Mika Nieminen
Mika Nieminen Sakeri ( born January 1, 1966 in Tampere ) is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey player who played in the Finnish SM- liiga, among other things for Ilves Tampere, Lukko Rauma, Helsinki Jokerit and HIFK Helsinki in its active period from 1983 to 2002.
- 2.1 International
Career
Mika Nieminen began his career as a hockey player in his hometown in the junior level of the Finnish first division club Ilves Tampere, for which he was active until 1985. Then the attacker spent two years playing for Lahti of the second-rate Reipas I divisioona, before he returned for the 1988/89 season to Tampere, where he made his debut in the SM- liiga this season. With Ilves Nieminen in 1989 and then in 1990 next Third runner-up. After four seasons, he left the club and joined their league rivals Lukko Rauma, for which he ran aground in season 1991/92. In the summer of 1992, the right-handed shooter joined Luleå HF in the Swedish Elitserien. With his new team, the Finn was at first runner-up, could, however, not in the next two years to build on this success. Even then, the center remained abroad until 1997 and played for Grasshopper Club Zurich in the Swiss National League B.
For the 1997/98 season Nieminen returned to Finland, where he received a contract with Jokerit Helsinki, with which he was third in the SM- liiga and parallel played in the European Hockey League in which he scored six goals in six games and thus, the best scorer of the EHL was. From 1998 to 2001, the three -time Olympian for Jokerits city rivals HIFK Helsinki was on the ice before he ended his career after the 2001/ 02 season with his hometown club Ilves Tampere.
Internationally
For Finland, Nieminen took part in the World Championships 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997. In addition, he was in the squad Finland at the 1992 Winter Olympic Games in Albertville, 1994 Lillehammer and Nagano 1998, as well as the World Cup of Hockey 1996.