Tappara’s giant acquisition – Finnish colossus who played in the NHL is arriving
Tappara strengthens its defense with Markus Niemeläinen. The 197-centimeter Finnish giant has signed a contract with the Tampere club extending to spring 2028.
The 28-year-old Niemeläinen arrives in Finland from Eisbären Berlin, where both of the previous seasons ended with a championship in the German DEL league.
Niemeläinen also has experience with the Edmonton Oilers. He played a total of 43 games in the NHL during the 2021–2023 seasons. The Oilers drafted him in the third round in 2016.
Tappara’s GM Janne Vuorinen highlights the new defenseman’s strengths as size, movement, and reach.
– Markus Niemeläinen is a great addition to our team and we are pleased to have him at Tappara. As a large, well-moving, and long-reaching defenseman, he can defend solidly and cover a large area in his own zone. NHL games and being part of championship teams are a great testament to Markus’s potential. We believe he still has opportunities to develop as a player, Tappara’s GM Janne Vuorinen commented on the latest addition.
Niemeläinen is also returning to a familiar club. He represented Tappara’s U16 and U18 teams during the 2013–14 season and made his first appearance in the U16 national team at that time.
In the league, Niemeläinen has played for HPK and Ässät. In addition to two German championships, his achievements include a Finnish championship and a gold medal at the under-18 World Championships.
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