Finnish goaltender Mikko Koskinen, whose seventeen season pro career spanned five countries and multiple international tournaments, today confirmed his retirement from the game at age 35, following his club HC Lugano’s elimination from the Swiss NLA playoffs.

Coming up through the junior programs of both Espoo and his hometown Vantaa, Koskinen made his senior debut with the Blues in 2008, spending two seasons in the Liiga before venturing to North America. A second round pick of the New York Islanders in 2009, Koskinen spent three seasons in the Islanders system, only entering four NHL games, before returning to the Liiga with KalPa in 2012. Koskinen would spend two more seasons in the Liiga before joining Novosibirsk of the KHL in 2013, spending the next five seasons between Sibir and SKA Saint Petersburg, capturing the Gagarin Cup in both 2015 and 2017, also capturing league honours as Top Goaltender in 2015. His KHL success led to an opportunity with the Edmonton Oilers, spending four seasons as their starter before returning to Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic, spending his final two seasons in Switzerland with Lugano.

Koskinen made his senior Leijonat debut on the 2011-12 Euro Hockey Tour, his first of six appearances, winning the Tour in 2014 and 2018. Koskinen played at two World Championships in 2014 and 2016, capturing Silver at both appearances, and winning Best Goaltender and All-Star honours at the latter Worlds in Moscow. Koskinen also served as a spare goaltender at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, and backstopped the Finns at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, his final international appearance.

Koskinen captured the IHLC seven times in his career, first at his debut Euro Hockey Tour appearance, with the final coming in the lead-up to the PyeongChang Games just over six years later. We wish Mikko and his family the very best for his retirement and the things to come!

Photo Credit: Leijonat – IIHF – HHOF – IOC