Marko Anttila facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marko Anttila |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Marko Anttila in 2016
|
|||
| Born | 27 May 1985 Lempäälä, Finland |
||
| Height | 6 ft 8 in (203 cm) | ||
| Weight | 229 lb (104 kg; 16 st 5 lb) | ||
| Position | Right wing | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | HC TPS Metallurg Novokuznetsk Örebro HK Jokerit Ilves Oulun Kärpät |
||
| National team |  Finland |
||
| NHL Draft | 260th overall, 2004 Chicago Blackhawks |
||
| Playing career | 2003–2025 | ||
Marko Anttila (born May 27, 1985) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who recently retired. He was known for his large size and powerful slap shot. His teammates called him "Stretch" because he was so tall, but Finnish fans often knew him as "Mörkö". Marko is famous for leading the Finnish national team to win two World Championships and an Olympic gold medal.
Contents
Marko Anttila's Hockey Journey
Marko Anttila started playing ice hockey at a high level in the 2003–04 season. His first team was his hometown team, Lempäälän Kisa (LeKi). Even though he was playing at the third-highest level in Finland, the Chicago Blackhawks picked him in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. This was quite unusual for a player from such a small team.
Why Marko Anttila Was Drafted
It's believed that Marko's connection with Chicago's scout for Finland, Sakari Pietilä, helped him get drafted. His impressive height, over 6 feet 8 inches tall, and his strong slap shot were key reasons why Pietilä suggested him to the Blackhawks.
Playing in Finland's Top League
After being drafted, Marko Anttila joined Ilves, a team in Finland's top league, Liiga (then called SM-liiga), in 2004. He worked hard and quickly got used to playing at a higher level. In the 2007–08 season, he had his best year with Ilves, scoring 23 points in 56 games. This success led to him being chosen to play for the Finnish National team.
Moving to Other Teams
In 2011, Anttila signed with TPS. Later, in 2013, he moved to the KHL to play for Metallurg Novokuznetsk. After playing for Örebro HK in the Swedish Hockey League for three seasons, he returned to the KHL in 2016, joining the Finnish team Jokerit.
Marko played for Jokerit for six years. However, the team had to leave the KHL during the 2021–22 season. After that, Marko joined his original Finnish club, Ilves, for the rest of that season.
Captaining Kärpät and Retirement
In 2022, Marko Anttila signed with Oulun Kärpät for the 2022–23 season. He continued to play for Kärpät, and for his final season in 2024–25, he was named the team's captain. Marko Anttila retired from professional hockey after the 2024–25 season.
International Success
Marko Anttila has had an amazing career playing for the Finnish national team. He is especially known for being the captain during some of their biggest wins.
World Championship Gold Medals
In 2019, Marko was the captain when Finland won their third gold medal at the Ice Hockey World Championships. He scored the only goal in the semi-final game against Russia. In the final game against Canada, he scored two goals, including the one that won the game, leading Finland to a 3–1 victory. He also helped Finland win another gold medal at the 2022 World Championship.
Olympic Gold Medal
Marko Anttila also achieved the ultimate dream for many hockey players: winning an Olympic gold medal. He was part of the Finnish team that won gold at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Representing  Finland |
||
| Ice hockey | ||
| Olympic Games | ||
| Gold | 2022 Beijing | |
| World Championships | ||
| Gold | 2019 Slovakia | |
| Gold | 2022 Finland | |
| Silver | 2021 Latvia | |
Awards and Honours
Marko Anttila has received several awards during his career:
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Liiga | ||
| Bronze medal | 2021–22, 2023–24 | |
