Miika Wiikman (born October 17, 1984) is a Swedish-born Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender. He is currently a free agent having last played for Anglet Hormadi Élite of the Ligue Magnus.

Miika Wiikman
Born (1984-10-17) October 17, 1984 (age 39)
Mariestad, Sweden
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 176 lb (80 kg; 12 st 8 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
team
Former teams
Free agent
HPK
Hartford Wolf Pack
San Antonio Rampage
Lukko
Ilves Tampere
Kärpät
SaiPa
Jokerit
HC ’05 Banská Bystrica
HDD Olimpija Ljubljana
Nottingham Panthers
Milton Keynes Lightning
Coventry Blaze
Anglet Hormadi Élite
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2004–present

Playing career edit

Wiikman started his junior career in Sweden with HV71 before moving to HPK in Finland, with whom he won the SM-liiga championship in 2006 and was a recipient of the Jari Kurri trophy as the Playoff MVP. He signed an AHL contract with the Hartford Wolf Pack on June 4, 2007.

Miika started the 2007–08 season splitting playing time with Al Montoya. After the latter's trade to the Phoenix Coyotes organization, Wiikman became Hartford's primary goaltender, finishing the season with a 21-8-3 record, during which he was awarded Player of the Week on January 27, 2008. On April 24, 2008, he signed an NHL entry-level contract with the Rangers.[1]

He opened the 2009–10 season again with Hartford before he was reassigned to the Charlotte Checkers of the ECHL. On March 3, 2010, Wiikman was traded by the Rangers to the Phoenix Coyotes for Anders Eriksson.[2] He was then assigned to AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage for the remainder of the season.

On April 26, 2010, Wiikman returned to the Finland's SM-liiga, signing a one-year contract with Lukko for the 2010-11 season.[3]

On the June 21, 2015, Wiikman continued his journeyman career in moving to England, to play for the Nottingham Panthers of the Elite ice hockey league.[4] Wiikman departed Nottingham in April 2017, following two years with the team.[5]

In September 2017, Wiikman signed with EIHL new-boys Milton Keynes Lightning as short-term injury cover following an injury to their number one netminder in pre-season.[6]

In August 2018, Wiikman signed for fellow EIHL side Coventry Blaze after it was confirmed that incumbent netminder Kevin Nastiuk was not returning to the club.[7]

Wiikman, a dual citizen, has played on the Finnish national team and the Swedish national junior team.[8]

Career statistics edit

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L T/OT MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2004–05 HPK Hämeenlinna SM-l 23 9 5 9 1361 54 2 2.38 .923 2 1 1 118 4 0 2.03 .913
2005–06 HPK Hämeenlinna SM-l 34 21 7 5 1949 68 3 2.09 .929 11 8 2 607 20 3 1.98 .929
2006–07 HPK Hämeenlinna SM-l 18 8 6 4 1066 46 0 2.59 .908
2007–08 Hartford Wolfpack AHL 34 21 8 3 1907 73 2 2.30 .919 1 0 1 59 3 0 3.07 .842
2007–08 Charlotte Checkers ECHL 4 1 1 2 254 10 0 2.36 .922
2008–09 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 43 21 18 4 2463 111 2 2.70 .904
2009–10 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 7 2 4 0 343 24 0 4.20 .869
2009–10 Charlotte Checkers ECHL 17 9 3 3 971 46 1 2.84 .906
2009–10 San Antonio Rampage AHL 5 0 1 1 198 8 0 2.42 .919
AHL totals 89 44 31 8 4,911 216 4 2.64 .908 1 0 1 59 3 0 3.07 .842

Awards edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Rangers agree to terms with Wiikman". New York Rangers. 2008-04-28. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
  2. ^ "Rangers acquire Eriksson". NHL. 2010-03-03. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
  3. ^ "Lukko complemented with a further two players". Lukko (in Finnish). 2010-04-26. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2010-05-11.
  4. ^ "Scandinavian netminder signs for the Panthers". Nottingham Post. 2015-06-21. Archived from the original on 2015-07-08. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
  5. ^ https://eliteleague.co.uk/panthers-wiikman-part-company/[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "Lightning Sign Goaltender Miika Wiikman". Archived from the original on 2017-09-02. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
  7. ^ "Stewart secures Wiikman".
  8. ^ "Behind the Mask #4 | Miika Wiikman: Nottingham Panthers". chasingthepuck.com. 21 February 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2022.

External links edit

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Winner of the Jari Kurri trophy
2005-06
Succeeded by