Kari Makkonen

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Position	Forward
Shoots	Right
Nickname(s)	Mako
Height Weight	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg/13 st 3 lb)
Pro clubs	SM-liiga Ässät NHL Edmonton Oilers
Nationality	Finland
Born	January 20, 1955 (1955-01-20) (age 53), Harjavalta, FIN
NHL Draft	194th overall, 1975 New York Islanders
Pro career	1974 – 1991

Kari Makkonen (born January 20, 1955 in Harjavalta, Finland) is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga for Ässät.

[edit] Playing career

Kari Makkonen played his entire SM-liiga career for Pori based team Ässät.

Makkonen also played in National Hockey League for one season. His team was Edmonton Oilers.

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

[edit] 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.

Currently Makkonen is the Head Coach of Mestis team Jukurit, which is a top contender in the second highest level of ice hockey in Finland.

[edit] External links

• Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame bio
• Kari Makkonen's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database

Preceded by Markus Mattsson	Winner of the Jarmo Wasama memorial trophy 1975–76	Succeeded by Risto Siltanen
Preceded by Markku Kiimalainen	Winner of the Aarne Honkavaara trophy 1978–79	Succeeded by Matti Hagman
Preceded by Veli-Pekka Ketola	Head Coach of Ässät 1996	Succeeded by Juhani Tamminen
Preceded by Pekka Lipiäinen	Head Coach of Jukurit 2007-	Succeeded by current Head Coach