Unto Mauri Wiitala | |||
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Born | 5 July 1925 | ||
Died | 16 January 2019 | (aged 93)||
National team | Finland | ||
Playing career | 1946–1959 |
Unto Mauri Wiitala (5 July 1925 – 16 January 2019)[1] was a Finnish professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga. Born in Kuolemajärvi, Finland, he played for Hämeenlinnan Tarmo before working as a referee and hockey executive. He competed at the 1952 Winter Olympics with Team Finland and five Ice Hockey World Championships.
Wiitala was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985 and became the first Finnish referee inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame. The Finnish Liiga honored him by naming their best referee during the regular season award in his name.