former Buffalo Sabres goalie accused of aggravated tax fraud

PUBLICATION

Mackenzie Stern-Kolesnikow
April 5, 2024 (7:07 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

Mika Noronen, the former NHL first-round pick goaltender, has been accused of tax fraud in his home country of Finland, and may face prison time for this crime.

Ilta Sanomat released a report that stated that former Buffalo Sabres goalie, Mika Noronen, has been accused of committing aggravated tax fraud. The article outlined just how this is considered a very serious crime in Finland, stating:

"According to the Penal Code, you can be guilty of aggravated tax fraud if you give misleading information for taxation purposes. In addition to that, the aggravated form of the act requires that the crime has been aimed at a large financial gain or that it is done in a particularly planned manner."

After retiring from the NHL, Noronen joined the real estate industry, it has been reported that the charges against Noronen go as far back as 2020. He was approached by Ilta Sanomat for a comment, but Noronen hardly commented on the issue:

"I have nothing to comment at this point. I have nothing to say about that."

The date for the trial has currently not been set, according to Finnish law, if Noronen is found guilty, he can face up to four years in prison, the minimum sentence for this crime is four months.

"Satakunta's Kansa Länsi-Suomi magazine reported earlier in February that Noronen brokers luxury apartments for the wealthy in the United Arab Emirates. Noronen has not moved his life entirely abroad, but his second home is still in Tampere."

Mika Noronen is an interesting example of an NHL prospect with tons of potential who did not show any results, however, many believe that this was not Noronen's fault, the Athletic called his failed career a cautionary tale about the Buffalo Sabres and three goalies. They went on to explain that:

"Buffalo flubbed its asset. With veteran Martin Biron's experience and Ryan Miller's quick ascension, Noronen was squeezed aside in a three-way goalie logjam. The Sabres kept all of them on the 2005-06 roster, refusing to trade Noronen for less than peak value.

So, for months, he rotted."

Mika Noronen was drafted 21st overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1997 draft. He played in 71 regular season NHL games. In 2006, he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a first-round pick. He played in 4 games with the Canucks before returning to Finland, where he bounced around between the KHL, SHL, DEL, SM-Liga before retiring from hockey in 2016.

Despite his brief time spend in the NHL, he managed to accomplish something many goalies can only dream of doing when he was credited for scoring a goal back in 2004. He was the first Finnish goalie to score a goal in the NHL.

Here is a replay of the goal: