Quick Facts
AquariusBiography
Karri Kivi (born 31 January 1970, in Turku) is Finnish former ice hockey player and current coach. He is currently serving as head coach of Finnish team Ilves.
Playing career
He started his professional career in Ilves in 1988-89 and played until 2001, representing also TPS, Ässät and Kärpät in the SM-liiga. His playing career also included one season in Sweden with AIK. Highlights were reaching the Liiga finals with Ilves in 1990 and earning promotion to Finland's top-tier with Kärpät in 2000.
Coaching career
After his playing career, Kivi started his coaching career as an assistant coach at Liiga club Ässät. In 2011, he was promoted to the head coaching job and led Ässät to the Finnish championship in 2013, while receiving Coach of the Year honors. After this successful season, he joined the coaching staff of the Finnish ice hockey federation and coached Finland's men's national junior ice hockey team to the title at the World Junior Championship in 2014.
Prior to the 2014-15 season, Kivi accepted the job as head coach of Traktor Chelyabinsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was relieved of his duties in October 2014. Kivi was named head coach of Finnish Liiga side Ilves prior to the 2016-17 campaign.