Background
Numminen, Teppo was born on July 3, 1968.
Numminen, Teppo was born on July 3, 1968.
Numminen started his career with his local team, Tappara, in the Master of Science-liiga. Drafted in the second round (twenty-ninth overall) in the 1986 National Hockey League Entry Draft by the Winnipeg Jets, Numminen moved to North America in 1988 to play for the Jets. He moved with the team as it became the Phoenix Coyotes before the 1996-1997 season.
He played in the National Hockey League All-Star Game in 1999, 2000 and 2001.
After fifteen seasons playing for the Winnipeg/Phoenix organization, Numminen was traded to the Dallas Stars in July 2003, for Mike Sillinger. Numminen took a break from hockey during the 2004-2005 National Hockey League lockout, then signed as a free agent with the Buffalo Sabres.
On November 13, 2006, Numminen played his 1252nd game in the National Hockey League, thus setting a record for most National Hockey League games played as a European-trained player, surpassing Jari Kurri. After signing a one-year contract for the 2007-2008 National Hockey League season, Numminen was forced to undergo open heart surgery before the start of the season.
Numminen was suspended by the Buffalo Sabres when it was discovered he needed heart surgery.
Buffalo Sabres General Motors Darcy Regier stated the suspension was because his $2.6 million contract was not insured, and the contract contains a clause that states the player must pass the physical and be fit to play. Word came that Numminen"s heart surgery was successful. Completed on September 20, 2007, at the Cleveland Clinic, the surgery was performed to repair a faulty valve.
Numminen was able to return to action for the final game of the Sabres" 2007-2008 season on April 5, 2008.
Per a statement by General Motors Regier, Numminen expressed some interest in returning to National Hockey League play for at least another year. On August 8, 2008, Numminen re-signed with the Buffalo Sabres.
He was the leader among active National Hockey League players who played the most games without winning the Stanley Cup: 1,372 at the end of the 2008-2009 season. Numminen announced his retirement on August 4, 2009.
The 41-year-old finished his National Hockey League career with 117 goals and 520 assists for 637 points in 1372 National Hockey League games.
At the time of his retirement, Numminen was the last player from the 1986 National Hockey League Entry Draft still playing in the National Hockey League and he had extended his record to 1372 National Hockey League games, the most by a European-born and trained player at any position, which stood until broken by Nicklas Lidstrom in the 2009-2010 season. On January 30, 2010, the Phoenix Coyotes retired Numminen"s #27. During his 15 seasons for the franchise (including their previous incarnation as the Winnipeg Jets) he played 1,098 games, a then franchise record.
His 534 points are also a franchise record for defencemen.
International play
Numminen used to own 80% of Montreal Sports Limited, which was a company founded by his father, Kalevi. The company produced ice hockey sticks and equipment and was sold to the large hockey brand Warrior.