Petri Skriko

Petri Skriko (born March 12, 1962 in Lappeenranta, Finland) is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey player, best remembered for his seasons starring in the NHL for the Vancouver Canucks in the late 1980s. He is currently a scout for the Washington Capitals. 
==Playing career==
Skriko was a teenage phenom in Finland for his hometown club SaiPa Lappeenranta as he emerged as a star at the age of 18 and was named the SM-Liiga Rookie of the Year in 1981. That summer, he was drafted into the NHL by the Vancouver Canucks as the 157th pick in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft. 
In ensuing seasons, his stock continued to rise as he developed into one of the top players in Finland. He dominated the 1982 World Junior Championships - earning top forward honours with 15 points in 7 games - and turned in stellar performances at the 1983 World Championships and the 1984 Olympics. In 1983–84, he was named to the SM-Liiga All-star team. 
For the 1984–85 season, Skriko signed with the Canucks and came to North America. He enjoyed a solid rookie season, finishing with 21 goals and 35 points in 72 games, good for 8th on the team in scoring. 
In 1985–86, Skriko emerged as a star for the Canucks, leading the team with 78 points. For the next 4 seasons, he was one of the team's top players and would delight Canuck fans with his speed and skill. From 1985–89 he recorded four consecutive 30-goal seasons, and led the Canucks in scoring twice. In November 1986 he recorded three hat tricks in eight days, and became the first-ever Canuck named NHL Player of the Month. 
However, in 1989–90 his scoring touch mysteriously deserted him, and he slumped to just 15 goals and 48 points. After a slow start to the 1990–91 season, Skriko was dealt to the Boston Bruins for a draft pick. His play picked up somewhat in Boston, as he recorded 19 points in 28 games for the Bruins, and added 8 more points in the playoffs en route to the Conference Finals. 
In 1991–92 he would struggle worse than ever, and was dealt again to the Winnipeg Jets, ultimately finishing the season with just 3 goals in 24 games. He signed with the San Jose Sharks for 1992–93, but was released two months into the season and returned to Europe.
After a brief stint back in the SM-Liiga, Skriko moved to the Danish league with Herning IK in 1993. He would be one of the best players ever to play in Denmark, helping his team to four championships and earning two Player of the Year honours. He would retire in 1999, but continue on as the team's head coach, winning another title in that capacity in 2001. He would then return to Finland to coach SaiPa for three seasons. 
In 9 seasons in the NHL, Skriko recorded 183 goals and 222 assists for 405 points in 541 games, along with 246 penalty minutes. Including his time in Europe, he would spend 20 seasons as a pro, recording over 1200 points in 1000+ games. 
==International career==
Skriko is one of the most decorated players in Finnish international hockey history. He would help Team Finlandto a Silver medal at the 1981 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, and a Bronze at the 1982 World Juniors, where he was named the tournament's top forward. He represented Finland at the 1984 Winter Olympics - again leading the team in scoring - and the 1992 Winter Olympics. He would also play in the 1983, 1985, and 1987 World Championships, and the 1987 and 1991 Canada Cups. 
Altogether, he appeared in 55 senior international games for Finland, recording 17 goals and 33 points.
==Awards and achievements==
* SM-liiga Rookie of the Year (1980–81)
* SM-liiga All-Star Team (1983–84)
* Top Forward and Tournament All-Star, 1982 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
* Vancouver Canucks' leading scorer (1985–86, 1988–89)
* Molson Cup winner for Vancouver Canucks (most three-stars selections, 1986–87) 
* First Finnish player ever to play for the Vancouver Canucks
* First Vancouver Canuck ever named NHL Player of the Month (November 1986)
* Most hat-tricks in a season by a Vancouver Canuck (4, 1986–87)
* 10th all-time in Canuck scoring (373 points)
* Denmark Player of the Year (1994–95, 1996–97)
* #9 jersey retired by SaiPa Lappeenranta
==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
1979–80 	SaiPa 	Finnish 1st div. 	 	36 	25 	20 	45 	8 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1980–81 	SaiPa 	SM-liiga 	 	36 	20 	13 	33 	14 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1981–82 	SaiPa 	SM-liiga 	 	33 	19 	27 	46 	26 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1982–83 	SaiPa 	SM-liiga 	 	36 	23 	12 	35 	— 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1983–84 	SaiPa 	SM-liiga 	 	35 	25 	26 	51 	13 	 	2 	0 	0 	0 	2
1984–85 	Vancouver Canucks 	NHL 	 	72 	21 	14 	35 	10 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1985–86 	Vancouver Canucks 	NHL 	 	80 	38 	40 	78 	34 	 	3 	0 	0 	0 	0
1986–87 	Vancouver Canucks 	NHL 	 	76 	33 	41 	74 	44 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1987–88 	Vancouver Canucks 	NHL 	 	73 	30 	34 	64 	32 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1988–89 	Vancouver Canucks 	NHL 	 	74 	30 	36 	66 	57 	 	7 	1 	5 	6 	0
1989–90 	Vancouver Canucks 	NHL 	 	77 	15 	33 	48 	36 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1990–91 	Vancouver Canucks 	NHL 	 	20 	4 	4 	8 	8 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1990–91 	Boston Bruins 	NHL 	 	28 	5 	14 	19 	9 	 	18 	4 	4 	8 	4
1991–92 	Boston Bruins 	NHL 	 	9 	1 	0 	1 	6 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1991–92 	Winnipeg Jets 	NHL 	 	15 	2 	3 	5 	4 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1992–93 	San Jose Sharks 	NHL 	 	17 	4 	3 	7 	6 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1992–93 	Kiekko-Espoo 	SM-liiga 	 	18 	5 	4 	9 	8 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1993–94 	Herning IK 	Denmark 	 	28 	30 	39 	69 	— 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1994–95 	Herning IK 	Denmark 	 	35 	34 	49 	83 	— 	 	7 	7 	1 	8 	—
1995–96 	Herning IK 	Denmark 	 	39 	40 	55 	95 	30 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1996–97 	Herning IK 	Denmark 	 	48 	49 	60 	109 	57 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1997–98 	Herning IK 	Denmark 	 	48 	38 	58 	96 	— 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1998–99 	Herning IK 	Denmark 	 	42 	26 	43 	69 	— 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
NHL totals 	NHL totals 	NHL totals 	 	541 	183 	222 	405 	246 	 	28 	5 	9 	14 	4
SM-liiga totals 	SM-liiga totals 	SM-liiga totals 	 	162 	93 	83 	176 	71 	 	2 	0 	0 	0 	2
Finnish Division totals	Finnish Division totals	Finnish Division totals	 	36 	25 	20 	45 	8 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
Denmark totals 	Denmark totals 	Denmark totals 	 	240 	217 	304 	521 	87 	 	7 	7 	1 	8 	—
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
===International career stats===
Year	Team 	Event 	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1980	Finland-18	EJC 	5 	3	1	4 	15
1981	Finland-20	WJC 	5 	3	3	6 	10
1982	Finland-20	WJC 	7 	8	7	15 	4
1983	Finland 	WC 	10	4	2	6 	6
1984	Finland 	Olympics 	6 	6	4	10 	8
1985	Finland 	WC 	10	2	2	4 	0
1987	Finland 	WC 	10	1	1	2 	2
1987	Finland 	Canada Cup	5 	0	1	1 	2
1991	Finland 	Canada Cup	6 	3	2	5 	4
1992	Finland 	Olympics 	8 	1	4	5 	4
==External links==
*
*Petri Skriko at nhlfinns.com
*
Category:Finnish ice hockey players
Category:Olympic ice hockey players of Finland
Category:Vancouver Canucks players
Category:Vancouver Canucks draft picks
Category:Boston Bruins players
Category:Winnipeg Jets players
Category:San Jose Sharks players
Category:Blues Espoo players
Category:SaiPa Lappeenranta players
Category:1984 Olympian
Category:1992 Olympian
Category:Born in 1962
Category:Herning IK players
Category:Retired in 1999