Our GM and star Goaltender Miika Kemppinen concede us some time from his tight schedule and talked about his past, present and future.
Tell us about your on ice career.
I first started in the DMFHL where I was drafted as 3rd overall to the Montreal Revolution.
After the fold of that league I moved to play in the DMSL where I was originally drafted as 15th overall to the Rochester Enforcers, team that had been the rival of the Revolution in the DMFHL. I was already planning to sit out the first season until the GM of the Enforcers got himself banned.
I was offered an opportunity to take over the team and so it was relocated and renamed and became the Helsinki Blizzard.That lasted just one season as I got too busy to run my own team, so Jordan Kasper took over the team and moved it to Montreal.
Kasper was kind enough and from my request he left me free in the DMSL Season 2 expansion draft where I was picked as 2nd overall by the Dakota Warbirds, team formerly known as Minnesota Warbirds where I spent the rest of my DMSL/BHL career as the captain of the team.
Like many current BESL players, I felt I had energy to play more games that it was played in the BHL, so I signed up to the ISHL when it was founded. I ended up being drafted as 38th overall to the Washington Rainiers.
After three seasons team then moved to Montreal and became the Wanderers. I also changed my position from winger to goalie. After a season and a half I was offered an opportunity to become a GM of the team, so I took it under my wings and for the sixth season of the ISHL renamed it to the Bears. Bears then moved to play in the BESL and that's where I continue my career.
What made you start playing hockey?
I have been a hockey fan since a little kid. Then one day I saw that there was a new league founded and decided to try and see what I could do myself on ice with the skills learned by watching the game. Day after the inaugural draft of the DMFHL I got a call and was told that I had been picked as early as 3rd overall to the Montreal Revolution.
What was your childhood favourite team?
Jokerit in the Finnish league has always been my favourite team.
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Kemppinen