Eetu Mäkiniemi Bio
Eetu Mäkiniemi is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender for HC TPS in the Liiga. Drafted 104th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Mäkiniemi began his professional career in 2018 and has played in Finland and North America, including time with the San Jose Sharks organization in the National Hockey League.
Early Life and Background
Eetu Mäkiniemi was born on 19 April 1999 in Vantaa, Finland. He played organized minor hockey with Kiekko-Vantaa and progressed through junior ranks in the Helsinki area, moving into the Jokerit junior program where he represented Jokerit U20 in the 2016–17 and 2017–18 seasons and participated in junior international club competition.
During the 2018–19 season Mäkiniemi returned to Kiekko-Vantaa to play in Mestis and missed part of the campaign with a hip injury. His early development combined Finnish junior competition and Mestis experience, providing the platform for a Liiga contract the following spring.
Path to Hockey
Mäkiniemi’s progression followed a common Finnish pathway from minor hockey in Vantaa to high-level junior competition with Jokerit U20. His performances at junior levels and visibility in national development events led to opportunities in Finland’s second-tier and top-tier leagues beginning in 2018.
In April 2019 Ilves signed Mäkiniemi to a multi-year Liiga contract, marking his step into Finland’s top professional league. That move established him as a Liiga-caliber prospect and positioned him for eventual interest from North American clubs after his selection in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
Eetu Mäkiniemi Career
Early Career (2016–2019)
As a junior, Mäkiniemi represented Jokerit U20 across consecutive seasons and appeared for the club in international junior events. He moved into senior hockey with Kiekko-Vantaa in Mestis for the 2018–19 season, where a hip injury limited his availability but provided valuable professional experience in a competitive senior league.
The combination of junior international exposure and Mestis appearances drew attention from Liiga teams and set the stage for his signing with Ilves, a notable step for a young goaltender seeking regular minutes at the top level in Finland.
Liiga Breakthrough (2019–2021)
Ilves signed Mäkiniemi in April 2019 and he made his Liiga debut on 28 December 2019 in a 2–1 win against KooKoo. That debut win established him as a viable option at the professional level and led to additional appearances across the following seasons as he competed for playing time in Liiga.
On 28 November 2020 Mäkiniemi recorded his first Liiga shutout, stopping 24 shots in a game against KalPa. His Liiga tenure through 2021 showed steady growth, with key performances that underscored his potential as a goaltender capable of stepping into higher levels of competition.
North America Breakthrough (2021–2023)
On 1 May 2021 the Carolina Hurricanes signed Mäkiniemi to a two-year entry-level contract, bringing him into the Hurricanes’ North American development system. He was assigned to the organization’s American Hockey League affiliate and later joined transactions that placed him within the San Jose Sharks organization.
On 13 July 2022 Mäkiniemi was traded to the San Jose Sharks as part of a package in a deal that sent Brent Burns to the Carolina Hurricanes. He made his NHL debut with the San Jose Sharks on 7 December 2022 in a 6–5 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks and remained with the Sharks organization through the 2022–2023 period.
HC TPS Era (Present)
Mäkiniemi is listed with HC TPS in the Liiga as his current team. His return to or placement with HC TPS situates him back in Finland’s top professional league, where he continues to build on earlier Liiga experience from the start of his career.
Driving Style and Strengths
Mäkiniemi is a left-catching goaltender with a listed height of 188 cm and weight of 83 kg, a physical profile suited to modern netminding. His career milestones include a Liiga debut victory, a recorded Liiga shutout, and an NHL debut, illustrating adaptability across levels of competition.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Mäkiniemi’s career include being selected 104th overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, making his Liiga debut for Ilves in December 2019, recording his first Liiga shutout in November 2020, signing an NHL entry-level contract in May 2021, and making his NHL debut in December 2022. Each of these events marks a step in his progression from Finnish junior hockey to international professional ranks.
Eetu Mäkiniemi Career Wins
Mäkiniemi’s verified wins across professional levels include his Liiga debut victory for Ilves and subsequent Liiga successes such as his first shutout. At the North American level he earned playing time with the Chicago Wolves in the AHL and reached the NHL with the San Jose Sharks, recording his first NHL game appearance in December 2022.
Liiga Highlights
In Liiga, Mäkiniemi’s signing by Ilves and match-winning debut on 28 December 2019 are primary highlights, followed by his shutout performance on 28 November 2020 against KalPa. Those performances represent his most notable verified domestic achievements and reflect his capacity to deliver strong single-game results in Finland’s top professional competition.
NHL Highlights
At the NHL level Mäkiniemi’s most notable moment is his debut with the San Jose Sharks on 7 December 2022. His path to that appearance included signing an entry-level contract with the Carolina Hurricanes in May 2021 and integration into North American professional hockey, culminating in NHL game action following a mid-2022 trade to San Jose.
Other Wins & Perfromances
During his junior years Mäkiniemi represented Jokerit U20 and appeared in junior international club competition, experiences that contributed to his draft selection and early professional opportunities. He also logged appearances in Mestis with Kiekko-Vantaa, a key developmental step in his transition to Liiga.
Eetu Mäkiniemi Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Eetu Mäkiniemi was born and raised in Vantaa, Finland. Public records provided in the inputs do not list parents or family members, and there is no verified public racing or hockey lineage information beyond his own developmental clubs and regional background in the Helsinki metropolitan area.
Personal Life
Mäkiniemi is Finnish and was born on 19 April 1999. There are no verified public records in the provided inputs regarding marriage, spouse, or children. His early life and personal details in the public record focus on his hockey development and professional career.
2025 Season Performance
Entering 2025 Eetu Mäkiniemi will be 26 years old and is listed as an active professional goaltender. The inputs identify him as a current HC TPS player in the Liiga, and his professional timeline runs from 2018 to the present, spanning junior hockey, Liiga competition, AHL play, and NHL appearances through 2023.
Specific 2025 season statistics and game results are not provided in the verified inputs. His career to date shows progression through Finnish junior and professional ranks into North American organizations and back to the Liiga, forming the factual basis for evaluating his role and status as he continues his professional career.