Hakkarainen was selected in the 2018 draft in the fifth round (139th). Originally out of Finland, Hakkarainen has spent the past four years in the USHL (United States Hockey League). This past year he was supposed to report to Providence College of the NCAA, but could not balance hockey and school work. Instead he reported back to the Muskegon Lumberjacks.
Hakk sends it back! Mikael Hakkarainen buries the rebound to put @MuskegonJacks up #WhosNext pic.twitter.com/5mzbSMDewd
— USHL (@USHL) December 29, 2018
His past four seasons in the USHL he has 43 goals and 68 assists for 111 points in 126 games.