Riihiranta had a good career in Finland and was one of the premier players for the National Team at his time.

Riihiranta played for 3 full seasons in a Canadian WHA team, Winnipeg Jets, and won the Avco World Trophy with them in 1976.

The coaches were: Pentti Matikainen, Curt Lindström and Hannu Aravirta.

Riihiranta had his finest moment when he shed tears in the players bench after Finland won the World Championships over Sweden in 1995.

This biographical article relating to a Finnish ice hockey defenceman is a stub.