Mikko Kalteva Explained

Played For:Jokerit
Södertälje SK
JYP Jyväskylä
Position:Defense
Shoots:Left
Height Ft:6
Height In:3.5
Weight Lb:211
Birth Date:25 May 1984
Birth Place:Hyvinkää, Finland
Draft:107th overall
Draft Year:2002
Draft Team:Colorado Avalanche
Career Start:2004
Career End:2021

Mikko Kalteva (born 25 May 1984) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenseman who most notably played in the Finnish Liiga.

Playing career

Kalteva was drafted 107th overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche. Kalteva joined Jokerit as a 16-year-old junior and played in the Junior A SM-liiga in 2000–01 earning a place in the Pohjola First All-Star Team. Kalteva gained the notice of the Avalanche after selection to the Finnish Jr. team for the World U18 Championships in 2002. Kalteva was also named in the Finnish World Junior Championships in 2003 and 2004, earning a bronze medal on each occasion.

At the end of the 2003–04 season, Kalteva made his SM-liiga debut with Jokerit. In the following season Kalteva was a part of the fringe squad that helped Jokerit take the silver medal in the Kanada-malja playoffs. Mikko became a dual winner of the silver medal when he played a prominent defensive role in 2006–07.

On 23 April 2010, after spending his entire career to date with Jokerit, Kalteva left when he signed with Swedish team, Södertälje SK, of the Elitserien for the 2010–11 season.[1]

Upon the completion of his second season with Södertälje, Kalteva returned to Finland signing a one-year contract with JYP Jyväskylä on 30 June 2012.[2]

Kalteva played nine seasons with JYP Jyväskylä, making a total of 709 Liiga appearances before ending his 18-year professional career following the 2020–21 season, announcing his retirement on 31 March 2021.[3]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Team League GP GP G A Pts PIM
2000–01JokeritFIN U1811145663142
2000–01JokeritFIN U203403312
2001–02JokeritFIN U202953810
2001–02JokeritFIN U1863142
2002–03JokeritFIN U2034781530102464
2003–04JokeritFIN U20391410244230000
2003–04JokeritSM-liiga2000080002
2003–04Suomi U20Mestis90112
2004–05JokeritFIN U2024291140
2004–05JokeritSM-liiga2000020000
2005–06JokeritSM-liiga5321326
2006–07JokeritSM-liiga543693460000
2007–08JokeritSM-liiga5427940141234
2008–09JokeritSM-liiga560773450004
2009–10JokeritSM-liiga330661630114
2010–11Södertälje SKSEL4625724
2011–12Södertälje SKAllsv4416724
2012–13JYPSM-liiga4559144080668
2013–14JYP Liiga3116718
2014–15JYP Liiga483101320122352
2015–16JYP Liiga5810192926132466
2016–17JYP Liiga584263020121458
2017–18JYP Liiga53916252661012
2018–19JYP Liiga57117183230222
2019–20JYP Liiga565131830
2020–21JYP Liiga4917826
Liiga totals70946150196388927222942

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2002FinlandWJC184th70006
2003FinlandWJC70114
2004FinlandWJC70110
Junior totals2102210

Notes and References

  1. Web site: SSK recruit fine defensive player . . 2010-04-23 . 2010-05-11. Swedish.
  2. Web site: JYP announce signings . . 2012-04-30 . 2012-04-30 . Finnish . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140406222450/http://www.jypliiga.fi/uutiset/jyp-pestasi-nelja-uutta-pelaajaa1 . 2014-04-06 .
  3. Web site: Mikko Kalteva announces retirement . . 31 March 2021 . 31 March 2021 . Finnish.