Career
He was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers as their sixth-round pick, #189 overall, in the 2001 National Hockey League Entry Draft. Nurminen started his playing career with Reipas Lahti in Finland and later moved on to Ketterä Imatra and Pelicans. After two season with Jokerit, he moved across the Atlantic to represent the Atlanta Thrashers.
Nurminen played for Malmö IF in the Swedish Elitserien, and his hometown team, Pelicans, during the National Hockey League lockout.
He retired in the fall of 2005 due to a serious knee injury. He currently works as a goaltending consultant for Pelicans, the Master of Science-liiga hockey team he also partially owns.
Starting from 2010, he also serves the same role for the Finnish National Team and has even featured as their backup goalie during the Euro Hockey Tour.