# Peter Ahola

Peter Kristian Ahola (born May 14, 1968) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins, Calgary Flames, and the San Jose Sharks.

## Playing career

In his rookie year in Los Angeles, Ahola led the Kings in +/- with a +12 in the 1991–92 NHL season. He also scored 7 goals and 12 assists for 19 points in 71 games. He was then traded to Pittsburgh for Jeff Chychrun during the next season. In Pittsburgh, he played 22 games and didn't register a goal and only scored one assist. Ahola was then traded a second time in that season to the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks traded him to the Tampa Bay Lightning on June 19, 1993 for Jack Capuano, but then was traded to the Calgary Flames for cash on October 5, 1993. This was his fourth trade in eleven months. He only played two games on the Flames before he got sent down to the minor league team, the Saint John Flames.
In total, Ahola played 123 regular season games, scoring 10 goals and 17 assists for 27 points and collecting 137 penalty minutes. He also played six playoff games during his rookie season with the Kings but didn't register a point. Ahola went back to Finland's SM-liiga in 1994 and then to Sweden's Elitserien in 2001 before retiring in 2003.

## Personal

Ahola is a formerly top-rated water-skier in his homeland of Finland. He currently serves as a European scout for the Vegas Golden Knights of the NHL, serving in the role since the 2016–17 season.

## Career statistics

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1987–88 | Kiekko-Espoo | FIN-3 | 28 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1988–89 | Kiekko-Espoo | FIN-2 | 44 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 62 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1989–90 | Boston University | HE | 43 | 3 | 20 | 23 | 65 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1990–91 | Boston University | HE | 39 | 12 | 24 | 36 | 88 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1991–92 | Phoenix Roadrunners | IHL | 7 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1991–92 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 71 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 101 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1992–93 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1992–93 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 22 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1992–93 | Cleveland Lumberjacks | IHL | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1992–93 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 20 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1993–94 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1993–94 | Saint John Flames | AHL | 66 | 9 | 29 | 28 | 59 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 |
| 1994–95 | Kiekko-Espoo | FIN | 50 | 12 | 21 | 33 | 96 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 10 |
| 1995–96 | HIFK | FIN | 34 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 58 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 1996–97 | HIFK | FIN | 50 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 89 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1997–98 | TPS | FIN | 46 | 6 | 17 | 23 | 36 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 1998–99 | TPS | FIN | 47 | 12 | 21 | 33 | 93 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 12 |
| 1999–00 | Espoo Blues | FIN | 50 | 12 | 24 | 36 | 110 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 38 |
| 2000–01 | Espoo Blues | FIN | 51 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 112 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2001–02 | Södertälje SK | SEL | 49 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 91 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2002–03 | Södertälje SK | SEL | 47 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 48 | — | — | — | — | — |
| FIN totals | FIN totals | FIN totals | 328 | 65 | 115 | 180 | 594 | 25 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 68 |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 123 | 10 | 17 | 27 | 137 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |

## Awards and honors

| Award | Year |
| College |||
| All-Hockey East Rookie Team | 1989–90 |
| AHCA West Second-Team All-American | 1989–90 |
| Hockey East All-Tournament Team | 1991 |
| SM-liiga |||
| Champion (TPS Turku) | 1999 |

## Transactions

* On April 5, 1991 the Los Angeles Kings signed free agent Peter Ahola.
* On November 6, 1992 the Los Angeles Kings traded Peter Ahola to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Jeff Chychrun.
* On February 26, 1993 the Pittsburgh Penguins traded Peter Ahola to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for future considerations.
* On June 19, 1993 the San Jose Sharks traded Peter Ahola to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Dave Capuano.
* On October 5, 1993 the Tampa Bay Lightning traded Peter Ahola to the Calgary Flames in exchange for cash.