The Mestis team signed the league's best-selected defender - below an unplayed season

The Mestis club IPK has strengthened its defense. The club has signed a one-year contract with Kalle Valtola.

Valtola, 29, did not play anywhere last season. Before that, he spent four and a half seasons abroad playing in Sweden, Slovakia, and Poland. Valtola won the championship twice in Poland.

Valtola was named the best defender in Mestis for the 2017-18 season. At that time, he also broke the Mestis defenders’ single-season points record, finishing with 14+32=46 points in 50 games for TUTO Hockey. The current record is held by Atro Leppänen with 58 points. Valtola scored 6+8=14 points in 18 playoff games that same season.

– We got an experienced player who has seen the world and has special skills for offensive play. Kalle’s excellent movement, shot, and ability to deliver the puck to the net make him a real asset for the power play. His personality fits perfectly into the team. Players of this caliber are rarely available, and I am very happy that we reached an agreement, says IPK’s development manager Niko Härkönen in the club’s press release.

– I am coming to Iisalmi with really excited feelings. I have heard positive things about IPK for a long time, and it was particularly important for me that the team has a genuine chance to succeed. I spent a long time abroad, and now it felt like it was time to return to Finland. Last year was spent without playing due to the challenges caused by the onset of Crohn’s disease, but now the medication has been found, I am in good shape, and I am incredibly eager to finally get back to playing, Valtola says.

Valtola has played 62 games in the Liiga for KooKoo, scoring 7+11=18 points. Most recently, he played in Finland during the 2019-2020 season, when he played for KooKoo and TUTO.