Keijo Kuusela

Finland’s Keijo Kuusela had a remarkable life that saw him fight during World War II, become a prisoner of war, have a long career playing ice hockey, and compete at both the Summer and Winter Olympics. Kuusela flew with the Finnish Air Force during the war and encountered Russian enemy planes on a reconnaissance flight in May 1944. He managed to shoot down one plane before colliding with another aircraft, and he was forced to parachute to safety. Kuusela was soon captured and spent time in several prison camps, often with little food or water.

On either side of the war Kuusela played both field and ice hockey for Hämeenlinnan Tarmo, and he remained at the club until he retired in 1959. On the ice he won two Finnish championships (1948–49), was the league’s top scorer on four occasions (1952–53, 1955–56), and was the Finnish player of the year in 1951. In 142 league matches he scored 306 points. As a field hockey player Kuusela was a three-time Finnish champion (1951–52, 1954).

In 1952 Kuusela did the rare double of representing Finland at both the Summer and Winter Olympics. In February he competed in the ice hockey tournament in Oslo, playing in eight matches and scoring two goals. A few months later he played field hockey at the Helsinki Games where Finland lost heavily to Belgium and Germany to be eliminated. Kuusela later worked as a physical education teacher before moving to Germany with his wife.