He had been signed by Los Angeles as a free agent, and he was one of the first Finns to make his way to the NHL via American colleges. He attended Boston University from 1989 to 1991, playing alongside Tony Amonte, Keith Tkachuk, and Joe Sacco.

Early in 92-93 he was sent to Pittsburgh for Jeff Chychrun, but his days in a Penguins uniform lasted just 22 games. Later in the season he played for his third team of the year when he was traded to San Jose for future considerations, but again after just 20 games he was sent on to Calgary for Dave Capuano in the summer.

Ahola played only two games at the start of the 1993-94 season for the Flames before being traded a fourth time in eleven months, this time going to the expansion Tampa Bay Lightning for whom he didn't play a single game. He returned to his native Finland at 26 years of age in 1994-95 and has had a successful career back home ever since, playing both for a club team and the National team on a regular basis.