Kari Haakana
Kari Haakana ( born November 8, 1973 in Outokumpu ) is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey player.
Career
Kari Haakana began his career as a hockey player with Lukko Rauma, for which he was active in the SM- liiga in the 1992/93 season. He then played five years for the Espoo Blues, for which he had already been at the youth level on the ice. In the years 1998 to 2000, the Finn was the first time in Europe under contract when he played for the Star Bulls Rosenheim in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.
Then the defender returned to his Finnish homeland, where he ran aground two seasons with Jokerit Helsinki, with which he was first Finnish Champion 2002. During this time he was selected in the NHL Entry Draft in 2001 in the eighth round when a total 248 players from the Edmonton Oilers, where he played a total of 13 times in the 2002/03 season in the NHL. After the year in North America MODO Hockey committed from the Swedish Elitserien the Finns. After only one season, this his former club Espoo Blues followed, for which he was the following two seasons in the SM- liiga active. Towards the end of the season 2005/ 06 was followed by a re- visit in the DEL for EV Duisburg, with whom he reached the league in the relegation round.
Then remained Haakana abroad and signed a contract in Sweden at first division Skellefteå AIK, for whom he played for two years before he in 2007/ 08 went to Finland shortly before the playoffs of the season, where he Kärpät Oulu for the second time in his career Finnish champion. Following this success, Haakana their league rivals Pelicans Lahti joined. After eight games in defense of the Swiss first division club Kloten Flyers, he moved towards the end of the season 2009/10 HC Valpellice in the Italian Serie A1. In the summer of 2010 he signed for HDD Olimpija Ljubljana. The Finn ended after an injury in late October 2010 his career as a hockey player.
Awards and achievements
- 2002 Finnish Champion with Jokerit Helsinki
- 2008 Finnish Champion with Kärpät Oulu