Valivaara signs for Metallurg Novokuznetsk

JYP Jyvaskyla defender Jyrki Valivaara has signed a one-year contract with KHL club Metallurg Novokuznetsk, according to the Russian club’s official site.

«Valivaara is an experienced player, he played for the Finland national team at the 2011 WC and won the world champion’s title. I think he is still a more defensive player, though at the World Championship he entered the ice in their second power play line. Therefore, I think, he can be characterized as a player who plays both in attack and in defence equally well. I believe he’s a very good acquisition for our team,» stated Leonid Vaisfeld, general manager of Metallurg.

It has been previously reported that Valivaara would join Dynamo Minsk.

During the 2010-11 the 35-year-old Finn has played 53 games in SM-liiga, having scored 28 (8+20) points and earning +18 plus-minus statistic.

At the last 2011 World Championship Valivaara played 9 matches for the Finland national team and scored 3 (0+3) points with a +2 statistic.