Latest news with #Liiga
Yahoo
07-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Shark Continues Career With Kärpät Of Liiga
Former San Jose Sharks defenseman Markus Nutivaara has announced that he is continuing his hockey career with Kärpät of Liiga.
Yahoo
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Seattle Kraken's First-Ever Player Leaves NHL, Signs Contract in Finland
Luke Henman signed the first player contract in Seattle Kraken history back in 2021 and now he is heading overseas to play in Finland for the Tampereen Ilves of the Liiga, the top professional hockey league in the country. Henman became the first ever Kraken player when they signed him to a three-year entry-level contract in May 2021. Henman was originally drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes, 96th overall, in 2018, but never signed a deal with them. Henman unfortunately never donned a Kraken jersey in a regular season game. Since signing with the team, he spent his time in the American Hockey League, playing for the Charlotte Checkers (the Kraken's AHL affiliate during their first season), and the Coachella Valley Firebirds. In 221 games, Henman recorded 26 goals and 33 assists. Luke Henman on His Passion for Hockey - Seattle Kraken The Ilves have been the runner-up the Liiga for the past three years, so it will be interesting to see how Henman can fit into this exciting team this upcoming season. Related Former Kraken Defenseman Signs With KHL Team Former Seattle Kraken and Coachella Valley Firebirds defenseman Maxime Lajoie has signed with KHL team Avangard Omsk. Henman featured photo by - Andy Abeyta via Imagn Henman hero photo by - Andy Abeyta via Imagn
Time of India
29-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Markus Nutivaara attempts a return with Karpat after years of setbacks due to injury
Markus Nutivaara (via Getty Images) Veteran ex-Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Markus Nutivaara is returning at the professional level after a tumultuous injury-compelled retirement. The 31-year-old signed a one-year contract with his hometown Liiga powerhouse, Kärpät. It's the first official on-ice activity since he played one game for the Florida Panthers in October 2021, a contest that capped his long battle with nagging hip injuries. Markus Nutivaara signs with hometown Kärpät after hip surgeries Markus Nutivaara, a reliable blue liner for the Columbus Blue Jackets, will be lacing up his skates once again in Oulu, Finland, with Kärpät. The Finnish defenseman has not appeared in professional hockey since Oct. 29, 2021, when he played roughly seven minutes for the Florida Panthers. Although he had one assist in that single game, the play occurred during a tough time for him to bounce back from his initial hip surgery, a process that ultimately led to his retirement from the sport. In a nutshell, after being an unrestricted free agent for two years, in 2022, Markus Nutivaara signed a one-year contract with the San Jose Sharks in hopes of getting his seat back in the NHL. As it turned out, nagging hip issues kept him off the ice in any capacity with the Sharks. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo He officially retired after that, and he is now signed up nowhere but also out of commission for over two years. What about Markus Nutivaara's hip surgery? Kärpät stated that Markus Nutivaara just underwent another serious surgery—this time to insert an artificial hip joint in November 2024. Having experienced pain-free rehabilitation, he has decided to give it a shot at returning to the sport that made him a sensation in both Finland and the NHL. Nutivaara entered the national radar during his first year in 2014–15 as a member of Kärpät, winning the Liiga championship. That team featured future NHLers Joonas Donskoi and teenage Sebastian Aho. Nutivaara accounted for six points in 16 playoff games that championship season. Also read: From Panthers to Prague: NHL forward Peter Mueller retires after 16-year rollercoaster across hockey's biggest stages Markus Nutivaara's return to Kärpät is more than a homecoming—it's a personal triumph after years of physical and mental hurdles. Whether he can return to competitive form remains to be seen, but his recovery from a series of major surgeries is already a win. As the Liiga season approaches, all eyes will be on Nutivaara's progress, making his comeback one of the most heartening storylines in European hockey this year. FAQs When was Markus Nutivaara born? 6 June 1994 Where is Markus Nutivaara from? Finland With which team did Markus Nutivaaramake his debut? Oulun Kärpät Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Finnish Former Predator Returns Home
Finnish forward Miikka Salomäki, 32, has signed a one-year contract with SaiPa Lappeenranta, the Finnish Liiga club announced on Friday. Salomäki has spent the last 12 seasons abroad in various leagues across North America and Europe, including the NHL. He played last season for Sparta Prague in the Czech Extraliga. 'I feel very good about coming to SaiPa,' said Salomäki. 'I followed the team's progress last season with interest and, of course, the decision was easy also because I already know both Hapa (sports director Harri Aho) and Raipen (head coach Raimo Helminen).' 'We're very happy to have an experienced player like Miikka join SaiPa,' said Aho. 'He's a versatile and hard-working player who, as a power forward, fits perfectly into the team's playing style. We were looking for a top-level player and we're very pleased with this acquisition.' Salomäki hails from northern Finland and came of age in the Kärpät system, but he has played abroad since he was 20, save for nine games with IFK Helsinki in 2021-22. Miikka Salomäki leaves Lausanne, signs with Sparta Prague Veteran Finnish forward Miikka Salomäki has signed a one-year contract with HC Sparta Prague, the Czech Extraliga club announced on Wednesday. He was picked in the second round, 52nd overall, by the Nashville Predators in 2011. He played 167 regular-season games and 30 playoff games with Nashville between 2014 and 2019, spending the rest of the time with the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals. He then spent stints in the Toronto Maple Leafs and Colorado Avalanche organizations without playing any NHL games for either team before heading back to Europe in 2021. Salomäki spent one season in Sweden for Örebro HK and two in Switzerland for Lausanne HC. In 2023-24, he had 25 points in 37 regular-season games and was a key presence for the team as Lausanne advanced to the seventh game of the National League final. Last season with Sparta Prague, Salomäki had nine points in 36 regular-season and playoff games. This move completes somewhat of a trade between the two clubs, as in earlier in the off-season, Sparta signed former SaiPa defenseman Mark Pysyk. Former Sabres First-Rounder Signs With Sparta Prague Canadian defenseman Mark Pysyk, 33, has signed a one-year contract with Sparta Prague, the Czech Extraliga club announced on Thursday. The former NHLer is coming off a season where he helped SaiPa to the Finnish Liiga finals. Salomäki joins a SaiPa team that advanced to the Liiga finals last season, which followed five straight seasons of missing the playoffs. Salomäki is the only player on the roster with any NHL experience – as Pysyk was last season. Salomäki and defenseman Teemu Kivihalme were briefly teammates with the Toronto Marlies in 2019-20. Photo © Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images: Miikka Salomäki of the Nashville Predators bodychecks Zdeno Chára of the Boston Bruins during the 2017-18 NHL season. Former First-Rounder Kieffer Bellows Signs In Sweden American left winger Kieffer Bellows, 27, has signed a one-year contract with Brynäs IF, the Gävle-based SHL club announced on Sunday.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lehigh Valley Phantoms' Eetu Makiniemi Signs In Finland
Eric Bolte-Imagn Images Lehigh Valley Phantoms goaltender Eetu Makiniemi has signed a one-year deal in Finland with TPS, it was announced late last week. Makiniemi, a 2017 fourth-round pick of the Carolina Hurricanes, spent this season with the Phantoms, going 3-0-2 while posting a 3.03 GAA and a .899 SP. Since coming over to North America in 2021, Makiniemi has appeared in 59 career AHL games (with the Phantoms, Chicago Wolves and San Jose Barracuda), posting a record of 30-20-6 along with a 2.79 GAA and a .905 SP. Advertisement Throughout his time in North America, Makiniemi got into two regular season games with the San Jose Sharks, going 1-0-1 while collecting a 2.13 GAA and a .906 SP. With Makiniemi heading back to his home country, he should have the chance to play a big role with TPS. Having posted solid numbers in Liiga in the past, Makiniemi could be one of the better goalies in the league and guide his team to the playoffs.
