Mikko Mäkelä was a Finnish ice hockey player who had a successful career playing in both Finland and North America. He was born on January 27, 1966, in Helsinki, Finland. Mäkelä began his professional career in 1984 with HIFK Helsinki, where he played for two seasons before moving to the United States to play for the University of Minnesota Duluth.
After playing college hockey for two seasons, Mäkelä was drafted by the New York Rangers in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft. He played for the Rangers' minor league affiliate, the Denver Rangers, for one season before returning to Finland to play for Tappara Tampere. Mäkelä played for Tappara for three seasons, winning the Finnish championship in 1988.
In 1990, Mäkelä returned to North America to play for the Rangers' AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Rangers. He played for Binghamton for two seasons before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers in 1992. Mäkelä played for the Oilers' AHL affiliate, the Cape Breton Oilers, for one season before returning to Finland to play for Jokerit Helsinki.
Mäkelä played for Jokerit for two seasons, winning the Finnish championship in 1994. He then returned to North America to play for the San Jose Sharks in 1994-95, where he played in 23 games before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Mäkelä played in 12 games for the Penguins before being sent back down to the AHL.
After his stint in the NHL, Mäkelä returned to Finland to play for HIFK Helsinki, where he played for two seasons before retiring in 1997. Throughout his career, Mäkelä was known for his physical play and his ability to score goals. He was also a member of the Finnish national team, representing his country in the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France.
Overall, Mikko Mäkelä had a successful career playing ice hockey both in Finland and North America. He won championships in both countries and played in the NHL for two different teams. Mäkelä's physical play and scoring ability made him a valuable player throughout his career.
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