Miro Aaltonen (born 7 June 1993) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward for EHC Kloten of the National League (NL). Aaltonen was selected by Atlant Moscow Oblast in the 2nd round (45th overall) of the 2011 KHL Junior Draft, and he was also selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the 6th round (177th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

Miro Aaltonen
Texas Stars vs Toronto Marlies (29154260728).jpg
Aaltonen with the Toronto Marlies
Born (1993-06-07) 7 June 1993 (age 31)
Joensuu, Finland
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 176 lb (80 kg; 12 st 8 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NL team
Former teams
EHC Kloten
Espoo Blues
Kärpät
Vityaz Podolsk
Toronto Marlies
SKA Saint Petersburg
National team  Finland
NHL draft 177th overall, 2013
Anaheim Ducks
Playing career 2011–present

Playing career

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Following the 2016–17 season, after recording a career-best 44 points in 59 games after his first season with HC Vityaz in the Kontinental Hockey League, he signed an entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on 17 March 2017.[1]

Despite a strong push for a roster spot as the Leafs' fourth-line center, he was assigned to the Maple Leafs American Hockey League affiliate, the Toronto Marlies for the 2017–18 season. In adapting to his first North American season, Aaltonen established himself among the offensive leaders with the Marlies, contributing 20 goals and 43 points in 64 regular season games. Unable to earn a call-up to the NHL, Aaltonen continued in the post-season with the Marlies, helping claim the club's first Calder Cup in posting 13 points in 20 games.

As an impending restricted free agent from the Maple Leafs but unable to make his NHL debut, Aaltonen opted to return to the KHL on a contract with former Russian club, Vityaz on 1 July 2018.[2]

Following his first full season with SKA Saint Petersburg in 2020–21, Aaltonen was returned in trade, alongside Viktor Antipin, to former club HC Vityaz in exchange for four prospects on 15 June 2021.[3]

On 1 May 2022, Aaltonen left Vityaz as a free agent and was announced to have signed a two-year contract to remain in the KHL with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg.[4] Having signed before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Aaltonen sought a release from his contract with Avtomobilist and on 21 June 2022, was signed to a two-year contract with Swiss club, EHC Kloten of the NL.[5]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2009–10 Blues FIN U18 Q 1 2 1 3 0
2009–10 Blues FIN U18 7 2 11 3 8 10 6 7 13 6
2009–10 Blues FIN U20 40 12 15 27 18
2010–11 Blues FIN U18 2 0 3 3 2 2 3 1 4 2
2010–11 Blues FIN U20 12 3 5 8 6 13 5 6 11 2
2011–12 Blues FIN U20 14 10 17 27 14 4 2 3 5 2
2011–12 Blues SM-l 26 1 1 2 2 10 1 1 2 2
2011–12 Jokipojat Mestis 4 2 3 5 0
2012–13 Blues SM-l 32 11 5 16 22
2012–13 Blues FIN U20 8 4 9 13 4
2013–14 Blues Liiga 60 13 16 29 12 7 3 4 7 0
2014–15 Blues Liiga 57 16 21 37 14 4 1 1 2 0
2015–16 Kärpät Liiga 58 15 20 35 51 8 0 3 3 0
2016–17 HC Vityaz KHL 59 19 25 44 38 4 0 0 0 7
2017–18 Toronto Marlies AHL 64 20 23 43 24 20 4 9 13 6
2018–19 HC Vityaz KHL 61 19 23 42 20 4 0 0 0 4
2019–20 HC Vityaz KHL 34 9 15 24 8
2019–20 SKA Saint Petersburg KHL 11 2 2 4 2 4 0 0 0 0
2020–21 SKA Saint Petersburg KHL 35 10 9 19 10
2021–22 HC Vityaz KHL 44 10 32 42 10
2022–23 EHC Kloten NL 51 19 30 49 20 3 0 2 2 2
Liiga totals 233 56 63 119 101 29 5 9 14 2
KHL totals 244 69 106 175 88 12 0 0 0 11
Medal record
Representing   Finland
Ice hockey
Olympic Games
  2022 Beijing

International

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Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
2010 Finland U17 10th 5 0 3 3 2
2011 Finland WJC18 5th 6 4 0 4 2
2012 Finland WJC 4th 7 1 3 4 0
2013 Finland WJC 7th 1 2 1 3 0
2017 Finland WC 4th 8 0 0 0 2
2022 Finland OG   6 3 1 4 2
Junior totals 19 7 7 14 4
Senior totals 8 0 0 0 2
Senior totals 6 3 1 4 2

Awards and honors

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Awards Year
AHL
Calder Cup (Toronto Marlies) 2018 [6]

References

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  1. ^ "Miro Aaltonen signing with Toronto Maple Leafs". Sportsnet.ca. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  2. ^ "Miro Aaltonen returns to Vityaz" (in Russian). HC Vityaz. 1 July 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  3. ^ "Vityaz complete trade with SKA" (in Russian). HC Vityaz. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Avtomobilist sign four to contracts" (in Russian). Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. 1 May 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  5. ^ "Miro Aaltonen - an olympian to EHC Kloten" (in German). EHC Kloten. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Marlies bring a hockey championship to Toronto, win Calder Cup". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 15 June 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
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