Mikko Rantanen Life Story

[bagelbitesisbae 71]

(Disclaimer: This biography isn't trying to totally replicate the real life Mikko Rantanen life story.)

 Early Childhood

 

Mikko Rantanen was born on October 29th, 1996 in Nousiainen, Finland. Mikko and his family lived in a two-story, cottage-style home. His family wasn't that rich, but they were definitely not poor.  Mikko has a sister named, Laura Rantanen and he has another sister that he isn't as close with. Mikko and Laura were literally best friends, and they're still best friends to this very day. They would play out in the snow together, and cook with one another. His parents are Hannamaija Rantanen and Hannu Rantanen. Hannu and Hannamaija were really good and nurturing parents towards Mikko. Hannu specifically liked taking Mikko to the park to play games like soccer and baseball (Finland is actually known to promote play instead of lot's of work). Mikko's mother, Hannamaija, liked taking him to a family-owned Finnish restaurant called Restuarant Ask for special occasions. Hannu and Hannamaija really wanted Mikko to pick up a sport while he was still very young. The days that Hannu took Mikko to the park to play soccer and and baseball, Mikko enjoyed those days, but those sports really weren't clicking for him. Hannu didn't really know what his young son would be good at. A brand new ice skating rink happened to be opening fairly soon near their house so Hannu planned on taking Mikko in the next couple of days. Mikko did his schoolwork and did the normal stuff he usually did on the weekdays. Then, his dad took him to the brand new ice skating rink. The person working the front desk at the rink told Hannu that they would be having skating lessons for beginners in a couple of days. Hannu took the chance and signed his son up for skating lessons. When Mikko took the skating lessons, he strived and flourished. Mikko had a natural talent for skating. Hannu went to the front desk and asked the person if they would have an ice hockey team fairly soon. The front desk person said that they were planning on it. Mikko kept going to ice skating lessons, and ice skating eventually became very, very easy for Mikko. Ice hockey finally opened up and Hannu took the opportunity to sign Mikko up. The first ice hockey practice came along and the coach (who would later become one of Mikko's main mentors), Aleksenteri, saw that Mikko was a future star in the making. Coach Aleksenteri had other students besides Mikko, but knew that Mikko was just truly better than all of them. Aleksenteri taught Mikko how to skate backward, hockey stop, shoot, score, and all the many basics. Mikko's team was called the Helsinki Knights. Their first game came around and Mikko scored a hat trick. The game finished and his team won by a mile (5 - 0). His dad Hannu was sitting on the stands when Mikko walked off of the ice. Hannu was so proud of Mikko for his 3 goal performance. Hannu called Hannamaija to tell her how great Mikko did. Hannu told Hannamaija to go to Restaurant Ask with Laura and his other sister so they could celebrate Mikko's successes on the ice. Mikko ordered an oven-roasted salmon and scarfed down his whole entire meal. They eventually finished dinner and all went home. 

 

The University of Denver

                             

 

Mikko did very well in PeeWee and Junior hockey. After playing junior hockey, he got drafted 10th overall by the Colorado Avalanche. Mikko was on the brink of playing in the NHL, but felt like some NCAA playing time would help his development immensely. Conveniently, the University of Denver offered Rantanen a full athletic scholarship to entice him to be apart of their hockey program. Another college offered him an atheltic scholarship (which was Harvard), but felt like he wouldn't be able to keep up with Harvard's academic rigor so he chose Denver instead. Mikko didn't intend on getting a degree, nor staying at the University of Denver for a full four years as he knew he'd be ready in at least two years to make the jump to the NHL. While playing for UDenver, he felt it necessary to contact one of his old coaches, Aleksenteri, and tell him how he was doing. Mikko showed excitement in his voice when he told Aleksenteri that he was playing for a college team. Aleksenteri told Mikko that he wished him the best. At the end of his first year with UDenver, Mikko managed to get 40 points in 34 games which earned him Hobey Baker talks. Sadly, Mikko did not win the Hobey Baker Award, but Mikko did get the satisfaction of getting valuable playing experience. During that summer, Colorado decided to sign him to an Entry-Level contract worth $832,500. Mikko went to development camp to hone his skills. Coach Bednar was really impressed with him. At the end of September, Rantanen happened to still be on the final roster for the upcoming season. Mikko played the full season for the Avalanche and managed to compile a total of 65 points in 82 games as a rookie. His 65 points earned him the Calder Memorial Trophy as best rookie. Mikko (not to sound cocky) felt like the NHL was too easy, but enjoyed hanging out with everybody that he met along his rookie season. Mikko decided to talk to one of the representatives of the VHL. The people of the VHL told Mikko that the VHL was a lot more challenging than the NHL and would be a very good opportunity for him. Mikko thought long and hard, and finally decided to go with the VHL. He was really excited to go on a new path towards his hockey needs and wants. He called his parents to tell them the exciting news. Hannu and his mother were not very pleased with his decision as the NHL is a bit more established than the VHL. Rantanen explained to them that the VHL has more opportunities for him and stuff like that. Hannu and his mother were still very hesitant, but told Mikko that they support his decision. Mikko asked them if they could come watch him play once he joins a VHL team. His parents happily agreed because they've always been supportive towards him. Mikko went back to his house and played some NHL 17. 

 

VHL

 

 

Mikko Rantanen is really excited for this new endeavor he is going to take in his hockey career. He is very anxious as he knows that it won't be as easy as the NHL. Rantanen does know that he is the one who asked for a more competitive environment and is very appreciative of it. Even if Mikko fails, he always knows that he puts his complete 100% every time he plays any game. Mikko hopes to be a hall of fame player...

 

Mikko Rantanen's story continues...

 

 

 

[Banackock 8,053]

Thanks for writing about your life story @bagelbitesisbae what a cute photo of you as a wee little shit disturber