Pekka Rautakallio

Pekka Olavi "Rocky" Rautakallio (born July 25, 1953) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenceman and coach.

Internationally, Rautakallio played with the Finnish national team in seven World Championships and two Canada Cup tournaments.

He retired in 1989 after playing the final two seasons of his career with SC Rapperswil-Jona of the Swiss second division, after which he turned to coaching.

Rautakallio has coached in Switzerland, Finland, and most recently Latvia with Dinamo Riga of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

The Phoenix Roadrunners thought to sign him to a contract that year, but hesitated out of fear that the challenge of a Finn adapting to life in Arizona on his own would be too great.

[3] The Roadrunners ceased operations following the season, and lacking other options in North America, Rautakallio returned to Finland.

[4] Rautakallio returned to Ässät, which had joined the recently formed SM-liiga, and established himself as a top defenceman in the league.

[5] Ässät established its place as the SM-liiga's dominant team by winning the Kanada-malja as league champions in 1978 and reaching the final in 1979.

[6] The Atlanta Flames brought Rautakallio back to North America in 1979 as general manager Cliff Fletcher signed him to a National Hockey League (NHL) contract.

Pekka Rautakallio with the Porin Ässät .