“Congratulations to the Heiskanens 💚” was a short, heartfelt message posted by the Dallas Stars captured a special moment in Miro Heiskanen’s life. The 26-year-old blueliner recently married longtime partner Julia Taka-Aho, marking a joyful chapter in an already eventful year for the couple.
Dallas Stars Celebrate Miro Heiskanen’s Wedding to Julia Taka-Aho
The post featured a timeless black-and-white photo of the newlyweds sharing a kiss, which quickly made the rounds on social media. Fans were treated to a rare, personal glimpse of Heiskanen’s offseason off the ice.
Congratulations to the Heiskanens 💚 pic.twitter.com/DXZ3NadDEG
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) August 7, 2025
The wedding was reportedly a low-key, close-knit celebration. Photos and clips shared online, including stories from Julie Hemsky, wife of former Stars winger Ales Hemsky, revealed that several current and former NHL players were in attendance. Among them: Stars captain Jamie Benn, Radek Faksa, Mikko Rantanen, and ex-teammate John Klingberg.
It wasn’t just a wedding, it was a reunion for the Stars’ hockey family.
Heiskanen and Julia already share another major milestone. Earlier this year, the couple welcomed their first child.
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The Finnish defenseman even skipped a game in February to be present for the birth. With a baby and a wedding in the same year, it’s been a whirlwind 2025 for the Heiskanen household.
Heiskanen’s Return Bolsters Stars Ahead of 2025–26 Season
Drafted third overall in 2017, Heiskanen has grown into one of the NHL’s top defensemen. Calm under pressure and strong on both ends, he’s twice placed in the top 10 for the Norris Trophy and remains central to Dallas’ defensive core.
Welcome to Dallas, Miro Heiskanen! #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/uKGqeaAM7D
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) June 23, 2017
Last season, though, brought a tough break. A knee-on-knee collision with Mark Stone of the Vegas Golden Knights in late January kept Heiskanen out of action for over two months. He missed 32 regular-season games and the first 10 of the playoffs.
Miro Heiskanen heads to the locker room after being tripped by Mark Stone 😳 pic.twitter.com/0i0VWQGJ2i
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) January 29, 2025
Still, his return for the second round gave the Stars a boost. Heiskanen chipped in four points in eight playoff games and finished the year with 25 points through 50 appearances.
Speaking with NHL.com recently, Heiskanen said he’s back to full strength. “The knee got some rest after last season, and now I can do everything 100 percent,” he shared. “My confidence is back where it used to be now that my knee can take all the practice and feels fine.”
With training camp around the corner, the Stars will be glad to have their top defenseman back at full speed. The team lost a few names this summer, including Matt Dumba, Cody Ceci, and Mikael Granlund, but key veterans remain. Jamie Benn signed for one more year, and Matt Duchene secured a four-year deal.
The Stars begin their new season on October 9 against the Winnipeg Jets, the team they knocked out in the playoffs last spring. With a healthy Heiskanen and a deep lineup, Dallas will look to take another step toward Stanley Cup contention in 2025–26.
