Shoots Right Role Ice hockey player Position Defenseman Name Mikko Jokela Career start 1997 | Playing career Weight 88 kg Height 1.85 m | |
 | ||
Liiga teamFormer teams KalPaHIFKSaiPaVancouver CanucksHPKJokeritHC Dinamo MinskTimra IK NHL Draft 96th overall, 1998New Jersey Devils | ||
Mikko Jokela vs Janik Hansen 28.12.2012
Mikko Jokela (born March 4, 1980) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman. He is currently playing with KooKoo in the Finnish Liiga. Jokela played one game in the National Hockey League for the Vancouver Canucks in 2003.
Contents
Playing career
Jokela started his ice hockey career with the KalPa junior team, and was selected 96th overall in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils He represented various SM-liiga teams before he signed with the Devils for the 2001–02 NHL season. Jokela spent the season with the AHL Albany River Rats, and after starting the next season in the AHL, he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks for Steve Kariya, 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 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 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.
International play
Jokela made Finnland's roster for the 2008 World Championships and also represented his country at the Euro Hockey Tour on several occasions.