# Jesse Niinimäki

Jesse Niinimäki (born August 19, 1983) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who is currently a free agent. He was last under contract with the Nikko Icebucks of the Asia League Ice Hockey having signed for the team on July 20, 2017, but ultimately never played for the team. Niinimäki was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round, 15th overall, of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.

## Playing career

Niinimäki spent the 2004–05 season with the Edmonton Road Runners in the American Hockey League (AHL) and Ilves, then signed with Jokerit for the 2005–06 season. After a disappointing fall season, Niinimäki was released from his contract with Jokerit in January 2006 and signed by JYP for the rest of the season.
After the 2005–06 season, Niinimäki moved to Sweden and played for Elitserien side Luleå HF in 37 games. Niinimäki also played for Deutsche Eishockey Liga team Krefeld Pinguine. His tenure in Germany lasted for nine regular season and two playoff games. After the 2006–07 season, Niinimäki returned to Luleå HF but was released in September 2007. Niinimäki was acquired by Swiss Nationalliga A team HC Davos, but in January 2008, he returned to HPK.

## Personal life

He is the son of former Finnish international footballer, Jari Niinimäki.

## Career statistics
### Regular season and playoffs

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1999–2000 | Tappara | FIN U18 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1999–2000 | Ilves | FIN U18 | 14 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2000–01 | Ilves | FIN U18 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2000–01 | Ilves | FIN U20 | 18 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2001–02 | Ilves | FIN U20 | 27 | 9 | 23 | 32 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2001–02 | Ilves | SM-liiga | 16 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002–03 | Ilves | FIN U20 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2002–03 | Ilves | SM-liiga | 41 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2002–03 | Sport | Mestis | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2003–04 | Ilves | SM-liiga | 10 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2004–05 | Ilves | SM-liiga | 18 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2004–05 | Edmonton Road Runners | AHL | 24 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2005–06 | Jokerit | SM-liiga | 34 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2005–06 | JYP | SM-liiga | 19 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006–07 | Luleå HF | SEL | 37 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2006–07 | Krefeld Pinguine | DEL | 9 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2007–08 | Luleå HF | SEL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2007–08 | HC Davos | NLA | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2007–08 | HPK | SM-liiga | 17 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2008–09 | HDD Olimpija Ljubljana | AUT | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2008–09 | LeKi | Mestis | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2008–09 | Ilves | SM-liiga | 24 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009–10 | Ilves | SM-liiga | 55 | 14 | 20 | 34 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2009–10 | LeKi | Mestis | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2010–11 | Ilves | SM-liiga | 57 | 17 | 32 | 49 | 20 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 |
| 2011–12 | Ilves | SM-liiga | 47 | 5 | 31 | 36 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2012–13 | Ilves | SM-liiga | 27 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2012–13 | Pelicans | SM-liiga | 16 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2013–14 | Pelicans | Liiga | 50 | 9 | 20 | 29 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2014–15 | Amur Khabarovsk | KHL | 23 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2014–15 | Brynäs IF | SHL | 11 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2014–15 | Ilves | Liiga | 10 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2015–16 | LeKi | Mestis | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2015–16 | HC Fassa | ITA | 19 | 12 | 13 | 25 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 |
| 2016–17 | Yunost Minsk | BLR | 39 | 7 | 34 | 41 | 22 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Liiga totals | Liiga totals | Liiga totals | 441 | 79 | 169 | 248 | 176 | 22 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 2 |

### International

| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2003 | Finland | WJC | | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| Junior totals | Junior totals | Junior totals | Junior totals | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 |