Finnish professional ice hockey player, Miika Elomo passed away at the age of 47 on February 10, 2025, leaving the ice hocky community in shock.
His untimely death has left a significant void in the hearts of his wife, Maria family, friends, teammates, and fans.
Highlights
- Miika Elomo passed away at the age of 47 on February 10, 2025, leaving the hockey community in deep mourning.
- Miika was the head coach of Cergy-Pontoise in the French top professional league from 2023 until his passing.
- He had a brief NHL career but had a more significant career in other leagues, such as the AHL and SM-Liiga.
Starting his NHL career in 1995, Elomo was known for his contributions both on the ice and behind the bench as a coach.
He had a diverse and impressive playing career, competing in different major leagues such as the NHL, AHL, and SM-Liiga.
Following his time as a player, he transitioned into coaching, where he continued to make significant contributions by leading various teams.
At the time of his death, Elomo was serving as the head coach of Cergy-Pontoise in the French top professional league, Ligue Magnus
However, with Elomo’s sudden passing, his family, fans, and loved ones deeply mourn his loss.
Miika Elomo Had A Brief NHL Career Where He Played Only Two Games In The League
Miika Elomo was born and raised in Finland, and from a young age, he gravitated towards ice hockey.
He later pursued the sport professionally, primarily playing as a forward for notable Finnish teams.
Among the notable teams he played for were TPS (Turun Palloseura), HIFK (Helsingfors Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna), and the Blues.
During his tenure as an ice hockey player, he earned two Finnish championships, showcasing his skills.
Det er med stor sorg vi har mottatt budskapet om at vår tidligere hovedtrener, Miika Elomo, har gått bort i en alder av 47 år. Våre tanker går til Miikas familie og venner i denne tunge tiden. pic.twitter.com/lwANk2iurz
— Storhamar Hockey (@StorhamarHockey) February 10, 2025
His time in the NHL was brief, playing only two games, but he left a mark in that short period.
In the 1999-2000 season, he recorded a single assist from his two career games in the league.
Elomo was more renowned for his performance and reputation in other leagues rather than the NHL.
The ice hockey star spent several years in North America, playing in the American Hockey League, where he participated in over 200 matches.
During his time at the AHL, he managed to record 30 goals and 45 assists for a total of 75 points in 216 games.
After just four years in North America, he returned to Finland to continue his career in his home country.
After returning, he spent the rest of his professional career with the Blues of the SM-Liiga, the top-tier professional league in Finland.
He played with the Blues in the 2004-05 season, after which he put an end to his playing career.
Miika Transitioned To Coaching Following His Retirement From His Playing Career
Miika retired from playing professional ice hockey after a sever wrist injury during the 2004-05 season with the Blues.
Following his retirement, Elomo transitioned to coaching and took on various coaching opportunities.
Hockey : « Il a gagné le respect du vestiaire »… Miika Elomo, coach de fer des Jokers au gant de velours
— Le Parisien | 95 (@leparisien_95) March 26, 2024
➡️ https://t.co/28LxUqfUIY pic.twitter.com/Rtmou8gT76
He served as an assistant coach for TPS Liiga from 2012 to 2015 for about three years, after which he became the head coach at TUTO Hockey.
His coaching experience included leading teams not only in Finland but also abroad with stints in Poland and Norway, contributing his expertise to several clubs and national youth teams.
Elomo served as head coach for Storhamar, a team in Norway, for two years from 2019 to 2020.
Additionally, he was an assistant coach for Finland’s U20 national team from 2020 to 2022 and was promoted to head coach in 2022.
In 2023, Miika became the head coach at Cergy-Pontoise, where he remained until his passing.
Additional Information
- The Washington Capitals selected Miika as the 23rd overall pick in the 1995 NHL draft, after which he played as a left-winger.
- Under Miika Elomo’s leadership, the Jokers had positioned themselves well within the competitive ranks of the French ice hockey scene.
- The Jokers stood ninth in the league, reflecting significant improvement since Miika took over.
