Finnish winger Tomi Kallio, a veteran of the NHL, SHL and Liiga, as well as the Leijonat, today announced his retirement from TPS of the Liiga at the age of 41, bringing his career to an end where it started over 20 years earlier.
Kallio, a Turku native, joined his hometown TPS’ junior team in 1993, graduating to the senior team in 1996, spending five seasons before making the jump to the NHL. Kallio spent just three full seasons in the NHL, mainly with the expansion Atlanta Thrashers. Kallio returned to Europe with Frölunda of the Swedish league, spending nine seasons before joining Växjö in 2011, spending four seasons there. Kallio rejoined TPS in 2015, playing his final three seasons for his hometown Tepsi. Kallio won three national titles in Sweden (2003, 2005, 2015), along with another two in Finland (1999, 2000), also capturing a European Hockey League title in 1997, European Super Cup in 1998, and the Liiga’s Golden Helmet in 2018, leading the league with 55 points in 58 games in his farewell season.
Kallio first joined the Leijonat’s junior team in 1995, playing at the 1996 and 1997 World Juniors, captaining the latter team. Kallio joined the senior team in 1997, suiting up for nine World Championships and the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, winning a trio of Silver medals (1999, 2001, 2007) and a pair of Bronze (2000, 2006). A dependable depth winger for the Finns for over a decade, Kallio retires with 65 points in 66 games with the U20 team and 79 points in 150 games on the senior squad.
Throughout his career, Kallio won the International Hockey Lineal Championship four times in his career, first at the 2001 World Championship, with the final coming in the lead-up to the Championship in 2006. We wish Tomi and his family the very best for his retirement and the things to come!
International Hockey Lineal Championship 