Mikko Vainonen

Mikko Vainonen (born 11 April 1994) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman who was last under contract with Glasgow Clan in the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL).

Mikko Vainonen
Born	(1994-04-11) 11 April 1994 (age 31) Helsinki, Finland
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	222 lb (101 kg; 15 st 12 lb)
Position	Defence
Shoots	Left
team Former teams	Free Agent HIFK Milwaukee Admirals SaiPa Ässät Pori Krefeld Pinguine Vaasan Sport Orli Znojmo Dornbirn Bulldogs HC Frýdek-Místek SG Cortina Glasgow Clan
NHL draft	118th overall, 2012 Nashville Predators
Playing career	2011–present

Early life

Mikko Vainonen was a hard-working defenceman in his childhood. He played a lot of floorball with his friends in residential Helsinki.

Playing career

He made his professional debut playing with HIFK of the SM-liiga during the 2011–12 SM-liiga season. He was selected in the fourth round, 118th overall, of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Nashville Predators. In the following season and pursuit of his NHL ambition, he moved to North America to play major junior after he was drafted in the 2012 CHL import draft in the 1st round, 6th overall by the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League.

On 24 May 2013, he was signed to a three-year entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators.^[1] Vainonen split time between Nashville's farm teams the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League and the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL over the next two seasons, before being loaned to Liiga's SaiPa to finish the 2014–15 season.

At the start of the 2015–16 NHL season Vainonen and Nashville agreed to mutually terminate his contract, allowing him to seek employment elsewhere.^[2] He returned to his native Finland, coming to terms with Ässät Pori of the top-tier Liiga.

After parts of two seasons with German club Krefeld Pinguine of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, Vainonen returned to the Liiga, securing a one-year deal with his fourth Finnish club, Vaasan Sport, on 29 March 2018.^[3]

On June 19, 2019, Vainonen opted to continue in the EBEL agreeing to a one-year contract with the Dornbirn Bulldogs.^[4]

In a COVID-19 affected 2020–21 season, Vainonen played for Orli Znojmo, HC Frýdek-Místek, and Italian side SG Cortina.

In August 2021, Vainonen agreed terms with Scottish EIHL side Glasgow Clan for the 2021–22 season.^[5]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2011–12	HIFK	Liiga		8	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Kingston Frontenacs	OHL		55	4	18	22	42		4	2	1	3	2
2013–14	Kingston Frontenacs	OHL		57	4	14	18	73		7	1	3	4	8
2013–14	Milwaukee Admirals	AHL		2	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Cincinnati Cyclones	ECHL		31	0	5	5	16		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	SaiPa	Liiga		19	0	1	1	14		7	0	2	2	33
2015–16	Ässät	Liiga		39	1	5	6	63		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Ässät	Liiga		15	0	1	1	6		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Krefeld Pinguine	DEL		28	4	1	5	34		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Krefeld Pinguine	DEL		44	1	3	4	45		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Vaasan Sport	Liiga		11	0	2	2	18		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Orli Znojmo	EBEL		28	6	11	17	18		5	2	2	4	12
2019–20	Dornbirn Bulldogs	EBEL		50	3	10	13	38		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Orli Znojmo	Czech 2.Liga		1	1	2	3	2		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	HC Frýdek-Místek	Chance Liga		5	0	0	0	8		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	SG Cortina	AlpsHL		19	1	5	6	35		5	0	2	2	4
2020–21	SG Cortina	Italy		2	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Glasgow Clan	EIHL		44	3	9	12	46		—	—	—	—	—
Liiga totals				92	1	9	10	103		7	0	2	2	33

Medal record
Representing Finland
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
	2014 Malmö

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2011	Finland	U17	7th		5	0	2	2	10
2012	Finland	WJC18	4th		7	0	4	4	8
2014	Finland	WJC			7	0	2	2	4
Junior totals					19	0	8	8	22