so, first of all Mikkola is from the Oulu area despite having played Liiga in Kuopio and Tampere, which means his parents still live here. 

this story takes place in 2019, when none of the NHL players were joining the Finnish world champ team, and Mikkola made the team. as we know, Finland made it the finals with that roster, so my friend and I decided that we’re going to go to a bar for the game so we can either celebrate or get incredibly drunk (even when it was Sunday night). whilst at the bar, I notice this old couple who are wearing Team Finland jerseys with Mikkola’s name on them. granted, there are a few other Mikkola’s in Finland so I thought nothing of it at the time.

then Team Finland won the game and we went out to town to celebrate it at the market square (the very Finnish thing to do when we win anything at world stage). I notice the same Mikkola jersey couple from the bar standing near us and also this cameraman who was there to film the celebration. and when the lady noticed the cameraman she just goes: HEY DAD, YOU SHOULD GET ON CAMERA SO MAYBE OUR SON CAN SEE US CHEERING. 

I got a bit confused until I realized... THEY ARE NIKO MIKKOLA’S PARENTS!

Oct 18, 2025, 06:14 PM ET BUFFALO, N.Y. — Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola left Saturday’s 3-0 loss at Buffalo Sabres with an upper-body injury. Mikkola, 29, got hurt in the second period when he got tied up with Sabres forward Tyson Kozak. Mikkola was assessed a holding penalty on the play and departed moments later. The Panthers, who are going for a third consecutive Stanley Cup…

The Florida Panthers have agreed to an eight-year extension with defenseman Niko Mikkola, and as a result have locked in each of their top four defensemen until at least 2030. Sources said the extension has an average annual value of $5 million. Mikkola’s new deal, announced Thursday by general manager Bill Zito without financial terms, comes as the Panthers begin their quest for a three-peat…

Greg WyshynskiMight 26, 2025, 12:25 PM ET Shut Greg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL author. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The Florida Panthers will likely be with out a trio of injured gamers for Recreation 4 of the Japanese Convention Finals on Monday night time, as they give the impression of being to comb the Carolina Hurricanes and advance to their third straight Stanley Cup Last. High line ahead…