Icecats Fan: What is the hardest team you have faced this year?
Mika Noronen: For me it is Syracuse. I'm not playing that well against them.
Allison P: MIKA- DO YOU LIKE IT BETTER OVER HERE IN AMERICA THAN IN FINLAND?
Mika Noronen: It is a little differnet. It is my first year. It's not always easy. I feel very good right now in the U.S.A. I like being here.
amber: hey mika, love ya! i was just wondering what the image is on your goalie mask? good luck this weekend!
Mika Noronen: It is hard to say. I don't even really know. My Sabres mask has an animal and my Rochester mask is an animal, though I don't know exactly what kind.
Patrick: Hi my name is pat I would like to know what did you think of the mcsolery situation
Mika Noronen: I didn't like it at all. It was a stupid thing to do.
nissila risto: Do you hope to play in nhl this season,or do you wait until Hasek retires. Is it possible to be traded?
Mika Noronen: I'm not expecting to play this year in the NHL, maybe not even next year. I have a three year contract and I'm hoping that by year three I get to play in a few games in the NHL. I don't know anything about trades. I'm here to learn, which is what I'm doing.
Mikko: What was your best moment in ice hockey?
Mika Noronen: In the World Junior Championship when we won the gold medal in Helsinki in 1998. It was a great tournament for us and we had a really good time. We played very well.
wilkesbarrescrantonpenguins: Congrats!! What is a typical game day for you?
Mika Noronen: First there is the pre-game skate and then I go home and eat some pasta. Then I try and take a nap for about an hour. When I wake up I relax and think about the game. After my shower I head down to the rink for the game.
IHatePJStock20: Who's your choice for winning the Stanley Cup?
Mika Noronen: I should say the Sabres but I think it will be the Philadelphia Flyers. They have a really good team this year.
GO BEAST!!!: How did you become interested in hockey?
Mika Noronen: When I was a young me and my friends played in the yard with sticks and balls and then when I was seven I joined an ice hockey team and the rest is history.
wilkes barre?: Which team do you think will give you the most problems in the playoffs this year?
Mika Noronen: It's hard to say. To win it all you have to beat a lot of teams. It's hard to narrow it down to one.
DIANNE MERCER: HELLO THERE I WAS WONDERING WHO'S THE BEST PLAYER YOU'VE PLAYED WITH?
Mika Noronen: It's Timo Jutila. He played on my home team. He is a Finish national hero who once played with the Rochester Americans and had a cup of coffee with the Sabres.
John Rocker: who is the biggest leader in your locker room before each game?
Mika Noronen: It was Cunneyworth but right now he's injured. Everybody tries to keep the team up and in good spirits. Cunneyworth is definitely a leader, though.
como esta: who hits the hardest in practice?
Mika Noronen: Usually in practice there isn't much hard hitting. We don't want anyone getting injured.
Alan: Mika, First of congratulations on winning player of the week. My question is has it been difficult for you to adapt to the different style of play in the AHL than in Finland.
Mika Noronen: The biggest difference is the stick handling. Because of the smaller rinks, everything happens a little bit faster. In the AHL the shots happen quicker and you have to try to get the rebounds. In Finland, it can be pass, pass, pass...but not here.
Dave: How do you explain why the Syracuse Crunch have owned the Amerks this season? Why do you fear Reggie Savage?
Mika Noronen: I'm not scared of Savage. The Crunch haven't really owned us this year. It's pretty even. We have three wins and four losses. The games are always good battles and you never know what's going to happen.
Allison P.: MIKA- WHICH JERSEY DO YOU LIKE BETTER- THE HOME JERSEY OR THE AWAY JERSEY?
Mika Noronen: The away jerseys are nice. But it's always good to be at home in the whites in front of the fans.
The Tappara fan: Do you think you are coming back someday to Tappara here in Tampere?
Mika Noronen: You never know. I'd really like to come back. It's a great city to love and play hockey in.
Christy =0�: Hey Mika, I have a friend that lives in Finland and Im trying to learn finnish and its not that easy.. I was wondering if it took you a long time to learn English or did you speak it in Finland already?
Mika Noronen: I had english lessons in school for about seven years, so when I got to the States, it was much easier to communicate. Finnish is one of the hardest languages to learn. Good luck with learning it.
Cristina: Mika, I was wondering if your going to be at meet the players after the game on March 5th? Cause i am going and i would love to see you there!
Mika Noronen: If there is a meet the players day, I'll be there.
Allison P.: MIKA- DO YOU LIKE LIVING AND PLAYING IN ROCHESTER?
Mika Noronen: I really like playing here. Living here is pretty good too. Sometimes I wish there was more to do, though. It's a very safe city and I'm enjoying myself here.
Courtney: Did you feel alot of pressure when Marty was called up and you were pretty much the starting goalie?
Mika Noronen: Not really. I'm doing my best and I know that the pressure that there is, is good pressure. Last year I was a starting goalie, so I'm already used to the pressure.
kellyroweisugly: Who inspired you to play hockey? Also, what arena do u least like playing in and why?
Mika Noronen: My inspiration came from my friends and my brother. The worst arena to play in is Hershey. But the fans are great. It's not that bad.
Graeme: Congratulations, Mika!!! What other sports do you like to play/watch other than hockey? I also know the Amerks are a very close-knitted team but who are your best friends on the team? Keep playing strong, Mika!!! I believe you can become a very good goalie!!!:>
Mika Noronen: I played soccer and I like to watch it. I live with Brian Campbell and Dmitri Kalinim and they are good friends. Everyone on the team is pretty good friends.
Cristina: Hey Mika, I Love you! Well i have been to alot of your games this year. When your fans are yelling your name do you ever hear them? If you do does it ever distract you? Congrats on bein player of the week!
Mika Noronen: I never hear it when people are calling my name. I'm too focused and therefor don't hear them. But thanks. It would be hard if a player lost his concentration from fans yelling his name.
Jessica: congrats Mika! My question for you is how do you feel about all the playing time your getting this season? Good luck the rest of the season!
Mika Noronen: I knew how many games I would play. I've played about 33 games so far and I'm pretty happy about that and my playing time.
Mika: Thanks for joining me today for this live chat. I hope to see you out in the stands cheering for your favourite AHL team.