Historical eight Finnish National League gold medals and one bronze medal, the best defender in the league (2004-2005), 18-year-old's European Championship gold medal, 20-year-old's World Championship gold medal, over 100 playoff games behind and the letter C on his chest. These are all merits achieved by Ilkka Mikkola.

Ilkka Mikkola is a reliable and confident defence man, who has great responsibility when the team is playing power play. Whereas the team is two men shorthanded, Mikkola is on the ice again. Last season Mikkola became the captain of the team which was no surprise to anyone. Mikkola is a leading type of person in the dressing room as well as on the ice, and he also supports and helps the younger players.

Mikkola has achieved the limit of 100 play off games played in the league. Last season he scored a hat-trick, which is rare for a defence man, in a match against Tappara. The 30-year-old Mikkola scored his personal best scores last season (3+24=27).

Mikkola started his career in Kärpät. From Kärpät he was transferred to Turku after three years in the second league (1995-1998), and there he played for three years (1998-2001). After that he joined Jokerit and played two years (2001-2003) in Helsinki. In the autumn of 2003 Mikkola returned to Oulu and hasn't left his hometown since.

Mikkola has played 20 matches in the Finnish National Team. Last time he played for the team in the Czech Republic last autumn.