Goalie Göte Wälitalo played with two clubs during his career – Kiruna AIF from 1973-80 and IF Björklöven from 1980-88. With Björklöven, Wälitalo won a Swedish title in 1987, was named as the best goaltender of the Swedish championships in 1983 and 1987, and was selected to the Swedish championships all-star team in 1982. A back-up goalie for the Swedish national team in the early 1980s, Wälitalo earned 79 caps. He won Olympic bronze in 1984, was runner-up at the 1984 Canada Cup and won silver at the 1982 and bronze at the 1983 European Championships. He was awarded the Stora Grabbars Märke (Big Boys’ Badge) #118 in ice hockey. After finishing his sporting career, Wälitalo worked as an ice hockey coach with IF Björklöven and the Swedish national junior team.
Sweden