Arto Kalevi "Java" Javanainen (April 8, 1959 – January 25, 2011) was a Finnish professional ice hockey right wing. During his career, Javanainen represented Porin Ässät, his hometown team, as well as HC TPS in the SM-liiga. He was the first European draft pick in Pittsburgh Penguins history, but he only played 14 games with the team.

Arto Javanainen
Born (1959-04-08)8 April 1959
Pori, Finland
Died 25 January 2011(2011-01-25) (aged 51)
Turku, Finland
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 189 lb (86 kg; 13 st 7 lb)
Position Right wing
Shot Right
Played for SM-liiga
Ässät
TPS
NHL
Pittsburgh Penguins
National team  Finland
NHL draft 118th overall, 1983
Montreal Canadiens
85th overall, 1984
Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career 1975–1994

Javanainen has won two Finnish Championship and his jersey number, four, has been retired by the Porin Ässät.[1] The Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame honored Javanainen as the Finnish Ice Hockey Lion number 121.[2] Javanainen holds the goal record for the SM-liiga with 462 and the one season goals record with 47.[3][4]

Career

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Javanainen started his career in 1975 in the ranks of the Porin Ässät. In his first season in the SM-liiga, he played 27 games without any points. He played 29 U20 matches with Ässät scoring 13 points. The following season, Javanainen would play 34 games with nine goals and five assists. Javanainen also represented Finland in the World Junior Championships playing seven games and scoring six points. In the 1977–78 season, Javanainen played 35 regular season games scoring eight goals and eight assist as well as nine playoff games with nine points, also winning the Finnish Championship with Ässät.

In 1983, Javanainen was drafted 118 overall by the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). The following draft in 1984, he became the first European player to be drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.

In the 1984–85 season, Javanainen played 14 games for the Penguins scoring five points. He spent most of his time in the AHL with the Baltimore Skipjacks where he played 59 games with 55 points.

During the 1987–88 season with HC TPS, Javanainen would break the one season scoring record with 47 goals.[3]

In the 1992–93 season, Javanainen broke the all-time point record for the SM-liiga, but the record has then been broken by Janne Ojanen.[5] Javanainen retired in 1994 after a season in Denmark.

Overall Javanainen played 668 SM-liiga games with 462 goals and 330 assists totalling 792 points. Javanainen was the top goal scorer of the league five times and was chosen to the all-star lineup four times.[4]

Personal life

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Arto Javanainen's tombstone at Käppärä graveyard in Pori

On January 26, 2011, Javanainen died in a Turku, Finland hospital after battling a long illness. He was 51 years old. He is survived by a wife and two children.[6][7][8] Javanainen's son, Tomas, played ice hockey for FPS, HC Indians and Chiefs, but retired in 2020. He also used to play for Ässät's junior teams.[9][10]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1975–76 Ässät FIN U20 29 10 3 13 41
1975–76 Ässät SM-l 27 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0
1976–77 Ässät FIN U20 4 3 1 4 16
1976–77 Ässät SM-l 34 9 5 14 8
1977–78 Ässät FIN U20 13 13 7 20 12
1977–78 Ässät SM-l 35 8 8 16 0 9 5 4 9 5
1978–79 Ässät FIN U20 1 1 0 1 7
1978–79 Ässät SM-l 36 31 18 49 36 8 7 4 11 7
1979–80 Ässät FIN U20 1 1 1 2 6
1979–80 Ässät SM-l 36 28 29 57 48 7 7 2 9 10
1980–81 Ässät SM-l 36 37 27 64 40 2 1 0 1 2
1981–82 Ässät SM-l 36 29 27 56 50 9 5 4 9 8
1982–83 Ässät SM-l 36 28 23 51 56
1983–84 Ässät SM-l 37 37 25 62 66 9 4 2 6 10
1984–85 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 14 4 1 5 2
1984–85 Baltimore Skipjacks AHL 59 26 29 55 15 15 5 4 9 2
1985–86 Ässät SM-l 36 44 27 71 26
1986–87 Ässät SM-l 44 37 24 61 80
1987–88 TPS SM-l 44 47 20 67 42
1988–89 TPS SM-l 44 32 23 55 38 6 5 3 8 2
1989–90 Ässät FIN.2 36 59 39 98 30 3 2 1 3 6
1990–91 Ässät SM-l 44 35 18 53 38
1991–92 Ässät SM-l 44 20 14 34 22 8 1 2 3 8
1992–93 Ässät SM-l 45 17 17 34 26 8 2 3 5 8
1993–94 Ässät SM-l 48 22 19 41 46 5 1 0 1 4
1994–95 Rungsted IK DNK 23 33 18 51 6 6 3 1 4 0
SM-l totals 668 464 329 793 626 74 38 24 62 64

International

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Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
1977 Finland WJC 7 4 2 6 4
1978 Finland WJC 6 1 7 8 6
1979 Finland WJC 6 2 3 5 0
1981 Finland CC 5 1 0 1 2
1982 Finland WC 5 2 1 3 4
1983 Finland WC 10 1 2 3 8
1984 Finland OLY 5 2 3 5 4
Junior totals 19 7 12 19 10
Senior totals 25 6 6 12 18

References

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  1. ^ "Jäädytetyt 2 - Javanaisen ennätystä tuskin rikotaan". LS24 (in Finnish). 2015-12-24. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
  2. ^ "Jääkiekkolegenda Arto Javanainen kuollut". Yle Urheilu (in Finnish). 2011-01-25. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
  3. ^ a b "Hautakiven paljas teksti muistuttaa legendasta – näin 51-vuotiaana kuollut Arto Javanainen nousi vaatimattomista oloista ainutlaatuiseksi maalitykiksi". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). 2020-04-11. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
  4. ^ a b "Legendaarinen nelonen". Jatkoaika.com - Kaikki jääkiekosta (in Finnish). 2003-04-07. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
  5. ^ "Javanainen muistelee: "Ennätykselleni buuattiin"". www.iltalehti.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 2024-01-15.
  6. ^ Seth Rorabaugh (January 26, 2011). "Arto Javanainen, first European draft pick in Penguins history, dies at 51 - 01-26-11". post-gazette.com. Retrieved May 29, 2011.
  7. ^ "Liigahistorian kovin maalitykki Arto Javanainen menehtyi traagisesti vain 51-vuotiaana – Vellu Ketola muistelee: "Ei sitä vieläkään pysty tajuamaan"". www.iltalehti.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 2024-01-15.
  8. ^ STT; HS; Markku, Lahti (2011-01-26). "Arto Javanainen kuoli tiistaina". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 2024-01-15.
  9. ^ "Tunteellinen hetki Porin illassa: Maalintekijä numero 4, Javanainen!". www.iltalehti.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 2024-01-15.
  10. ^ "Tomas Javanainen at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
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Preceded by Winner of the Aarne Honkavaara trophy
1980–81
Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the Aarne Honkavaara trophy
1983–84
Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the Aarne Honkavaara trophy
1985–86
Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the Aarne Honkavaara trophy
1987–88
Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the Aarne Honkavaara trophy
1990–91
Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the Veli-Pekka Ketola trophy
1985–86
Succeeded by
Preceded by Captain of Ässät
1982–83
Succeeded by