Marko Anttila
| Marko Anttila | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | May 27, 1985 Lempäälä, Finland |
| Height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Weight | 231 lb (105 kg; 16 st 7 lb) |
| Position | Winger |
| Shoots | Right |
| KHL team Former teams |
Metallurg Novokuznetsk TPS Ilves Suomi-sarja |
| NHL Draft | 260th overall, 2004 Chicago Blackhawks |
| Playing career | 2003–present |
Marko Anttila (born May 25, 1985 in Lempäälä, Finland) is a professional ice hockey player. Anttila currently plays for Metallurg Novokuznetsk of the KHL and was drafted by Chicago Blackhawks in 2004 260th overall pick.
Playing career
LeKi Lempäälä (2003-04)
Marko Anttila played his first adult ice hockey games during the 2003-04 season. Anttila's first team was his hometown team Lempäälän Kisa of Lempäälä.
Anttila scored 38 points in 22 Suomi-sarja regular season games during his debut season. Though playing in the 3rd highest level in Finland, Anttila was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft while he was playing for LeKi. It is believed that Anttila's connections with Chicago's scout for Finland, Sakari Pietila, was the reason why he was drafted (it is probable that almost no one else in the draft event had heard of him). His large size (over 6'7 ft tall) combined to his hard slapshot were the most convincing factors that influenced Sakari Pietila suggested him to the Blackhawks.
Ilves (2004-2011)
After being drafted while playing for small town's team, Anttila soon was reckoned as a player to invest on. Marko Anttila was contracted by Ilves in 2004.
Anttila struggled during his first season in SM-liiga but soon got the hand of playing in bigger levels.
In 2007-08, Anttila scored his SM-liiga career-high when he racked 23 points in 56 games and he was selected to play for Finnish National team during the European Hockey Tour.
as of 2008, Marko Anttila's NHL-rights are still held by Chicago Blackhawks
TPS (2011-2013)
Anttila made a one-year contract TPS 26.4.2011.
Metallurg Novokuznetsk
In June 2013 it was announced that Anttila will join Metallurg Novokuznetsk of the KHL.