For the second Deep Dive I'm writing, I thought I'd do something a little bit different and focus in on one player in particular and talk a little bit about their career. Hopefully going in this direction provides a bit of a more focused view of a subject, and will give me and anyone reading some more insight into a particular player who some people might not be that aware of in the bigger picture of SHL history. I decided to go with a player called Tatu Makela, who stood to me as a player who I remember as being really good in their day but maybe not the kind of all time great who gets talked about by the wider league in the way that they should. So, without any further ado, let's talk about Tatu and his journey through the SHL!

Tatu began his career in the same place as many other greats, with the SMJHL's Detroit Falcons. Taken with the first overall pick in the S37 SMJHL Draft, Tatu joined Detroit with a great deal of expectation to be a number one defenseman which he certainly delivered on during his time in the league. Bursting onto the scene with 28 points in 50 games, he quickly established himself as a force in the league, and would win the Quilha Agante Trophy in S38 after a highly impressive season that saw him put up 41 points, recognising him as the best defenseman in the SMJHL. He would play one more season with the Falcons in S39, concluding his career as one of the more impressive defensemen in the history of a team that has had many notable players in that position.

In the S38 SHL Draft, Tatu Makela was autodrafted to the Buffalo Stampede due to his user's status as the team's GM. He played his first season with the Stampede in S40, and actually put up some really solid numbers for a rookie, totalling 22 points in 50 games. Buffalo were in a growth phase during this time, and began to build a very solid squad going into the S40s. Tatu would establish himself as one of the core pieces of the team, and in S45, he crossed the 40 point barrier for the first time in the big league, establishing himself as a top defenseman. His performances in this season also saw him earn his first award nomination, seeing his name among the Aidan Richan candidates as the most improved player in the league.

S46 saw perhaps the apex of his career, putting up his highest points total of 42, and also earning his first ring as a Challenge Cup champion. Tatu was an important piece of the Stampede's championship winning team in S46, and his play in this season earned him a nomination for the Scott Stevens Trophy as one of the very best in the league. Tatu would go on to earn another Challenge Cup win in S48, joining a smaller list than one might think of players who have won multiple rings. Tatu would play a further 4 seasons in his career before hanging up his skates after a highly impressive time in the league. He finished his career with 650 games played and 400 points and over 1200 hits. He was a staple on the blueline for over a decade with the Buffalo Stampede and should be remembered fondly as one of the more notable players of the S40s for those of us who were there to witness it.