Teppo Numminen is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey player who played as a defenseman. He had a long and successful career in the National Hockey League (NHL) and internationally, representing Finland in numerous tournaments.
Numminen began his professional career in Finland with Tappara Tampere in 1986. He quickly established himself as a talented defenseman and was selected to represent Finland in the 1988 Winter Olympics. He helped Finland win a silver medal in the tournament.
In 1988, Numminen was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the second round of the NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut in the 1988-89 season and quickly became a key player for the Jets. He was known for his strong defensive play and his ability to move the puck up the ice.
Numminen played for the Jets for 15 seasons, becoming the team's all-time leader in games played. He was also named to the NHL All-Star Game three times during his tenure with the Jets.
In 2003, Numminen was traded to the Dallas Stars, where he played for one season before signing with the Phoenix Coyotes. He played for the Coyotes for six seasons, serving as the team's captain for three of those seasons.
Numminen also represented Finland in numerous international tournaments throughout his career. He played in six Winter Olympics, winning a silver medal in 1988 and a bronze medal in 1994. He also won a silver medal in the 1991 Canada Cup and a bronze medal in the 1998 World Championships.
Numminen retired from professional hockey in 2009 at the age of 41. He finished his NHL career with 1,372 games played, 117 goals, and 520 assists. He also had a plus-minus rating of +81 over his career.
After retiring from hockey, Numminen became a coach and served as an assistant coach for the Buffalo Sabres from 2011 to 2013. He also worked as a scout for the Sabres and the Finnish national team.
Numminen is widely regarded as one of the best Finnish hockey players of all time. He was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011 and the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2017.
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