Kari Haakana

Infobox Ice Hockey Player


team= Kärpät
former_teams = Modo Hockey
NHL
Edmonton Oilers
SM-liiga
Espoo Blues
Jokerit
Lukko
DEL
Star Bulls Rosenheim
EV Duisburg
Skellefteå AIK
league = SM-Liiga
position = Defence
shoots = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 1
weight_lb = 227
nickname = Kassu
nationality = FIN
birth_date = birth date and age|1973|11|8
birth_place = Outokumpu, FIN
draft = 248th overall
draft_year = 2001
draft_team = Edmonton Oilers
career_start = 1990

Kari Haakana (born November 8, 1973 in Outokumpu, Finland) is a professional ice hockey defenceman who has spent the majority of his career in Scandinavia, with the exception of brief stints in Germany and in the Edmonton Oilers player development system in North America. The Oilers selected Haakana in the eight round (248th overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

Haakana has spent most of his years in Espoo, where he is well known.Haakana played in Kiekko-Espoo for several years and also in Espoo Blues.

Haakana entered the entry draft as an overaged player and came over to Canada the following year, briefly playing for the Hamilton Bulldogs. He spent 13 games in the Oilers lineup, playing safe defensive hockey, but showing little in the way of offensive ability, scoring no points and only recording two shots. He returned to Europe during the 2004–05 NHL lockout. Haakana played for Swedish Elitserien team, Skellefteå AIK from the beginning of the 2006 season to mid-January 2008 when he dedided to cancel his contract and move back home to Finland Kärpät. [http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/hockey/elitserien/article1638965.ab]

External links

* [http://www.nhlfinns.com/players.aspx?pid=106 Kari Haakana] on nhlfinns.com
* [http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/player_bio.asp?player_id=2410&hubName= Bio at TSN.ca]