Patrik Virta
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Patrik Virta | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
6 March 1996 Hämeenlinna, Finland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | ||
| Weight | 181 lb (82 kg; 12 st 13 lb) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Shoots | Right | ||
| Liiga team Former teams |
Oulun Kärpät 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 plays for Oulun Kärpät in Liiga. Virta was selected by the New York Rangers in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
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 Kontinental Hockey League (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 Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL), on 14 June 2023.[6]