Nurminen started his playing career with Reipas Lahti in Finland and later moved on to Ketterä Imatra and Pelicans. In 1998 he moved to HPK and then to Jokerit a year later, where he won the Urpo Ylönen trophy as best goaltender in the SM-liiga. After two season with Jokerit, he moved across the Atlantic to represent the Atlanta Thrashers. Nurminen played for Malmö IF in the SwedishElitserien, and his hometown team, Pelicans, during the NHL lockout. He retired in the fall of 2005 due to a serious knee injury. He currently works as a goaltending consultant for Pelicans, the SM-liiga hockey team he also partially owns. Starting from 2010, he also serves the same role for the Finnish National Team.