Career

Known as the "Flying Finn", he was drafted in the fourth round, 65th overall, by the New York Islanders in the 1983 National Hockey League Entry Draft. Mäkelä made his National Hockey League debut with the Islanders in the 1985-1986 season. In four-plus seasons with the Islanders, Mäkelä scored 95 goals, including 37 in the 1987-1988 season.

The Islanders traded Mäkelä to the Los Angeles Kings during the 1989-1990 season in exchange for Hubie McDonough and Ken Baumgartner.

After finishing the 1989-1990 season with Los Angeles, Mäkelä was traded again before the 1990-1991 season. This time, he went to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Mike Donnelly.

After one season in Buffalo, Mäkelä returned to Europe, spending two-plus seasons playing in his native Finland and one in Sweden. Mäkelä returned to the National Hockey League following the 1994-1995 National Hockey League lockout, appearing in 11 games with the Boston Bruins during the shortened 1994-1995 season.

Mäkelä returned to Europe for the remainder of his career, playing two seasons in Germany"s Deutsche Eishockey Liga before returning to Sweden and Finland for his final two seasons.

Mäkelä appeared in 423 National Hockey League games in his career, scoring 118 goals and adding 147 assists. He also appeared in 18 playoff games, scoring three goals and recording eight assists. Since retiring from professional hockey, Mäkelä has moved to Lethbridge, Alberta, where he and his family currently reside.

He currently works at the Warner Hockey School, a private girl"s school located in Warner, Alberta where he serves as both Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations of the Warner Hockey School Warriors girls" hockey team of the Junior Women"s Hockey League.