki, FIN
Pro career	1987 – 1999

Waltteri Immonen (b. 3.4.1967 in Helsinki, Finland) is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman and former coach of SM-liiga team Jokerit.

[edit] Playing career

Immonen started his playing career in Helsingin Jokerit, an Ice Hockey team from Helsinki. Immonen played his first full season for Jokerit during the 1988-89 1. division league of ice hockey in Finland. Immonen led the defence of Jokerit and played alongside with players like Teemu Selänne, Ari Sulander, Mika Strömberg and during the 1994-95 NHL lockout he was joined by NHL-star Jari Kurri and for the second time Teemu Selänne. Immonen was appointed as the Captain of Jokerit in the beginning of 1991-92 SM-liiga season by then head coach Boris Majorov. Immonen won the SM-liiga 4 times as the captain of Jokerit and was also winning the 1995 European Cup with Jokerit. Immonen retired after 1998-99 SM-liiga season. Immonen's playing number 24 is currently retired by Jokerit in honour of his services as the longtime captain of the team.

[edit] Coaching career

After retiring, Immonen soon became the Team Manager of Jokerit and after Hannu Jortikka left, Immonen was named the as the new Head Coach of Jokerit. After a poor start, Immonen was fired from his position but remained in the club in the role of Coach. Immonen was part of the Jokerit coaching staff until 2008, when he followed the departing Doug Shedden to Nationalliga A team EV Zug where he will start out as an assistant coach to Shedden.

Preceded by Jere Lehtinen	Winner of the Raimo Kilpiö trophy 1995-96	Succeeded by Kimmo Rintanen
Preceded by Anssi Melametsä	Captain of Jokerit 1991-1999	Succeeded by Antti-Jussi Niemi
Preceded by Hannu Jortikka	Head Coach of Jokerit 2005	Succeeded by Curt Lindström