Mattias Ritola

Mattias Ritola

Mattias Ritola (born March 14, 1987) is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey player. He played as a left winger and was known for his skillful play and versatility on the ice.

Early Life and Career

Mattias Ritola was born in Borlänge, Sweden. He began his hockey career playing for local youth teams before moving on to play for Leksands IF in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). His performance in the SHL caught the attention of scouts from the National Hockey League (NHL).

NHL Career

Ritola was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the fourth round, 103rd overall, of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Red Wings during the 2007-08 NHL season. Over the next few seasons, Ritola split his time between the Red Wings and their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins.

In 2010, Ritola was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Lightning. He played parts of two seasons with the Lightning, contributing both offensively and defensively.

Return to Sweden

After his stint in the NHL, Ritola returned to Sweden to continue his professional career. He rejoined Leksands IF and later played for other teams in the SHL, including Mora IK and Malmö Redhawks.

Retirement

Ritola announced his retirement from professional hockey in 2019. Throughout his career, he was known for his strong work ethic and ability to play in various roles on the team.

Personal Life

Ritola is known to be a private individual. He has remained involved in hockey through coaching and mentoring young players in Sweden.

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2007-08	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	2	0	0	0	0
2008-09	Grand Rapids Griffins	AHL	66	15	27	42	34
2009-10	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	5	0	0	0	0
2010-11	Tampa Bay Lightning	NHL	31	4	4	8	8
2011-12	Tampa Bay Lightning	NHL	5	0	0	0	0
2012-13	Leksands IF	SHL	52	15	20	35	24
2013-14	Mora IK	SHL	48	12	18	30	22
2014-15	Malmö Redhawks	SHL	50	10	15	25	28

See Also

• List of NHL players
• Detroit Red Wings
• Tampa Bay Lightning
• Swedish Hockey League