flyersfan345

Confirmed

Height: 6'2" Weight: 215 lbs Position: Defenseman Age: 20 Team: Halifax 21st Hometown: Tampere, Finland Playing Style Comparison: Alex Pietrangelo Mikko Tuomala is a two-way defenseman who has garnered attention with his combination of size, mobility, and hockey IQ. Tuomala uniquely positions himself through TPE growth in defensive areas with roundedness added on offensive skills. Despite going undrafted by missing the draft cut off, Tuomala has found his path to professional hockey, signing with Halifax 21st, a move that showcases his potential and hope to improve with increased playing time. His playing style is heavily influenced by Alex Pietrangelo, a defenseman known for his ability to contribute at both ends of the ice, and Tuomala strives to emulate Pietrangelo defensive steadiness, powerplay time during his prime, physical play. Strengths Size and Physicality: At 6'2" and 215 lbs, Tuomala is the ideal size for a modern defenseman. He is physically imposing and uses his body effectively in battles along the boards and in front of the net. Tuomala isn’t afraid to get physical, leveraging his size to outmuscle opponents and protect the puck. His strength and checking allow him to clear the crease and win puck battles, making him a reliable defender in his own end. Hockey IQ: Tuomala’s understanding of the game is one of his standout traits. His positioning is excellent, allowing him to read the play and anticipate opposing attacks, and this is reflected in his value of offensive vision and defensive coverage. He rarely gets caught out of position, and his awareness in the defensive zone minimizes the chances for high-quality shots from opponents. Offensively, Tuomala has a knows when to join the rush or support the play from the blue line, much like his idol Pietrangelo. Puck Handling and Passing: Tuomala is an efficient puck moving defenseman, capable of making crisp breakout passes to create an odd man rush out of his own end. His calm demeanor under pressure allows him to avoid turnovers, and make smart and efficient plays to transition the puck up the ice. His passing is a major asset, as he often makes precise outlet passes to forwards in stride, jumpstarting the offense, a rare skill for a defenseman of his experience. Skating: Despite his size, Tuomala is a smooth skater. His mobility allows him to cover large areas of the ice quickly, making him effective in both defensive coverage and offensive transitions. He can get back on defense after a rush, or join in on the rush as needed because of his speed. Shot: Tuomala a heavy shot from the point, which he uses effectively on the power play and in offensive zone situations. While not a prolific scorer, his ability to get pucks on net through traffic creates rebound opportunities for his teammates. His slap shot is a much greater point of focus for him so far in his development, which could make him a useful tool for a team that needs a PP quarterback from the point. Areas for Improvement Consistency in Offensive Contributions: While Tuomala has shown promise offensively, his production in simulations will likely be nconsistent. He could benefit from improving his wrist shot and offensive vision, though has shown less willingness to prioritize this over defensice play. His passing, while good for his experience level, could also use some work. Physical Play Discipline: Though his physicality is a strength, Tuomala's discipline could use some work, which may create ecessary penalties. Finding a balance between being tough and discipline will be key to avoiding trips to the box, especially in situations late in the game. Outlook Mikko Tuomala has the foundational skills to develop into a reliable, top-four defenseman at the professional level. His size, mobility, and hockey sense make him an attractive asset, particularly for a team like Halifax 21st that values two-way defensemen, and needed a fourth defenseman after the draft. With continued development, particularly in his offensive vision, discipline, and further defensive development Tuomala could carve out a long and successful career in the VHLM, and soon after, the VHL, modeling his game after a similarly sized defenseman in Alex Pietrangelo.

1. Excellent draft class to help fill out the roster with more supplemental FA signings that should set the team up for the next couple seasons. 2. I expect us to jump into the top 5, especially with a dedicated drive to improve. I think we're in a good spot to make a good playoff push. 3. Easily going to a Flyers game to see Michkov's home debut. 4. I'd want to go with the Kraken's color scheme to stay with the nautical theme. 5. Most basic answer out there, but you can't count out Dallas. I have them winning over NYR in 7. 6. I could honestly just sit at home for an entire week watching documentaries without seeing another human face once and find this behavior totally acceptable until it drives me insane.

Thanks, everyone! Looking forward to getting started.

Mikko Tuomala: Halifax's Newest Fortification Born in 2004, in Tampere, Finland, Mikko Tuomala has spent his recent years preparing for his journey to the VHL. Tuomala is Finland's newest great young prospect, adding to an already stacked history of hard working two way talents. Tuomala entered the VHL pipeline on Sunday October 6th, a tad too early to enter into the draft, but chose to sign in Free Agency with Halifax, to get significant minutes to further develop and play with his close friend Pelayo Bolivar of Spain. He is a 6’2” 215lb defenseman with a strong physical game and some flashes of offensive vision that make him a two way defenseman with potential to make an impact on the power play and on the rush. His main focus right now is on his continued improvement and adjustment to the VHL, which will take some coaching from his teammates and management at first, but with potential to pay incredibly strong dividends going forward. Family, Early Years, and Passion for Hockey Tuomala grew up with a middle class upbringing with hard working parents and siblings. His father works for a major Finnish telecommunications company, and his mother is a nurse. They've taken significant time out of their own careers to get him to his hockey games and practices, while putting the pressure on to make the most of his opportunities, both academic and athletic, making him an excellent student of his sport and in school. They have instilled into him a strong work ethic which he hopes to carry into his VHL and VHLM career. He gained an interest in the sport at an incredibly early age, learning to skate at 4 years old, and playing hockey almost immediately. He has been known to stay up very late to watch his favorite NHL talents, Kimmo Timonen in his younger years, and later on Alex Pietrangelo and Miro Heiskanen, two defensemen whose levels he hopes to one day reach. As a lifelong fan of Tappara, he has had many players to look towards for their work-ethic and well-rounded 200 foot games. Tuomala has always had a scrappy and defensive mindset in all sports, whether it is hockey, soccer, or pesäpallo, making him a natural defenseman from an early age. He always put immense effort into covering elite opposing talent down low and in front of the net, and his size and physicality have given him a great advantage in doing so to date. These traits and work ethic served him well through Tappara’s junior system, and he hopes it helps to make an easy transition to the VHLM. While he has not been featured in any showcases, and it remains to be seen how he will perform in VHL simulations, we can expect to see a big and hard working player with intensity at both ends of the ice. Transition to VHL/VHLM Tuomala did not at first see himself making the transition to VHLM hockey. He did not realize the possibility, until hearing of his friend, Bolivar's, impressive showing in the pipeline as a prospect. With Bolivar's encouragement, he decided to suit up, and market himself as the prospect that he knew he could be. Bolivar's coaching since that moment, has been incredibly impactful on his development. He found ways he could impact all aspects of his game with improved development on his defensive coverage, offensive vision, slapshot, and passing abilities. While he entered the VHL pipeline a bit too late to see how he could perform in junior showcases or to enter the draft, he watched the draft intently. It was his first opportunity to learn more about the VHLM and the clubs within it. Naturally, after the draft occurred, he received an offer to play with his good friend and mentor, Bolivar, in Halifax. He enters his rookie season as a well rounded and physical defenseman, modeling his game after Alex Pietrangelo. Halifax uniquely positions him to get strong playing time and growth opportunity, a key part of his decision to sign with the team. Future Outlook and Career Tuomala has learned through his life and career to date to make the most of the opportunities that lie ahead of him. While he does aim to work hard to reach the VHL, his primary focus now is to develop with Halifax in the VHLM and help the team win. He knows he has a strong team in front of him, with endless possibilities for the upcoming season, and has a fiery desire to continue to improve and win hockey games. He is aware that his lack of experience to date may mean he needs an initial learning and adjustment period in his first few games, but expect to make a big impact in Halifax quickly. Off The Ice Off ice, Tuomala is a learner, just as in his VHLM/VHL career. He has an obsession with learning about history, spending time outdoors in one of his home country's many lakeside cabins, and becoming a more well-rounded individual altogether. Tuomala’s interest in history came from his family's service during the winter war, an interest further spurned by his compulsory service in the Finnish military.

1. My favorite video game is GTA V. There's just too much you can do in that game not to love it. 2. I would like to be a dolphin. It would just be interesting to see how they live, how their minds work, and what's actually in the deep that we can't see. 3. VHLE is disbanded, but if it was still around, I'd take Stockholm. I like the name a city and it is definitely a hockey market. 1. Which team is the best to get drafted by? 2. Which player do you try to model your player after? 3. What European professional team do you most like to watch/follow?

Player Information Username: flyersfan345 Player Name: Mikko Tuomala Recruited From: Member (Pelayo Bolivar) Age: 20 Position: D Height: 74 in. Weight: 215 lbs. Birthplace: Finland Player Page @VHLM GM