Kari Makkonen

Kari Makkonen (born January 20, 1955) is a Finnish retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga for Ässät and in the National Hockey League for the Edmonton Oilers

Kari Makkonen
Born (1955-01-20) January 20, 1955
Harjavalta, Finland
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 191 lb (87 kg; 13 st 9 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for SM-liiga
Ässät
NHL
Edmonton Oilers
National team  Finland
NHL Draft 194th overall, 1975
New York Islanders
WHA Draft 127th overall, 1975
Indianapolis Racers
42nd overall, 1976
Phoenix Roadrunners
Playing career 1974–1991

Playing career

Makkonen played his entire SM-liiga career for Pori based team Ässät, playing from 1974 until 1991. Makkonen was drafted 194th overall in the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft by the New York Islanders and was also drafted 127st by the Indianapolis Racers in the 1975 WHA Amateur Draft and 42nd by the Phoenix Roadrunners in the 1976 WHA Amateur Draft, though he elected to remain in Finland. Makkonen would eventually make the move to North America in 1979, where he signed for the Edmonton Oilers for the 1979-80 NHL season. He would play just nine games for Edmonton however, scoring two goals and two assists. He also played sixteen games in the Central Hockey League for the Houston Apollos, scoring five goals and five assists. It would be Makkonen's only season in North America as he would return to Ässät the following year.

Makkonen retired from playing in 1991 and He was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 1995.

Coaching career

Makkonen coached his first seasons as coach in the Finnish Lower Divisions for Seinäjoki HT and Kotkan Titaanit.

Makkonen's first SM-liiga coaching job came when he coached Ässät for a short period. Makkonen also was employed by Lukko for some time before he was employed by Tappara as an assistant coach for Jukka Rautakorpi

Makkonen was the assistant coach in Tappara for several years, winning the SM-liiga Championships in 2003 and finishing second in 2001 and 2002.

Makkonen was in 2007-09 the head coach of Mestis team Jukurit, which is a top contender in the second highest level of ice hockey in Finland.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1974–75 Ässät SM-s 36 5 5 10 8 — — — — —
1975–76 Ässät SM-l 36 24 15 39 25 4 1 2 3 2
1976–77 Ässät SM-l 36 17 20 37 18 — — — — —
1977–78 Ässät SM-l 39 19 25 44 28 9 4 5 9 9
1978–79 Ässät SM-l 36 36 18 54 55 1 0 0 0 0
1979–80 Edmonton Oilers NHL 9 2 2 4 0 — — — — —
1979–80 Houston Apollos CHL 16 5 5 10 2 — — — — —
1980–81 Ässät SM-l 36 19 21 40 20 1 0 0 0 0
1981–82 Ässät SM-l 36 24 20 44 12 9 5 4 9 0
1982–83 Ässät SM-l 35 14 18 32 22 — — — — —
1983–84 Ässät SM-l 37 27 15 42 28 9 3 4 7 19
1984–85 Ässät SM-l 36 18 20 38 32 8 6 4 10 6
1985–86 Ässät SM-l 34 23 26 49 24 — — — — —
1986–87 Ässät SM-l 43 14 22 36 20 — — — — —
1987–88 Ässät SM-l 43 21 16 37 36 — — — — —
1988–89 Ässät SM-l 42 16 24 40 20 — — — — —
1989–90 Ässät I-Div 44 31 52 83 18 3 3 3 6 2
1990–91 Ässät SM-l 43 9 24 33 20 — — — — —
SM-l totals 568 268 289 575 368 41 19 19 38 36

International
Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
1975 Finland WJC 5 2 2 4 4
1976 Finland WC 10 3 3 6 6
1976 Finland CC 5 3 1 4 2
1977 Finland WC 10 4 4 8 2
1978 Finland WC 10 1 0 1 4
1981 Finland CC 3 0 0 0 0
1982 Finland WC 7 2 2 4 2
1983 Finland WC 10 1 1 2 8
1985 Finland WC 10 1 0 1 4
1986 Finland WC 10 4 2 6 10
Junior totals 5 2 2 4 4
Senior totals 75 19 13 32 40
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