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HPK Kiekkonaiset

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For the men's Liiga team, see HPK.
HPK Kiekkonaiset
CityHämeenlinna, Finland
LeagueAuroraliiga
Foundedc. 1999 (1999)
Home arenaHämeenlinnan harjoitushalli
ColoursOrange, black, white
     
General managerJorma Hassinen
Head coachJari Risku
CaptainHeta Seikkula
MediaHämeen Sanomat
AffiliateHPK Akatemia
Parent club(s)HPK Liiga Oy
Websitehpk.fi
Championships
Regular season titles2 (2009–10, 2010–11)
Aurora Borealis Cup1 (2010–11)
Current uniform
Current season

HPK Kiekkonaiset (lit. 'HPK Puck-Women') or HPK Naiset are an ice hockey team in the Auroraliiga, the premier women's ice hockey league in Finland. They play in Hämeenlinna, a city in the Finnish south-central province of Kanta-Häme, at the Hämeenlinnan harjoitushalli (HML hh; lit. 'Hämeenlinna training hall'), a secondary ice rink at Ritari-areena. HPK were the first team to be awarded the Aurora Borealis Cup as the winners of the Finnish Championship in 2011 and also won bronze in the 2011–12 IIHF European Women's Champions Cup.

They are the representative women's ice hockey team of the multi-sport club Hämeenlinnan Pallokerho (HPK), however, the team is directly owned by HPK Liiga Oy, the ownership organization of the Liiga team HPK. HPK Kiekkonaiset are one of two Auroraliiga teams owned directly by a men's league team.[1]

History

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A women's ice hockey team has competed under the parent club HPK since at least 1999. From 1999 to 2008, HPK Kiekkonaiset competed in the Naisten I-divisioona (renamed Naisten Mestis in 2013). In 2001, the team qualified to contend for promotion to the Naisten SM-sarja (NSMs; called Naisten Liiga during 2017–2024 and rebranded as Auroraliiga in 2024) in the league's karsintasarja (qualification series) but they lost eleven of fourteen qualification games and remained in the I-divisoona.[2] The opportunity for promotion through the karsintasarja returned in the 2007–08 season and, this time, with a roster that included Meeri Räisänen, Essi Salminen, Hanne Sikiö, and Eveliina Similä, HPK achieved promotion to the Naisten SM-sarja.[3]

HPK debuted in the Naisten SM-sarja at the opening of the 2008–09 season, strengthened by the addition of a number of experienced players, notably Petra Herzigová, Katja Riipi, Nora Tallus, and Vilma Vaattovaara. The team won the bronze medal match against Oulun Kärpät with a game winning goal from Riipi.[4]

HPK was the first team to be awarded the Aurora Borealis Cup the Naisten SM-sarja Champions in 2011.[5]

As the 2011 Finnish Champions, the team was automatically granted placement in the second round, Group E of the following season's IIHF European Women's Champions Cup (EWCC). The Group E round-robin was contested in Hämeenlinna during 2 to 4 December 2011 and HPK bested ESC Planegg, Aisulu Almaty, and the EHV Sabres to sweep the series and earn a berth in the tournament finals.[6] Venla Hovi and Riikka Noronen led all Group E skaters in scoring, with 9 points and 7 points in four games, respectively.[7] The EWCC Finals were also hosted in Hämeenlinna and were played during 24 to 26 February 2012 at Metritiski Areena. HPK won their first match, beating ESC Planegg with a score of 3–2, but they were unable to overcome the scoring power and excellent goaltending of their final two opponents, losing 2–6 to Tornado Moscow Region and 1–5 to the ZSC Lions Frauen.[8] They were awarded European Women's Champions Cup bronze medals, becoming the third Finnish team to medal in the EWCC.

In June 2021, it was announced that the team would be transferred to HPK Liiga Oy, owner of the HPK Liiga team and the U20 SM-sarja team HPK U20.[9] HPK Kiekkonaiset had previously been a part of the HPK-affiliated junior ice hockey club HPK Edustusjääkiekko Ry, a non-profit registered association. At the time of the transfer, Antti Toivanen, CEO of HPK Liiga Oy and general manager of the HPK men's team, explained that the move was motivated by an interest in capitalizing on the growing women's ice hockey market, which had been highlighted by the record crowds that attended the 2019 IIHF Women's World Championship in Espoo. Jorma Hassinen, general manager of HPK Kiekkonaiset, expressed hope that the transfer would allow female players to develop with the same opportunities as their male counterparts.[10]

Season-by-season results

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This is a partial list of the most recent seasons completed by HPK Naiset.
Note: Finish = Rank at end of regular season; GP = Games played, W = Wins (3 points), OTW = Overtime wins (2 points), OTL = Overtime losses (1 point), L = Losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, Pts = Points, Top scorer: Points (Goals+Assists)

Season League Regular season Post season results
Finish GP W OTW OTL L GF GA Pts Top scorer
2017–18 Naisten Liiga 4th 30 16 1 3 10 87 66 53 Finland A. Kaitala 37 (17+20) Lost quarterfinals, 0-3 (Kuortane)
2018–19 Naisten Liiga 6th 30 16 0 3 11 98 87 51 Finland J. Liikala 33 (11+22) Lost quarterfinals, 0-3 (Kärpät)
2019–20 Naisten Liiga 4th 30 18 1 4 7 109 71 60 Finland R. Noronen 41 (15+26) Lost quarterfinals, 2–3 (Kuortane)
2020–21 Naisten Liiga 5th 29 13 2 3 11 85 78 46 Finland R. Noronen 33 (13+20) Lost quarterfinals, 0–2 (Ilves)
2021–22 Naisten Liiga 7th 30 17 2 1 10 114 80 56 Finland K. Seikkula 34 (19+15) Lost quarterfinals, 1–3 (HIFK)
2022–23 Naisten Liiga 4th 36 20 3 1 12 116 78 67 Slovakia J. Matejková 43 (15+28) Lost bronze medal game, 1–3 (KalPa)
2023–24 Naisten Liiga 3rd 32 21 0 3 8 120 68 66 Finland K. Seikkula 45 (22+23) Lost bronze medal game, 1–3 (KalPa)

Players and personnel

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2024–25 roster

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As of 20 October 2024[11][12][13][14]
No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
3 Finland Julia Ahlskog D L 22 2022 Vaasa, Ostrobothnia, Finland
24 Finland Emma Andersson F L 18 2024
67 Italy Manuela Heidenberger F R 17 2024 Bolzano, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy
1 Finland Pihla Ikonen G L 16 2024
19 Czech Republic Barbora Juříčková F L 18 2022 Ostrava, Moravskoslezský kraj, Czechia
27 Finland Janika Järvikari G L 25 2023 Kirkkonummi, Uusimaa, Finland
42 Finland Anni Keisala G L 27 2024 Lohja, Uusimaa, Finland
5 Finland Laura Kuukasjärvi D L 20 2022
4 Finland Veera Laiho D L 15 2024
17 Finland Eva Lamberg F R 17 2023 Hämeenlinna, Kanta-Häme, Finland
20 Finland Saimi Lehto F L 22 2019 Riihimäki, Kanta-Häme, Finland
9 Finland Ines Lukkarila F L 23 2023 Rovaniemi, Lappi, Finland
80 Finland Emilia Malinen F L 24 2024 Pyhäjärvi, North Ostrobothnia, Finland
13 Slovakia Júlia Matejková F R 22 2022 Banská Bystrica, Banskobystrický kraj, Slovakia
14 Finland Noora Puhto F L 16 2024 Kerava, Uusimaa, Finland
15 Finland Mikaela Saukkonen D L 24 2024 Hyvinkää, Uusimaa, Finland
16 Finland Heta Seikkula (C) D L 23 2017 Kauhava, South Ostrobothnia, Finland
51 Finland Kiti Seikkula (A) F L 23 2017 Kauhava, South Ostrobothnia, Finland
38 Finland Alisa Skog F L 20 2020 Vihti, Uusimaa, Finland
22 Finland Jutta Stoltenberg (A) D L 33 2008 Hamburg, Germany
8 Norway Iben Tillman D L 19 2024 Fredrikstad, Østfold, Norway
10 Finland Vanessa Viitala F L 19 2022 Nivala, North Ostrobothnia, Finland
23 Finland Peppi Virtanen F L 20 2024 Jyväskylä, Central Finland, Finland
28 Finland Daniela Wilkman D L 20 2020 Vantaa, Uusimaa, Finland

Coaching staff and team personnel

  • Head coach: Jari Risku[15]
  • Goaltending coach: Maija Hassinen-Sullanmaa
  • Conditioning coach: Laura Paakkari
  • Team manager: Maija Hassinen-Sullanmaa
  • Equipment managers: Hanna Haakana, Kari Järvinen & Marko Lamberg

Team captaincy history

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Head coaches

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  • Tuomo Nukari, 2011–January 2013
  • Jarkko Julkunen, January 2013–2013
  • Vesa Mäkinen, 2014–2016
  • Marko Rahikainen, 2016–2018
  • Markku Pirttiniemi, 2018–19
  • Katja Pasanen, 2019–20
  • Mari Saarinen, 2020–21
  • Harri Nummela, 2021–22
  • Jari Risku,[16] 2022–

Team honours

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Finnish Championship

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Since 2011, the victorious team of the Auroraliiga playoffs has received the Aurora Borealis Cup. Prior to 2011, the title-winners of the league were awarded the Sammon -malja. The players of the victorious team also receive gold medals as Finnish Champions in women's ice hockey.[17]

IIHF European Women's Champions Cup

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Notable alumnae

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Main category: HPK Kiekkonaiset players

Seasons active with HPK listed alongside player name.

International players

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Karhu, Ann-Christine (17 September 2022). "Ruotsissa naiskiekkoilijoille maksetaan palkkaa – Suomessa pääsarjatason kiekko on edelleen monelle kallis harrastus". Yle Urheilu (in Finnish). Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  2. ^ "SM-sarja (W) 2000-2001 Standings". EliteProspects.com. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  3. ^ "Championnat de Finlande de hockey sur glace féminin 2007/08". HockeyArchives.info (in French). Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  4. ^ "HPK Kiekkonaiset Historia". hpkkiekkonaiset.fi. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  5. ^ Mennander, Pasi (12 March 2013). "15 faktaa Aurora Borealis -maljasta" (in Finnish). Finnish Ice Hockey Association. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  6. ^ "2012 European Women's Champions Cup: Group E in Hämeenlinna, Finland". International Ice Hockey Federation. 4 December 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  7. ^ Biller, Philippe. "Coupe d'Europe de hockey sur glace féminin 2011/12". HockeyArchives.info (in French). Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  8. ^ "IIHF European Women Champions Cup, Round Robin – Tournament Progress" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. 26 February 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  9. ^ "Kerholaisen kilpakiekon koti on HPK Liiga Oy – Naisten jääkiekkotoiminta liigaorganisaation alaisuuteen". Hämeenlinnan Pallokerho (Press release) (in Finnish). 17 June 2021. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  10. ^ Niskanen, Anne-Maria (17 June 2021). "HPK:n naisten jääkiekko on jatkossa osa HPK Liigan toimintaa". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 17 June 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  11. ^ "Naisten Liiga (W) - HPK, 2024-2025 Roster". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  12. ^ "2023-2024 Naisten Liiga, harjoitusottelu – Kokoonpano HPK". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  13. ^ "2024-2025 Auroraliiga – Kokoonpano HPK". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). September 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  14. ^ Seppä, Lassi (15 February 2024). "HPK:n ja Nella Aarniovuoren tiet erkanevat". Jatkoaika (in Finnish). Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  15. ^ Lassheikki, Petri (30 January 2024). "Jari Risku jatkaa HPK:n naisten valmentajana". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  16. ^ "HPK Naisten katsaus kauteen 2021–2022 – uudeksi päävalmentajaksi Jari Risku". Hämeenlinnan Pallokerho (in Finnish). 7 April 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  17. ^ Aaltonen, Juha, ed. (2019). Jääkiekkokirja: Suomen Jääkiekkoliiton ja Liigan Virallinen Kausijulkaisu 2019–2020 [The Ice Hockey Book: The Finnish Ice Hockey Association and Liiga Official Guide & Record Book 2019–2020] (PDF) (in Finnish). Layout by Joonas Ahola. Jääkiekon SM-liiga Oy & Suomen Jääkiekkoliito. ISSN 0784-3321. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  18. ^ Foster, Meredith (20 October 2017). "Meeri Räisänen seeing success in her return to women's hockey". The Ice Garden. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
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