Mikko Viitanen (born February 18, 1982) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenceman who most notably played in the Finnish Liiga. He was drafted 149th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. Viitanen previously played seven seasons with JYP, joining from fellow Liiga club Lukko Rauma in 2009.[1]

Mikko Viitanen
Born (1982-02-18) February 18, 1982 (age 42)
Nurmijärvi, Finland
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Blues
Hershey Bears
Lowell Lock Monsters
Lukko Rauma
JYP Jyväskylä
Ässät Pori
NHL draft 149th overall, 2001
Colorado Avalanche
Playing career 2000–2016

On April 23, 2015, Viitanen joined his fourth Finnish Liiga club, in agreeing to a two-year contract with Ässät Pori.[2] Viitanen appeared in 32 games for 5 points in the 2015–16 season. With his campaign limited due to injury and with the toll of 15 professional seasons mounting, Viitanen opted to forgo the final year of his contract with Pori and end his professional hockey career on May 31, 2016.[3]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1998–99 HPK FIN U18 36 3 6 9 40
1998–99 HPK FIN U20 1 0 0 0 0
1999–2000 Chicago Freeze NAHL 54 4 6 10 126
2000–01 Ahmat FIN.2 U20 9 3 4 7 41
2000–01 Ahmat Mestis 41 3 9 12 66 3 0 0 0 0
2001–02 Blues FIN U20 10 1 3 4 16
2001–02 Blues SM-l 3 0 0 0 6
2001–02 Jukurit Mestis 21 0 3 3 26
2002–03 Blues FIN U20 1 0 0 0 0
2002–03 Blues SM-l 1 0 0 0 0
2002–03 Haukat Mestis 9 0 1 1 56
2003–04 Hershey Bears AHL 20 1 1 2 14
2003–04 Reading Royals ECHL 47 0 4 4 21 13 0 1 1 8
2004–05 Hershey Bears AHL 22 0 1 1 6
2004–05 Reading Royals ECHL 52 3 3 6 47
2005–06 Lowell Lock Monsters AHL 72 1 7 8 56
2006–07 Lukko SM-l 51 8 16 24 44 2 0 2 2 2
2007–08 Lukko SM-l 13 2 0 2 6
2008–09 Lukko SM-l 18 0 0 0 6
2008–09 JYP SM-l 37 2 6 8 30 15 3 1 4 6
2009–10 JYP SM-l 48 2 6 8 44 12 0 1 1 2
2010–11 JYP SM-l 55 0 3 3 61 10 1 2 3 29
2010–11 D Team Mestis 1 0 0 0 0
2011–12 JYP SM-l 35 0 4 4 36 14 3 1 4 18
2012–13 JYP SM-l 36 2 1 3 58 9 1 0 1 26
2013–14 JYP Liiga 13 0 1 1 6 3 0 0 0 2
2014–15 JYP Liiga 21 2 0 2 34 8 0 0 0 14
2015–16 Ässät Liiga 32 1 4 5 37
Liiga totals 363 19 41 60 368 73 8 7 15 99
AHL totals 114 2 9 11 76
Medal record
Representing   Finland
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
  2002 Pardubice

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2002 Finland WJC   7 0 0 0 4
Junior totals 7 0 0 0 4

References

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  1. ^ "Mikko Viitanen continues with JYP" (in Finnish). JYP. 2009-05-08. Retrieved 2011-05-13.
  2. ^ "Assat Pori make roster additions" (in Finnish). Ässät Pori. 2015-04-23. Retrieved 2015-04-23.
  3. ^ "Mikko Viitanen ends professional career" (in Finnish). Ässät Pori. 2016-05-31. Retrieved 2016-05-31.
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