Mikko Jokela (born March 4, 1980) is a
Finnish former professional
ice hockey defenceman. Jokela played one game in the
National Hockey League for the
Vancouver Canucks in 2003.
Playing career
Jokela started his ice hockey career with the
KalPa junior team, and was selected 96th overall in the
1998 NHL Entry Draft
The 1998 NHL Entry Draft was the 36th NHL Entry Draft. It was held on June 27 at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York. A total of 258 players were drafted.
The last active players in the NHL from this draft class were Brian Gionta, Mi ...
by the
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional sports, professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern ...
He represented various
SM-liiga teams before he signed with the Devils for the
2001–02 NHL season
The 2001–02 NHL season was the 85th regular season of the National Hockey League. Thirty teams competed in an 82-game regular season. The regular season began on October 3, and the playoffs concluded on June 13, with the Detroit Red Wings defea ...
. Jokela spent the season with the
AHL Albany River Rats
The Albany River Rats were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Albany, New York at the Times Union Center.
History
Before the formation of the franchise
Without a viable indoor arena with a ...
, and after starting the next season in the AHL, he was traded to the
Vancouver Canucks for
Steve Kariya
Steven Tetsuo Kariya (born December 22, 1977) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger and younger brother of former National Hockey League player Paul Kariya. Kariya was born in North Vancouver, British Columbia.
Playing career
Afte ...
, where he played his only NHL game in the
2002–03 season.
After another year with the Canucks' AHL affiliate
Manitoba Moose, Jokela returned to Finland and signed with
HPK. He was made team captain for the 2005–06 season when the team won the SM-liiga championship. In April 2007, he signed a three-year contract with
Jokerit. However, he moved to
KHL team
HC Dynamo Minsk after his second season with Jokerit. After spending the 2009–10 season with Minsk, he took his game to Sweden and joined
SHL side
Timrå IK
Timrå IK is a professional Swedish ice hockey team based in Timrå, north of Sundsvall. It competes in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), which is the top-tier league in Sweden, since being promoted by winning 2021 SHL qualifiers. Previous season ...
for the 2010–11 campaign. In 2011, he embarked on a three-year stint with
HIFK in the Finnish
Liiga.
On March 21, 2014, Jokela left
HIFK after three seasons and signed a two-year contract in returning to
captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
fellow Finnish Liiga club,
KalPa. He served as team captain both years and left for Austria when his contract was up, signing with
EC VSV of the
EBEL in May 2016.
Midway through his season with VSV, Jokela opted to leave the club and return to Finland with
KooKoo of the
Liiga, where he opted to end his professional playing career after 20 years.
International play
Jokela made Finland's roster for the
2008 World Championships and also represented his country at the
Euro Hockey Tour on several occasions.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
International
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jokela, Mikko
1980 births
Living people
Albany River Rats players
Anaheim Ducks scouts
Finnish ice hockey defencemen
EC VSV players
HC Dinamo Minsk players
HIFK (ice hockey) players
HPK players
Jokerit players
KalPa players
KooKoo players
Manitoba Moose players
New Jersey Devils draft picks
Sportspeople from Lappeenranta
SaiPa players
Timrå IK players
Vancouver Canucks players