Ossi Kauppi is regarded as being the best defenseman of his generation in the Finnish ice hockey league. From 1950 to 1955 Kauppi won six consecutive league titles, the first three with Tampereen Ilves and the others with TBK. He was named the player of the year in 1953, as well as the best defenseman in 1951 and 1953. He played in 46 matches for the national team including three editions of the World Cup and the 1952 Oslo Olympics. Kauppi was only 27-years-old when he retired as a player but he continued to be involved in the sport as a coach. In 1985 he was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame.
Finland