Career
He is a retired professional ice hockey player and coach. Veli-Pekka Ketola played in the Finnish League, World Hockey Association, and National Hockey League. In 1974, Ketola came to North America to play for the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association.
He played just over two and a half seasons, from 1974-1975 to 1976-1977, for the Jets and he played the last 17 games of the 1976-1977 WHA season for the Calgary Cowboys.
After those three years in the WHA, he went back to Finland to once again play for the Ässät Pori. Despite being signed by the Vancouver Canucks on 6 March 1979, he didn"t play for a North American team again until he played 44 games for the Colorado Rockies of the National Hockey League during the 1981-1982 season.
Veli-Pekka Ketola coached Ässät Pori of the Finnish League from 1993-1994 season to 1996-1997 season"s first six games. Six-time all-star in Finland.
Elected to the Finnish Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990 as a player.
His number 13 was retired by Assat Pori. Led the Finnish League in scoring in 1971.