Mikko Vainonen

Mikko Vainonen (born 11 April 1994) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman currently under contract with Dornbirn Bulldogs in the Austrian Hockey League (EBEL).

Mikko Vainonen
Born (1994-04-11) 11 April 1994
Helsinki, Finland
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 222 lb (101 kg; 15 st 12 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
EBEL team
Former teams		 Dornbirn Bulldogs
HIFK
Milwaukee Admirals
SaiPa
Ässät Pori
Krefeld Pinguine
Vaasan Sport
Orli Znojmo
NHL Draft 118th overall, 2012
Nashville Predators
Playing career 2011–present

Early life

Mikko Vainonen was a hard working defenceman in his childhood. He played a lot of floorball with his friends in residential Helsinki.

Playing career

He made his professional debut playing with HIFK of the SM-liiga during the 2011–12 SM-liiga season. He was selected in the fourth-round, 118th overall, of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Nashville Predators. In the following season and in pursuit of his NHL ambition, he moved to North America to play major junior after he was drafted in the 2012 CHL import draft in the 1st round, 6th overall by the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League.

In 24 May 2013, he was signed to a three-year entry level contract with the Nashville Predators.[1] Vainonen split time between Nashville's farm teams the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League and the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL over the next two seasons, before being loaned to Liiga's SaiPa to finish the 2014–15 season.

At the start of the 2015–16 NHL season Vainonen and Nashville agreed to mutually terminate his contract, allowing him to seek employment elsewhere.[2] He returned to his native Finland, coming to terms with Ässät Pori of the top tier Liiga.

After parts of two seasons with German club, Krefeld Pinguine of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, Vainonen returned again to the Liiga, securing a one-year deal with his fourth Finnish club, Vaasan Sport, on 29 March 2018.[3]

On June 19, 2019, Vainonen opted to continue in the EBEL agreeing to a one-year contract with the Dornbirn Bulldogs.[4]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2011–12 HIFK Liiga 8 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2012–13 Kingston Frontenacs OHL 55 4 18 22 42 4 2 1 3 2
2013–14 Kingston Frontenacs OHL 57 4 14 18 73 7 1 3 4 8
2013–14 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2014–15 Cincinnati Cyclones ECHL 31 0 5 5 16 — — — — —
2014–15 SaiPa Liiga 19 0 1 1 14 7 0 2 2 33
2015–16 Ässät Liiga 39 1 5 6 63 — — — — —
2016–17 Ässät Liiga 15 0 1 1 6 — — — — —
2016–17 Krefeld Pinguine DEL 28 4 1 5 34 — — — — —
2017–18 Krefeld Pinguine DEL 44 1 3 4 45 — — — — —
2018–19 Vaasan Sport Liiga 11 0 2 2 18 — — — — —
2018–19 Orli Znojmo EBEL 28 6 11 17 18 5 2 2 4 12
2019–20 Dornbirn Bulldogs EBEL 50 3 10 13 38 — — — — —
Liiga totals 92 1 9 10 103 7 0 2 2 33
Medal record
Representing Finland
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
2014 Malmö

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2011 Finland U17 7th 5 0 2 2 10
2012 Finland WJC18 4th 7 0 4 4 8
2014 Finland WJC 7 0 2 2 4
Junior totals 19 0 8 8 22

References
  1. "Predators sign 2012 fourth-round pick Mikko Vainonen". Nashville Predators. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  2. Tim Wharnsby (9 October 2015). "Mikko Vainonen clears unconditional waivers". Twitter. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  3. "Mikko Vainonen confirmed signing for Sport" (in Finnish). Vaasan Sport. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  4. "Three new arrivals" (in German). Dornbirn Bulldogs. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
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