Quick Facts
Biography
Petri Vehanen (b. October 9, 1977, Rauma, Finland) is a Finnish professional ice hockey player. He currently is a goaltender for Eisbären Berlin in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).
Playing career
Liiga
Vehanen has played his entire SM-liiga career for Lukko which is his hometown team. Vehanen has established himself as the starting goaltender for Lukko and played a solid season in 2007-08 season, earning himself a spot at the Finnish National Team roster. In the 2009 Karjala Tournament he was selected as the best goaltender.
Vehanen also has played for Mestis teams Jääkotkat and FPS.
Europe
Vehanen has played in Europe for HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk of Russia, Viking Hockey of Norway, where he was voted best goaltender, HC Val Pusterial Wolves in Italy and Mora IK in Sweden. Midway through the 2009-10 season, he joined the Kontinental Hockey League with Ak Bars Kazan, he made an immediate impact to help Kazan claim the Gagarin Cup, compiling the best Goals against average, save percentage and selected as the league's best goaltender.
After three seasons with Ak Bars, Vehanen returned to Lukko for a solitary season before again resuming his career in the KHL with HC Lev Praha. Vehanen took Praha to their maiden Gagarin Cup finals in the 2013-14 season, before the club disbanded.
On July 20, 2014, Vehanen opted to sign with German club, Eisbären Berlin of the DEL, on a one-year contract.
International Play
Vehanen played in his first International tournament in 2008, when he was selected to Finnish national team to play in 2008 Ice Hockey World Championships. Vehanen's World Championship debut came when he played against Norway which Finland won 3-2 after overtime. In 2011 Ice Hockey World Championships Finland won gold with Vehanen as a starting goaltender. In the final game Vehanen made 32 saves leading his team to a 6-1 win against Sweden.