Kari Haakana

Kari Haakana (born November 8, 1973 in Outokumpu, Finland) is a former ice hockey defenceman who spent the majority of his career in Scandinavia, with the exception of brief stints in Germany and in the Edmonton Oilers player development system in North America. The Oilers selected Haakana in the eight round (248th overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

Haakana spent most of his years in Espoo, where he is well known. Haakana played in Kiekko-Espoo for several years and also in Espoo Blues.

Haakana entered the entry draft as an overaged player and came over to Canada the following year, briefly playing for the Hamilton Bulldogs. He spent 13 games in the Oilers lineup, playing safe defensive hockey, but showing little in the way of offensive ability, scoring no points and only recording two shots. He returned to Europe during the 2004–05 NHL lockout. Haakana played for Swedish Elitserien team, Skellefteå AIK from the beginning of the 2006 season to mid-January 2008 when he decided to cancel his contract and move back home to Finland to play for Kärpät.