Tuukka Rask facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tuukka Rask
Rask with the Boston Bruins in October 2013
Born	(1987-03-10) 10 March 1987 (age 38) Savonlinna, Finland
Height	6 ft 2.5 in (189 cm)
Weight	176 lb (80 kg; 12 st 8 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
Played for	Ilves Boston Bruins HC Plzeň
National team	Finland
NHL Draft	21st overall, 2005 Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career	2004–2022

Tuukka Rask (born March 10, 1987) is a former professional ice hockey goaltender from Finland. He was chosen by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2005 NHL Draft. However, he was traded to the Boston Bruins in 2006. Rask played his entire 15-season NHL career with the Bruins.

He was very successful with the Bruins. Rask won the Stanley Cup in 2011 as a backup goalie. He then led the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Finals twice, in 2013 and 2019. He also won the Vezina Trophy in the 2013–14 season. This award goes to the league's best goaltender. Rask also won the William M. Jennings Trophy in 2019–20. He was named an NHL All-Star twice.

Internationally, Rask helped Team Finland win bronze medals. They won at the 2006 World Juniors and the 2014 Winter Olympics. He was named Best Goaltender at the 2006 World Juniors. Tuukka's older brother, Joonas Rask, also plays professional hockey.

Tuukka Rask holds several records for the Boston Bruins. He played the most regular season games (564) and had the most wins (308) as a goalie. He also holds playoff records for games played (104) and wins (57). Rask is known for his excellent save percentage and low goals against average. He is one of the best goalies in NHL history for these stats.

Rask was known for his calm and smart playing style. He would often stop pucks by absorbing them into his chest. He used a narrow "butterfly" style, staying on his skates for high saves. His unique style helped him control rebounds well.

Tuukka Rask's Hockey Journey

Starting in Finland (2002–2007)

Tuukka Rask began his hockey career in his hometown of Savonlinna, Finland. He played for the junior teams of the SaPKo club. Later, he joined the Ilves junior team in Tampere. He played 26 games and had a great goals against average (GAA) of 1.86.

In 2004, Rask became the main goalie for the Ilves senior team. This team played in Finland's top league, the SM-liiga. He was considered the best European goalie for the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

The Toronto Maple Leafs picked Rask 21st overall in the 2005 NHL Draft. But before he played for Toronto, he was traded. The Maple Leafs sent him to the Boston Bruins for goalie Andrew Raycroft. Toronto decided to keep another goalie, Justin Pogge, who had won a gold medal.

Looking back, this trade is seen as one of the worst for the Maple Leafs. Rask became a star for the Bruins. Raycroft only played two seasons for Toronto and did not perform as well.

Becoming a Bruins Star (2007–2022)

Early Years and First NHL Games (2007–2010)

Rask played one more season in Finland before joining the Bruins. In May 2007, he signed a three-year contract with Boston. He practiced with the Providence Bruins, their minor league team.

On November 5, 2007, Rask was called up to the Boston Bruins for the first time. He got his first NHL win just two weeks later. It was a 4–2 victory against his old team, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

In October 2008, Rask was sent back to Providence. Even though he had the best save percentage in pre-season games, the Bruins chose two older goalies. But in January 2009, Rask was called up again. He played one game and earned his first NHL shutout. A shutout means the goalie stops every shot and the other team scores no goals.

Before the 2009–10 season, Rask became the backup goalie to Tim Thomas. He signed a two-year contract extension. In that season, Rask was the only NHL goalie with a goals against average (GAA) under 2.00. He also had the best save percentage over .930. This was amazing for a rookie goalie.

Winning the Stanley Cup and Vezina Trophy (2010–2019)

In the 2010–11 season, Tim Thomas played exceptionally well. Rask remained the backup goalie. The Bruins went on to win the Stanley Cup that year. They beat the Vancouver Canucks. Rask became the second Finnish goalie to win the Cup. However, he did not play in any playoff games that year. Thomas played every game and was named the playoff MVP.

In 2012, Rask signed a new contract with the Bruins. He was named the starting goalie, taking over from Tim Thomas. During a break in the NHL season, Rask played for HC Plzeň in the Czech Republic. His team won the Czech Extraliga championship.

Rask (right) with Tim Thomas in February 2012

After the NHL season restarted, Rask led the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2013. In one playoff round, he stopped 134 out of 136 shots. This was an amazing performance. The Bruins lost the Finals to the Chicago Blackhawks in six games.

Rask with the Boston Bruins in January 2016

On July 10, 2013, Rask signed a big eight-year contract with the Bruins. After the 2013–14 season, Rask won the Vezina Trophy. This award is given to the best goalie in the NHL. He had a record of 36 wins, 15 losses, and 6 overtime losses. The Bruins also won the Presidents' Trophy that year for having the best regular season record.

In the 2016–17 season, Rask had a groin injury. Despite this, he helped the Bruins reach the playoffs for the first time in three seasons. After the playoffs, he had surgery on his groin. He was ready to play again for the next season.

In the 2017–18 season, Rask had a career-best 21-game point streak. The Bruins had a great season with 50 wins. In the 2018 playoffs, the Bruins lost in the second round.

On January 1, 2019, Rask set a new Bruins record. He played his 469th game as a goalie, more than any other Bruins goalie. Later that month, he had a concussion. He returned to play on January 31. On February 3, Rask recorded a shutout. This made him the Bruins' all-time leader in wins for a goalie.

Rask helped the Bruins reach the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals again. They played a tough seven-game series but lost to the St. Louis Blues. Rask had an excellent playoff performance with a 2.02 goals against average and a .934 save percentage.

Final Seasons and Retirement (2019–2022)

Rask played his 500th NHL game on October 22, 2019. On his 33rd birthday, March 10, 2020, he earned his 50th career shutout. The COVID-19 pandemic cut the 2019–20 season short. Rask and fellow goalie Jaroslav Halák won the William M. Jennings Trophy. The Bruins also won the Presidents' Trophy as the best regular season team.

During the NHL's return to play in a "bubble" in Toronto, Rask played a few games. On August 15, 2020, he decided to leave the playoffs and return home. He later shared that he left because his daughter was going through a medical emergency.

On April 15, 2021, Rask returned from an upper-body injury. He earned his 300th NHL win, becoming the first Bruins goalie to reach this milestone. On May 21, Rask passed Gerry Cheevers for the most playoff wins by a Bruins goalie. After the Bruins were eliminated from the 2021 playoffs, Rask revealed he had a hip injury. He needed surgery and planned to return to the Bruins. He said he would not play for any other team.

On January 6, 2022, Rask signed a tryout contract with the Providence Bruins. This was to help him recover from his surgery. He signed a one-year contract with the Boston Bruins on January 11. However, Rask only played four games in the 2021–22 season before getting injured again. On February 9, 2022, Tuukka Rask announced his retirement from ice hockey.

International Play

Medal record
Representing  Finland
Men's ice hockey
Olympic Games
Bronze	2014 Sochi
World Junior Hockey Championships
Bronze	2006 Canada

Rask played in four games for Finland at the 2014 Winter Olympics. He helped them win a bronze medal. This included a 3–1 win over host nation Russia. He also had a shutout against the United States in the bronze medal game. He could not play in the semifinal game against Sweden due to the flu.

In 2016, Rask was chosen as the starting goalie for Finland in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Personal Life

Rask in March 2008.

In 2015, scientists discovered a new species of wasp in Kenya. They named it Thaumatodryinus tuukkaraski after Tuukka Rask. The scientists said they named it after him because his "glove hand is as tenacious as the raptorial fore tarsus of this dryinid species." This means the wasp's front leg is as strong and quick as Rask's glove hand when catching pucks!

Awards and Honors

Rask during the Bruins' 2011 Stanley Cup victory parade

Rask and the Bruins are awarded the Prince of Wales Trophy in 2013.

Boston Bruins Records

• Most games played by a goaltender in Boston Bruins history.
• Most wins by a goaltender in franchise history.
• Most shutouts in playoff series-clinching games in franchise history.
• Longest season-opening home point streak in Boston Bruins history.
• Most playoff wins by a goaltender in franchise history.

Fun Facts About Tuukka

Rask in March 2008.

In February 2015, scientists discovered a new type of wasp in Kenya. They named it Thaumatodryinus tuukkaraski after Tuukka Rask! They said the wasp's front legs were as strong as Rask's glove hand.