Career

Nielikäinen has played for numerous teams in the Finnish Master of Science-liiga. These include Kärpät, HIFK and HPK. Nielikäinen also played one season in East Coast Hockey League for the Miami Matadors and one season for the British team the Manchester Storm. Nielikäinen is not a usual Finnish hockey player when it comes to playing.

Nielikäinen is known for serving as an enforcer for his team

Nielikäinen also is not shy when it comes to dropping gloves and scrapping on the ice. Nielikäinen"s most famous rivalries include the one with fellow Master of Science-liiga player Sami Helenius and his single fight against National Hockey League-enforcer Ryan Vandenbusche in the 2005/06 season for which HIFK and Jokerit got fined 15.000 euros/team

Nielikäinen is married to former Finnish Beauty contestant Jenni Nielikäinen (née Anttila).