Pasi Nurminen
Encyclopedia
Pasi Nurminen is a Finnish retired ice hockey
goaltender
. He was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers
as their sixth-round pick, #189 overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft
.
Nurminen started his playing career with Reipas Lahti in Finland and later moved on to Ketterä Imatra and Pelicans
. In 1998 he moved to HPK
and then to Jokerit
a year later, where he won the Urpo Ylönen trophy
as best goaltender in the SM-liiga
. After two season with Jokerit, he moved across the Atlantic to represent the Atlanta Thrashers. Nurminen played for Malmö IF in the Swedish
Elitserien
, and his hometown team, Pelicans
, during the NHL lockout. He retired in the fall of 2005 due to a serious knee injury. He currently works as a goaltending consultant for Pelicans, the SM-liiga hockey team he also partially owns. Starting from 2010, he also serves the same role for the Finnish National Team.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
. He was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers
Atlanta Thrashers
The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season...
as their sixth-round pick, #189 overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft
2001 NHL Entry Draft
The 2001 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 23–24, 2001 at the National Car Rental Center in Sunrise, Florida.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:...
.
Nurminen started his playing career with Reipas Lahti in Finland and later moved on to Ketterä Imatra and Pelicans
Pelicans (ice hockey)
Pelicans is an ice hockey team playing in the SM-liiga, and formed in 1996. They play in the city of Lahti, Finland at Isku Arena. The team is partially owned by retired NHL goaltender Pasi Nurminen.-Notable players:* Sean Avery* Jason Bonsignore...
. In 1998 he moved to HPK
HPK
HPK is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga. They play in Hämeenlinna, Finland at the Hämeenlinnan jäähalli. HPK was established in 1929. The full name of the club is HPK-Edustusjääkiekko Ry and the team is sometimes promoted as the "Hockey Playing Knights", with the logo representing a knight...
and then to Jokerit
Jokerit
Jokerit is an ice-hockey team from Helsinki, Finland, playing in the Finnish Elite League, SM-liiga. The team has won 6 league championships...
a year later, where he won the Urpo Ylönen trophy
Urpo Ylönen trophy
The Urpo Ylönen trophy is an ice hockey award given by the Finnish SM-liiga to the best goalie of the season.Trophy winners:1977-78: Antero Kivelä 1978-79: Jorma Valtonen 1979-80: Jorma Valtonen 1980-81: Hannu Kamppuri...
as best goaltender in the SM-liiga
SM-liiga
The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice...
. After two season with Jokerit, he moved across the Atlantic to represent the Atlanta Thrashers. Nurminen played for Malmö IF in the Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
Elitserien
Elitserien
Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden...
, and his hometown team, Pelicans
Pelicans (ice hockey)
Pelicans is an ice hockey team playing in the SM-liiga, and formed in 1996. They play in the city of Lahti, Finland at Isku Arena. The team is partially owned by retired NHL goaltender Pasi Nurminen.-Notable players:* Sean Avery* Jason Bonsignore...
, during the NHL lockout. He retired in the fall of 2005 due to a serious knee injury. He currently works as a goaltending consultant for Pelicans, the SM-liiga hockey team he also partially owns. Starting from 2010, he also serves the same role for the Finnish National Team.