Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: Degerman malitere ọrụ ya na Kiekko-Espoo, na-egwu egwuregwu na U18 na U20 ha. N'oge oge 1996-1997, ọ gbara egwuregwu iri abụọ na atọ maka ndị okenye nke Kiekko-Espoo na SM-liiga wee gbaa goolu abụọ, mgbe nke ahụ gasịrị, ọ kwụsịrị ọrụ ọkachamara ya ma debanye aha na Mahadum Boston. A họpụtara Degerman dị ka onye nke 235 site na Mighty Ducks nke Anaheim na
1997 NHL Entry Draft mana ọ gara n'ihu na kọleji ya na Mahadum Boston ruo n'afọ 2000. Mgbe ọ gụsịrị akwụkwọ mahadum ya, Degerman sonyeere ndị otu mbụ ya na Espoo nke a na-akpọzi Espoo Blues. Agbanyeghị, ọ bụ naanị otu egwuregwu ka o jisiri ike ma nọrọ oge ahụ na Mestis maka KJT. Ọ laghachiri na North America na 2001 igwu egwu na ECHL, na-ekewa 2001-02 ECHL oge na New Orleans Brass na Reading Royals tupu ịla ezumike nká.