Teppo Numminen

Infobox Ice Hockey Player


image_size = 200px
team = Buffalo Sabres
former_teams = Phoenix Coyotes
Winnipeg Jets
Dallas Stars
league = NHL
position = Defence
shoots = Right
height_ft = 6
height_in = 2
weight_lb = 198
nickname =
nationality = FIN
birth_date = birth date and age|1968|07|3
birth_place = Tampere, FIN
draft = 29^th overall
draft_year = 1986
draft_team = Winnipeg Jets
career_start = 1988

Teppo Numminen (born July 3, 1968 in Tampere, Finland) is a professional hockey defenceman for the Buffalo Sabres.

Playing career

Numminen started his career with his local team, Tappara Tampere, in the Finnish Elite League. Drafted twenty-ninth overall in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft by the Winnipeg Jets, Numminen moved to North America in 1988 to play for the Jets. He moved with the team as it became the Phoenix Coyotes before the 1996–97 season. He played in the NHL All-Star Game in both 1999 and 2000. After fifteen seasons playing for the Winnipeg/Phoenix organization, Numminen was traded to the Dallas Stars in July, 2003, for Mike Sillinger. Numminen took a break from hockey during the 2004–05 NHL lockout. Numminen then signed as a free agent with the Buffalo Sabres.

On November 13, 2006, Numminen played his 1252^nd game in the NHL and in the process, set a record for most NHL games played as a European-trained player, surpassing Jari Kurri. Numminen is the only player from the 1986 NHL Entry Draft who is still playing in the NHL.

After signing a one-year contract for the 2007–08 NHL season, Numminen was forced to undergo open heart surgery before the start of the season. Numminen was suspended by the Buffalo Sabres when it was discovered he needed heart surgery. [http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/sabresnhl/story/162294.html] . Buffalo Sabres GM Darcy Regier stated the suspension was due to the fact that his $2.6 million dollar contract was not insured,and there's a clause explicitly in the contract that states the player must pass the physical and be fit to play. [http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/story/162818.html]

Word came that Numminen's heart surgery was successful. Completed on September 20, 2007, at the Cleveland Clinic, the surgery was performed to repair a faulty valve. [http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/sabresnhl/story/167444.html] Numminen was able to return to action for the final game of the Sabres' 2007–08 season on April 5, 2008.

As per Buffalo Sabres General Manager- Darcy Regier, Numminen has expressed some interest in returning and continuing NHL play for at least another year. On August 8, 2008, Numminen re-signed with the Buffalo Sabres. [ [http://sabres.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=379502 Buffalo Sabres - News: SABRES SIGN TEPPO NUMMINEN - 08/08/2008 ] ]

International play

Numminen has won two silver medals ('88 & '06) and a bronze ('98) playing with the Finnish Olympic Team.

Other activities

Teppo Numminen owns 90 % of [http://www.montrealhockey.com/index/en/home/company/info.html Montreal Sports Ltd,] which is a company founded by Teppo's father Kalevi "Kallu" Numminen. The company produces ice hockey sticks and equipment.

Personal life

Teppo and his wife Ann-Maarit have two daughters, Bianca and Erica, and one son, Niklas.

Career statistics

References

External links

* [http://sabres.nhl.com/team/app?page=PlayerDetail&playerId=8449924&service=page&tab=prf Teppo Numminen - Sabres.com]
* [http://www.nhlfinns.com/players.aspx?pid=66 Teppo Numminen] on nhlfinns.com
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