It has been well documented by Siberia Sports reporting that Mika Kandinsky grew up in the harsh wintery world of northern Siberia Russia. Mika was gifted from an early age and fell in love with hockey as a child. He would skate on an outdoor rink near home which ignited his passion for working hard and having fun. The players would have to shovel off their outdoor rink after every hour of practice or so and would stay out in the freezing cold until dark. Mika almost lost a few appendages due to frost bite early on in his life much to his mother's dismay. His love for training grew and grew and that work ethic is what prepared him to make it to the SHL. A fun fact is that the kids would have a shot of vodka to help them keep warm while playing and to this day Mika does a half shot before each game as a good luck charm!