Patrik Virta

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Patrik Virta
Born (1996-03-06) 6 March 1996 (age 28)
Hämeenlinna, Finland
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 181 lb (82 kg; 12 st 13 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Right
team
Former teams
Free Agent
HPK
TPS
HC Slovan Bratislava
Örebro HK
Tappara
ERC Ingolstadt
NHL Draft 208th overall, 2017
New York Rangers
Playing career 2014–present

Patrik Virta (born 6 March 1996) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played under contract with ERC Ingolstadt in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Virta was selected by the New York Rangers in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career[edit]

Virta made his professional debut in his native Finland, appearing in the Liiga playing with his original youth club, HPK during the 2014–15 season.[1]

Following a break out 2016–17 season with TPS, scoring 14 goals and 26 points in 49 contests, Virta was selected as an overage prospect by the New York Rangers in the seventh round, 208th overall, in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft on 26 June 2017.[2] He continued his development in the 2017–18 season, matching his 14 goals scores while improving his offensive output to 40 points in 58 games.

Without a contract offer from the Rangers, Virta opted leave the Liiga and continue his development in the KHL, securing a one-year contract with Slovak club, HC Slovan Bratislava, on 17 July 2018.[3] Virta later reached a mutual contract termination with Slovan and signed with Örebro HK in the Swedish Hockey League.[4] In joining Örebro during the 2018-19 season, Virta immediately adjusted within the team, scoring 7 goals and 15 points in 37 games.

On 19 June 2019, Virta returned to the Liiga as a free agent, agreeing to a two-year contract with Tappara.[5]

Virta played four seasons with Tappara before leaving Finland to sign a one-year contract with German club, ERC Ingolstadt of the DEL, on 14 June 2023.[6]

Career statistics[edit]

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2013–14 HPK Jr. A 32 15 14 29 8 3 0 0 0 2
2014–15 HPK Jr. A 43 29 46 75 55 12 10 5 15 10
2014–15 HPK Liiga 5 2 0 2 2
2015–16 TPS Jr. A 2 0 1 1 2
2015–16 TPS Liiga 33 2 2 4 8 1 0 0 0 0
2015–16 TUTO Hockey Mestis 4 1 1 2 4
2015–16 SaPKo Mestis 7 2 2 4 2 5 2 2 4 0
2016–17 TPS Liiga 49 14 12 26 22 6 5 1 6 4
2017–18 TPS Liiga 58 14 26 40 24 8 2 1 3 0
2018–19 Slovan Bratislava KHL 21 2 7 9 6
2018–19 Örebro HK SHL 37 7 8 15 10 2 1 0 1 0
2019–20 Tappara Liiga 42 13 10 23 20
2020–21 Tappara Liiga 56 21 15 36 42 9 0 0 0 10
2021–22 Tappara Liiga 54 17 19 36 38 15 3 2 5 12
2022–23 Tappara Liiga 41 6 12 18 24 2 0 0 0 0
2023–24 ERC Ingolstadt DEL 43 9 11 20 8 7 1 1 2 4
Liiga totals 338 89 96 185 180 41 10 4 14 26

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Patrik Virta player profile". jatkoaika.com (in Finnish). 7 June 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  2. ^ "Rangers select Patrik Virta with 207th overall pick". blueshirtbanter.com. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  3. ^ "Slovan sign Finnish talent Patrik Virta". HC Slovan Bratislava. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  4. ^ "Patrik Virta ready for Orebro from KHL". naaju.com. 7 November 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  5. ^ "Virta and Garteig sign in Tappara". Tappara (in Finnish). 19 June 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  6. ^ "Double winner Virta moves to ERC" (in German). ERC Ingolstadt. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2023.

External links[edit]