Career
Simo Saarinen started his career in his hometown team Helsingin IFK. Saarinen played once in the European Junior Ice Hockey Championships and twice in the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and was soon noticed by National Hockey League scouts. Saarinen was drafted by New York Rangers in the 1982 National Hockey League Entry Draft. After 1984 Olympic Ice Hockey tournament Saarinen went to National Hockey League. Saarinen was injured during his debut season for New York Rangers.
Due to the injuries Saarinen did not play in the 1985-1986 season and returned to HIFK for 1986-1987 season.
Saarinen played for HIFK until 1996 when he finally retired from active playing. After retiring in 1996 Saarinen started to referee ice hockey games in Finland.
Saarinen refereed his first Master of Science-liiga games in the 2001–2002 Master of Science-Liiga season. Currently Saarinen referees hockey games in Helsinki and Southern Finland area.
Foreign Finland Saarinen played twice in Ice Hockey World Championships and three times in Olympic Hockey Tournament.
