Mika Stefan Hannula, born on April 2, 1979, in Huddinge, Sweden, to a Swedish mother and a Finnish father, is a former professional ice hockey player known for his tenacity, speed, and hard-working nature on the ice.
Raised in a multicultural household, Hannula’s early exposure to hockey came through the Finnish club TPS, where he began his career.
His journey took him from Sweden’s junior leagues to international competitions, earning him recognition as a skilled left winger with a knack for forechecking and offensive contributions.
Despite never securing a permanent spot in the NHL, Hannula’s career spanned multiple leagues in Sweden, Finland, Russia, and North America, showcasing his adaptability and dedication to the sport.
Siblings
Mika has a younger brother, Ronnie Hannula, who is also involved in ice hockey.
While Mika carved out a professional career across various elite leagues, Ronnie has followed a similar path but at a less prominent level.
Ronnie played for Vallentuna BK, a Stockholm-based club, during a period when Mika briefly trained with the team in 2006.
Career
Hannula’s hockey career began in the junior ranks with Swedish clubs AIK Solna and Djurgårdens IF, as well as Finland’s Lukko Rauma, from 1996 to 1998.
He later played for Lidingö HC in Sweden’s Division 1 and Hammarby IF in the HockeyAllsvenskan, the country’s second-tier league, during the 1999–2000 season.
In 2000, he joined the Malmö Redhawks in the Swedish Elitserien, marking his entry into top-tier professional hockey.
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His performance caught the attention of the Minnesota Wild, who drafted him in the ninth round, 269th overall, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
Hannula spent the 2003–04 season with the Houston Aeros, the Wild’s AHL affiliate, where he recorded 27 points in 67 games.
Unable to secure an NHL roster spot, he returned to Sweden to play for Malmö Redhawks.
In 2005, Hannula signed a three-year contract with HV71 in the Elitserien, where he enjoyed a successful 2005–06 season.
However, personal reasons led him to take a break from hockey in November 2006, during which he trained briefly with Vallentuna BK alongside his brother Ronnie.
HV71 released him from his contract in December 2006, and he soon joined Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the Russian Super League, scoring 15 points in 23 games.
The following season, he signed with SKA Saint Petersburg, continuing his stint in Russia.
In 2008, Hannula joined CSKA Moscow in the newly formed Kontinental Hockey League, but his time there was brief.
He returned to Djurgårdens IF in December 2009 for a short-term contract, later moving to KHL’s Salavat Yulaev, where he scored 10 points in 13 games.
An injury limited his 2010–11 season with Metallurg Magnitogorsk to just one game, after which he rehabilitated and rejoined Djurgårdens IF in January 2011.
That same year, he signed with Modo Hockey, but his contract ended after a brief stint.
Hannula’s final professional season was in 2014 with the Kölner Haie in Germany’s DEL, marking the end of a career that spanned multiple countries and leagues.
Accolades
Representing Sweden, Hannula won a gold medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, a significant milestone that showcased his ability to perform in high-stakes competitions.
He also earned a silver medal at the 2003 World Championships, contributing to Sweden’s strong international presence.
In 2002, Hannula was selected for the Elitserien All-Star Game, recognizing his impact in Sweden’s top league.
However, his career was not without controversy; during the 2006 World Championships in Riga, Latvia, he was suspended for the final game after cross-checking Canada’s Sidney Crosby, an incident that also led to a fine of 5,000 euros and a four-game suspension for the 2007 World Championships.
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