Jari Kurri facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jari Kurri
Hockey Hall of Fame, 2001
Kurri in 2016
Born	(1960-05-18) 18 May 1960 (age 65) Helsinki, Finland
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	198 lb (90 kg; 14 st 2 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shot	Right
Played for	Jokerit Edmonton Oilers Devils Milano Los Angeles Kings New York Rangers Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Colorado Avalanche
National team	Finland
NHL Draft	69th overall, 1980 Edmonton Oilers
Playing career	1977–1998
Medal record Representing  Finland Men's ice hockey Winter Olympics Bronze 1998 Nagano Team Canada Cup Bronze 1991 Canada World Championships Silver 1994 Italy European Championship Bronze 1991 Finland World Junior Championships Silver 1980 Finland IIHF European Junior Championships Gold 1978 Finland

Jari Pekka Kurri (born May 18, 1960) is a famous Finnish former professional ice hockey player. He played as a right wing for 17 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). Kurri was the first Finnish player to be added to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001.

He won the Stanley Cup five times, all with the Edmonton Oilers. In 2017, Kurri was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' ever. He also won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 1985 for being a skilled and gentlemanly player. His jersey number 17 was retired by the Edmonton Oilers and Jokerit, his first team. After retiring, Kurri became the general manager and owner of Jokerit.

Playing Career

Early Years (1977–1980)

Jari Kurri started his professional hockey journey with Jokerit in Finland's top league, the SM-liiga. In his first season (1977–78), he scored 11 points. The next two years, he improved, scoring 30 and 39 points.

In 1979, Kurri played an exhibition game in Edmonton, Canada, with the Finnish national team. Even though Finland lost, Kurri impressed the Edmonton Oilers' team management. This game would later change his career path.

Edmonton Oilers (1980-1990)

In 1980, Kurri was eligible for the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. Many NHL teams thought he still had to complete military service in Finland. However, the Oilers found out he had already finished it. They secretly used this information and picked Kurri 69th overall in the fourth round. This pick is seen as one of the best "steals" in NHL draft history.

When Kurri joined the Oilers, he often played with Wayne Gretzky, one of the greatest hockey players ever. They became an amazing scoring duo. Gretzky helped Kurri score many goals, and Kurri also helped Gretzky score.

Kurri was nicknamed the "Finnish Flash" during his time in Edmonton. He was known as a very complete player, good at both offense and defense. The Oilers team was incredibly strong, with future Hall of Famers like Paul Coffey, Grant Fuhr, and Mark Messier. They won four Stanley Cups with Gretzky.

After Gretzky was traded in 1988, Kurri continued to lead the team. He helped the Oilers win their fifth and last Stanley Cup in 1990. Kurri won a total of five Stanley Cups with Edmonton (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, and 1990).

In the 1984–85 season, he scored 71 goals, setting a record for a right winger at the time. He also led the league in goals with 68 in the 1985–86 season. In the 1987 Stanley Cup Finals, Kurri scored the winning goal in Game 7.

Kurri also set a playoff record in 1985 with 19 goals in 18 games. He scored four hat tricks (three goals in one game) in those playoffs, which is still a record. On November 19, 1983, he scored five goals in a single game.

Later Career (1990–1998)

After his contract with the Oilers ended in 1990, Kurri decided to play in Italy for a season. He played for Devils Milano and scored 75 points in 30 games.

After Italy, Kurri's rights were traded to the Los Angeles Kings. This meant he reunited with Wayne Gretzky. In 1993, they helped the Kings reach the Stanley Cup Finals, but they lost to the Montreal Canadiens. Kurri played well for the Kings, scoring 146 points in 176 games. He also took on a more defensive role.

During the 1994–95 NHL lockout, Kurri played for his old team, Jokerit, in Finland. He played alongside Teemu Selänne, another Finnish hockey star. Kurri helped Jokerit win the 1994 IIHF European Cup.

After the lockout, Kurri returned to the NHL. He was traded to the New York Rangers in 1996 for their playoff run. He then signed with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 1996, hoping to play with Selänne and Paul Kariya. He played a smaller role but helped the Ducks reach the second round of the playoffs.

Kurri with the Avalanche in 1997

In 1997, Kurri signed with the Colorado Avalanche, the previous Stanley Cup champions. He played a defensive role and scored his 600th NHL career goal with the Avalanche. The Avalanche were a strong team but were eliminated early in the playoffs by his former team, the Oilers.

Legacy

Jari Kurri finished his NHL career with 601 goals, 797 assists, and 1,398 points. At the time, he was the highest-scoring European-born-and-trained player in NHL history. Later, Jaromír Jágr and Teemu Selänne passed his records.

Kurri's 106 playoff goals and 233 playoff points are among the highest in NHL history. His 1,398 points rank 19th all-time. He is also the third-highest point scorer in Oilers history.

His jersey number 17 has been retired by the Edmonton Oilers, the Finnish national team, and Jokerit. The Jari Kurri trophy is given to the most valuable player in the SM-liiga playoffs. In 2000, he was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame. In 1998, The Hockey News ranked him number 50 on their list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players. He was the first Finn to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001.

International Play

Jari Kurri looks on as the Finnish national team plays at the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Kurri also had a long career playing for the Finland men's national ice hockey team. He first played for Finland at the 1980 Winter Olympics, scoring two goals and an assist.

Because NHL players couldn't always play in the Olympics or World Championships back then, Kurri's international appearances were limited after he joined the NHL.

In 1982, Kurri played in the 1982 World Ice Hockey Championships held in Finland. He was a top player for the Finnish team, but they did not reach the medal round.

Jokerit’s general manager Jari Kurri

Kurri finally won his first international medal in 1994. Finland earned a silver medal at the 1994 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships, losing to Canada in the final.

At the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Kurri played against Wayne Gretzky for the last time. Finland, considered the underdog, won the bronze medal game against Canada 3–2. Kurri scored Finland's first goal in that game, which was his last goal for the national team.

After Retirement

After retiring from playing, Jari Kurri served as the general manager for the Finland men's national ice hockey team. He helped scout players and assisted the head coach.

Later, Kurri became the general manager of Jokerit, the first Finnish team to join the KHL league. In 2019, he also became the owner of Jokerit, but he sold his share in 2022.

Personal Life

Jari Kurri is married to Vanessa Kurri, a former Miss Finland. They have three daughters and one son together. Kurri also has twin sons from his first marriage. Wayne Gretzky, his former teammate, is the godfather to Kurri's children from his first marriage.

Achievements

NHL

SM-Liiga

International

See also

In Spanish: Jari Kurri para niños

• 50 goals in 50 games
• List of members of the Hockey Hall of Fame
• Hockey Hall of Fame
• List of NHL statistical leaders
• List of NHL players with 1000 points
• List of NHL players with 500 goals