Markus Niemeläinen

Markus Niemeläinen (born June 8, 1998) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman playing for Ässät of Liiga as a prospect for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the third round, 63rd overall, of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

Markus Niemeläinen
Born (1998-06-08) June 8, 1998
Kuopio, Finland
Height 6 ft 6 in (198 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
NHL team (P)
Cur. team		 Edmonton Oilers
Ässät (Liiga)
NHL Draft 63rd overall, 2016
Edmonton Oilers
Playing career 2017–present

Playing career

Niemeläinen began playing hockey in the junior teams of HPK and Tappara in his native Finland. He was then drafted to play for the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League in 2015 where he posted 26 assists in his first season.[1] He was drafted 63rd overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft but was not signed to a contract and after a second season in Saginaw, Niemeläinen rejoined HPK in 2017.[2]

On 30 April 2020, Niemeläinen signed a two-year entry level contract with the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League[3]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2014–15 HPK Jr. A 39 2 14 16 28 12 0 5 5 4
2015–16 Saginaw Spirit OHL 65 1 26 27 28 4 0 0 0 0
2016–17 Saginaw Spirit OHL 59 3 6 9 40 — — — — —
2017–18 HPK Liiga 42 1 2 3 24 — — — — —
2017–18 LeKi Mestis 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2017–18 HPK Jr. A — — — — — 5 0 0 0 2
2018–19 HPK Liiga 50 1 4 5 8 18 0 2 2 4
2019–20 Ässät Liiga 55 1 6 7 42 — — — — —
Liiga totals 147 3 13 16 74 18 0 2 2 4
Medal record
Representing  Finland
Ice hockey
World U18 Championships
2016 United States
2015 Switzerland

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2014 Finland U17 4th 6 1 0 1 2
2015 Finland WJC18 7 0 0 0 0
2016 Finland WJC18 7 0 1 1 6
Junior totals 20 1 1 2 8

Awards & honors
Award Year
Liiga
Champion (HPK) 2019

References
  1. Boylen, Rory (June 20, 2016). "Prospect of Interest: The 411 on Markus Niemelainen". sportsnet.ca.
  2. Matheson, Jim (July 11, 2017). "Edmonton Oilers prospect Markus Niemelainen to play in Finland next season". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  3. "RELEASE: Oilers sign Niemelainen to entry-level contract". Edmonton Oilers. April 30, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.


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