Rummukainen, Mark

BORN FEBRUARY 19TH 1982 in Canberra, Rummukainen developed in the local leagues winning Best Defenseman for his Club over four straight seasons—from the Under-13s in 1995, to the Under-17s in 1998. He also finished with the MVP award. State League MVP in Bantams (1997), Midgets ('98, '99), and Juniors ('99), he made the 1st All-star line at the 1995 President's Cup (U14), and the 1997 Defris National as Best Defenseman, then followed it up as a 2nd Line All-star at the 1997 Tange tournament (U18). The next year, he made Best Defenseman and 1st Line All-star at the Under-18 Nationals; played his first Under-21 Brown Trophy; and won the Capital's first Goodall Cup while still a teenager.

He joined the Canberra Knights in the NSW Superleague in 1998 and made the 1st All-star Line at the 1999 Under-21 Nationals. When the Superleague collapsed, he continued on with the Club in the AIHL, 2000 until 2005, playing the 2002-03 off-season with HC Storm in the Finnish II-divisioona. Two seasons as Captain of the Brisbane Blue Tongues followed in 2006-07, then back to the Knights in 2008, where he remained until the demise of his Club soon after the close of the 2013 season. The 189cm 93 kg Defenseman captained the Knights in 2011 and '13.

Left without a Club to continue his hockey career late in 2013, Rummukainen co-founded CBR Brave with Peter Chamberlain, Jamie Wilson, and Warren Apps. He was also the Club's founding Captain. The Brave's impact on sport in the Capital was profound with almost all home games selling out. About one-fifth were new spectators to the sport, and registrations for junior Ice Hockey programs rose to new records.

With veterans Jordie Gavin and Dave Lewis, Rummukainen led the Club to the 2018 AIHL Championship and his second Goodall Cup. Breaking League records for Most Wins and Most Points set the year earlier by the Melbourne Ice, his club won the 2018 CBR Sport Award. His remarkable 325-game career produced 28 goals, 121 assists from defense for an average 0.46 pts per game.

While still a junior in 1999, Rummukainen embarked on a long international career representing Australia, first with the National Youth Team (U18) at the Asian Oceania Championships in Nikko Japan. He returned with the squad to Changchun China in February 2000. "Love this lad," says Coach Botterill. "He was such a big part of our Naional Junior Team in the late '90s to lobby to get back into Worlds". [1]

Alternate Captain of the National Junior Team (U20) tour of Canada and the USA, he captained the Under-20s at the 2001 Worlds, then played 63 games at the senior Worlds for 5 goals, 21 assists—0.41 pts per game (2001 to 08, 10, 11, 12 to 14, 16). Alternate Captain in 2011, '12 and '14, he won three Bronze medals ('01, '04, '06), three Silver ('05, '07, '10), and three Gold ('08, '11, '16), along with Most Assists of the tournament in 2005, and Most Assists by a Defenseman in 2014.