Antti Miettinen

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
position = Right Wing
shoots = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 0
weight_lb = 190
team = Minnesota Wild
former_teams = Dallas Stars
league = NHL
nationality = Finland
birth_date = Birth date and age|1980|7|3|mf=y
birth_place = Hämeenlinna, FIN
career_start = 1999
draft = 224th overall
draft_year = 2000
draft_team = Dallas Stars
nickname = Mittens, Mitts

Antti Miettinen (born July 3, 1980 in Hämeenlinna, Finland) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who plays for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League. He was drafted by the Dallas Stars as their seventh-round pick, #224 overall, in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. He has two brothers and one sister, owns a cat, and returns to his hometown in the summer.

He was chosen to play for Finland in the 2006 Winter Olympics but was unable to participate due to an upper body injury. He was replaced on the team by Niklas Hagman.

Awards

* Kultainen kypärä trophy for best player as voted for by the players, 2003
* Lasse Oksanen trophy for best player during regular season play, 2003

Quotes

*"The first hockey team that I ever played for was HPK Hameenlinna in Finland. One of the greatest hockey memories I have was in my first-ever game as a kid. I hit a post and I was happy!" --Antti Miettinen on his first hockey experiences.

*"My parents were a big influence on me and my career. I admire them a lot. I also had a lot of really good coaches that helped along the way. I idolized Mario Lemieux when I was younger, as well as Teemu Selanne." --Antti Miettinen

*"The first time I played for Team Finland was a great thrill. I am very excited about playing in the Olympics. The World Cup game between Finland and Canada in 2004 was probably the most memorable game I've watched in a long time." --Antti Miettinen

*"Play a lot of different sports and have fun. Dedicate yourself to be the very best you can in every sport you play and everything else will take care of itself." --Antti Miettinen's advice for kids who are interested in playing pro hockey.

*"I missed the Olympics, so it was the worst timing. It was hard right from the beginning. Now I'm just happy for them, so that will help me forget this thing. But you know, considering that I don't have to miss any games for the Stars, that's good." --Antti Miettinen on being injured right before the Olympics.

*"I'm expecting a really big year out of Antti Miettinen. For some reason I think that he's going to command some more ice. He's going to be put in opportunities where he can be a really good player for us. So...that's one player that I'm really looking forward to seeing how he responds." --Dallas Stars formal General Manager Doug Armstrong.

Career statistics

"Stats through 2007-2008 season."

References

*
* [http://www.dallasstars.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=4043 Getting to Know...Antti Miettinen]
* [http://www.dallasstars.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=4776 Non-Olympian Stars back and recharged for stretch run]