Porin Ässät (men's ice hockey)

Porin Ässät (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈporin æsːæt]; Finnish for Pori Aces), officially Hockey Club Ässät Pori and colloquially known as Pata,[lower-alpha 1] are a professional ice hockey club based in Pori, Finland. They compete in the SM-liiga, the top level of ice hockey in Finland. Since 1971, Ässät have played their games in the Isomäki Ice Hall.[lower-alpha 2]

This article is about Ässät's men's team. For the parent organization, see Porin Ässät ry. For the association football club, see Porin Ässät (men's football). For the women's team, see Porin Ässät (women's ice hockey).

Porin Ässät
CityPori
LeagueSM-liiga
Founded1967
Home arenaIsomäki Ice Hall
(capacity: 6,150)
ColorsRed, black, white, gold
       
Owner(s)HC Ässät Pori Oy
CEOMikael Lehtinen
General managerJanne Vuorinen
Head coachJere Härkälä
MediaSatakunnan Kansa
Radio Pori
AffiliatesKuparikiekko (2 div.)
LuKi -82 (2 div.)
Websiteassat.com
Franchise history
1925–1960Porin Palloilijat
1932–1960Porin Kärpät
1938–1967RU-38
1960–1967Porin Karhut
1967–presentPorin Ässät
Championships
Regular season titles1978–79
Kanada-malja3 (1970–71, 1977–78, 2012–13)
Current uniform
Sections of Porin Ässät
Ice hockey
(Men's)		 Ice hockey
(Women's)		 Football
(Men's)
Esports

The team was founded in 1967 by a merger with two other local sports clubs, Rosenlewin Urheilijat-38 and Porin Karhut. Ässät originally competed in the SM-sarja, but it was replaced by the SM-liiga in 1975, which makes Ässät one of the ten original SM-liiga teams. Ässät got relegated to the I-Divisioona for the 1989–90 season, but got promoted back to the SM-liiga after just one season in the I-Divisioona.

Ässät has won the Kanada-malja championship three times (1971, 1978 and 2013), as well as the Finnish Cup one time in 1967. Ässät has a total of nine medals in the top-tier of Finnish ice hockey, four of them being silver and two being bronze. Ässät has been awarded the Aaro Kivilinna Memorial Trophy once in the 1979–80 season. Ässät has won one European Cup bronze in 1979.

History
Further information: History of Porin Ässät (men's ice hockey)
Porin Ässät celebrating their first ever Finnish championship in 1971


The Porin Ässät were established in June 1967 when two local sports clubs Rosenlewin Urheilijat-38 and Porin Karhut merged their sports operations. Although the RU-38 won the SM-sarja championship in 1967, the Rosenlew company seriously considered giving up sports activities, as Rosenlew felt that hockey did not bring enough positive publicity to the company. The leaders of Karhut and RU-38 negotiated the unification of the clubs during the spring and early summer so secretly that even the insiders of the teams did not get to know about the merger negotiations. The problem for the Karhut was the economic downturn, as the club had heavily invested in player acquisitions. The income was not enough to cover the expenses, especially after some supporters had moved to the Rosenlew club.[1] As Rosenlew was abandoning the sports club, it was suggested that the RU-38 was simply "melted" into Karhut. When an agreement was finally reached, Rosenlew took over a large portion of Karhut's debts and promised to support the new team financially in the early years. The new club was named Porin Ässät. The birth of the club was announced at the end of June 1967. The name of the club was given by Vilho Santala, who acted as a negotiator in uniting the clubs and was elected the first chairman of Ässät. The club's logo was designed by Vesa Antikainen. The colors of the club were chosen as red, black and white.[2]

The first games of Ässät went well, and even before the start of the 1967–68 SM-sarja season, Ässät won the Finnish Cup championship. In the final match played in Savonlinna, Ässät beat SaPKo 7–0.[3][4] Thanks to inheriting the RU-38's spot, Ässät also played in the 1968 European Cup, where it won its first two rounds before being beaten by SC Dynamo Berlin in the quarter-finals.[5][6]

In the 1970–71 season, Ässät won their first SM-sarja championship.[7] For the 1975–76 season, Ässät joined the newly formed SM-liiga, making them one of the original ten clubs in the league.[8] Ässät won four more medals in the 1970s, one of them being an SM-liiga championship in 1978.[9] Ässät won European Cup bronze in 1979.

In the 1980s, Ässät appeared in the SM-liiga finals two times with no success. Ässät was relegated to the I-Divisioona after the 1988–89 season. Ässät won 37 of their 44 games in the 1989–90 I-Divisioona season, and played against JoKP in the SM-liiga qualification series, beating them and being promoted back to the league.[10][11][12] In the 1990s Ässät's only major achievement was a bronze medal in 1995, beating rival team Rauman Lukko in the bronze game.[13]

Ässät appeared in the 2006 SM-liiga finals but got beaten by HPK Hämeenlinna. In 2013 Ässät won the SM-liiga championship again after 35 years, beating Tappara in the finals.[14][15]

Team identity

Crest and uniform design
Ässät logo from 1982 to 1994
Secondary logo of Ässät since the early 2000s

Ässät's primary logo is a spade (♠️) inside a black ring. Ässät has used many variations of the logo. The logo was designed by Vesa Antikainen.[2]

The club's home uniforms have always had the primary colour as red. The secondary colour has usually been either black or white. The original jersey of Ässät was completely red. Ässät has had a third jersey which was black.

Ässät's home uniform since the 2022–23 season has been red with a small white stripe on the bottom part of the jersey and with white on the shoulders. Ässät wears red pants, red socks with a white stripe and use a white helmet. The away jersey is white with a red stripe on the bottom and with red on the shoulders. Ässät wears red pants, white socks with a red stripe and a white helmet.

Mascot

Ässät's mascot has been Rysty Mesikämmen since 2017.[16] Rysty Mesikämmen is a brown bear who wears an ice hockey helmet and Ässät's jersey with the number 67.[17]

Rivalries and fans
Main article: Satakunnan derby

Ässät's main rivals are considered to be Rauman Lukko[18] and Vaasan Sport.[19]

Ässät and Lukko are rivals mainly because of their cities being located in the same region and their arenas being about 50 kilometers from each other. The largest victory between the two teams came in 1978 when Ässät beat Lukko 17–3 at home ice. The rivalry has been nicknamed the "Satakunnan derby"

Ässät's rivalry against Sport caught its heat during the 2009 SM-liiga qualifiers. Ässät beat Sport in the game seven of the qualifiers and thus kept their spot in the SM-liiga.

Ässät has an official supporter organization called Pataljoona (Finnish for "Battalion"). They are known for their chants, tifos and flags in Ässät's home and away games.

Players and personnel

Current roster

Loan players written in italic text.

Updated 8 October 2023.[20][21]

No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
21 Finland Aleksi Matinmikko D R 23 2023–24 Oulu, Finland
34 Finland Aleksi Heimosalmi D R 20 2023–24 Pori, Finland
78 France Dylan Fabre W L 23 2023–24 Grenoble, France
14 Finland Juuso Ikonen F R 28 2023–24 Espoo, Finland
51 Finland Tuomas Salmela D L 28 2023–24 Tornio, Finland
70 Sweden Marcus Davidsson C L 24 2023–24 Tyresö, Sweden
71 Sweden Jonathan Davidsson Injured Reserve RW L 26 2023–24 Tyresö, Sweden
41 Sweden Niklas Rubin G L 27 2022–23 Kungsbacka, Sweden
37 Finland Rami Määttä D L 21 2020–21 Oulu, Finland
93 Finland Lassi Vanhatalo LW L 25 2023–24 Tampere, Finland
10 Finland Jami Virtanen F R 23 2021–22 Pori, Finland
73 Finland Eemil Erholtz W R 23 2021–22 Mikkeli, Finland
28 Finland Verneri Hellman D L 21 2021–22 Pori, Finland
29 Finland Lenni Hämeenaho F R 20 2022–23 Pori, Finland
44 Finland Jan-Mikael Järvinen F R 35 2022–23 Pirkkala, Finland
6 Finland Jesse Joensuu LW L 36 2022–23 Pori, Finland
19 Finland Patrik Juhola C L 19 2021–22 Ylöjärvi, Finland
36 Finland Karolus Kaarlehto G L 26 2023–24 Turku, Finland
15 Finland Valtteri Karnaranta LW L 20 2021–22 Oulu, Finland
24 Finland Jesperi Kaukonen RW L 19 2022–23 Paimio, Finland
86 Finland Feetu Knihti C L 21 2021–22 Kiukainen, Finland
87 Finland Kalle Myllymaa C L 21 2021–22 Pori, Finland
16 Finland Nestor Noiva RW R 19 2023–24 Helsinki, Finland
66 Finland Joona Riekkinen D L 24 2023–24 Kuopio, Finland
35 Finland Topias Rovio G L 20 2023–24 Turku, Finland
20 Finland Roope Talaja LW L 35 2022–23 Kuopio, Finland
61 Finland Leevi Viitala RW R 22 2021–22 Pomarkku, Finland
7 Finland Topi Vuori D L 18 2023–24 Vihti, Finland
23 United States Will Graber C/D R 27 2022–23 Broomfield, U.S.
– Finland Otso Ylitalo C L 18 2023–24 Oulu, Finland
8 Czech Republic Libor Zábranský D R 23 2023–24 Brno, Czech Republic
40 Canada Martin Lefebvre D L 31 2023–24 Terrebonne, Canada
26 Finland Kasperi Ojantakanen C R 28 2023–24 Helsinki, Finland

Retired numbers
Veli-Pekka Ketola's number, 13, has been retired by Ässät

All Ässät's retired numbers are hanging from the rafters of the arena except for Jaroslav Otevřel's number.[22]

List of retired numbers:[23]

Ässät retired numbers
No. Player Position Tenure Date of retirement References
2 Antti Heikkilä D 1967–1981
4 Arto Javanainen RW 1976–1984

1985–1987 1989–1994
11 Raimo Kilpiö F 1967–1977 21 September 2019 [24]
12 Tapio Levo D 1972–1981

1983–1992

 21 November 2007 [25]
13 Veli-Pekka Ketola C 1967–1974

1977–1981

 22 November 2007[lower-alpha 3] [26]
89 Jaroslav Otevřel LW 1994–1996 11 February 1996 [27]

Captains
Raimo Kilpiö, Ässät's first captain, with an Ässät and Ilves jersey in 1990
Ässät's 2022–23 captain, Jesse Joensuu

Coaches
Alpo Suhonen, Ässät's coach from 2007 to 2009
  • Rauli Virtanen, 1967–1968
  • Lasse Heikkilä, 1968–1974
  • Matti Jansson, 1974–1976
  • Lasse Heikkilä, 1972–1981
  • Antti Heikkilä, 1981–1986
  • Tapio Flinck, 1986–1989
  • Matti Keinonen, 1989–2 December 1990
  • Vasily Tikhonov, 2 December 1990–1993
  • Veli-Pekka Ketola, 1993–28 September 1996
  • Kari Makkonen, 28 September 1996–3 October 1996
  • Juhani Tamminen, 3 October 1996–1998
  • Esko Nokelainen, 1998–1999
  • Veli-Pekka Ketola, 1999–1999
  • Vladimir Jurzinov Jr., 1999–2000
  • Ismo Läntinen, 2000–29 September 2000
  • Vladimir Jurzinov Jr., 29 September 2000–12 October 2001
  • Kaj Matalamäki, 12 October 2001–2002
  • Mika Toivola, 2002–2006
  • Juha Pajuoja, 2006–19 November 2006
  • Jari Härkälä, 19 November 2006–14 November 2007
  • Alpo Suhonen, 14 November 2007–2009
  • Pekka Rautakallio, 2009–2011
  • Karri Kivi, 2011–2013
  • Pekka Virta, 2013–2014
  • Pekka Rautakallio, 2014–11 February 2016
  • Mikael Kotkaniemi, 11 February 2016–2016
  • Jyrki Aho, 2016–14 January 2018
  • Mikael Kotkaniemi, 14 January 2018–9 November 2018
  • Pasi Kaukoranta, 9 November 2018–2019
  • Ari-Pekka Selin, 2019–23 November 2021
  • Karri Kivi, 23 November 2021–2023
  • Jere Härkälä, 2023–present

Notable alumni
Joel Armia with Ässät in 2010

Ässät's stars and cult players.[28]

* Raimo Kilpiö

Honours
Kanada-malja, the cup awarded to every Finnish Champion of ice hockey.

SM-liiga / SM-sarja (Finnish championship series)

Finnish cup
  • 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winners (1): 1967[4]

IIHF European Cup

International campaigns

IIHF European Cup

Text in bold implies that Ässät won the game.

Season Opponent Summary Placement
1967–68 Legia Warzaw 6–3 Third round exit
6–2
Vålerenga 7–2
8–3
Dynamo Berlin 0–5
6–3
1971–72 Podhale Nowy Targ 0–5 (By forfeit) —
1978–79 Podhale Nowy Targ 7–2 3rd place
Poldi Kladno 3–8
HC CSKA Moscow 3–12
Skellefteå AIK 3–2

Other international games

Text in bold implies that Ässät won the game.[31][32]

Year/season Opponent Summary
1971–72 SONP Kladno 4–5
Torpedo Gorky 3–8
Skellefteå AIK 2–4
Bodens BK 3–7
IF Björklöven 2–3
2002 HC Davos 5–3
Avangard Omsk 1–2
2003 HC Davos 3–4
2004 Timrå IK 3–1
Modo Hockey 0–2
Skellefteå AIK 1–0
2006 IF Björklöven 3–3
Luleå HF 4–2
HC Davos 5–2
Pardubice HC 3–7
2007 IF Björklöven 4–2
2008 ASK Ogre 4–2
Lausanne HC 2–3 OT
HC Ambri-Piotta 4–1
HC Davos 5–2
IF Björklöven 6–3
2009 Växjö Lakers 1–2
HC La Chaux-de-Fonds 4–1
HC Lugano 4–2
SC Bern 4–5
EHC Biel 1–2
2011 Växjö Lakers 2–4
2012 Växjö Lakers 4–3 OT
2013 Modo Hockey 0–2
Timrå IK 2–1 OT
Skellefteå AIK 2–3
2018 IF Björklöven 5–1
2019 Örebro HK 2–3 SO
Brynäs IF 2–4
2023 Timrå IK 1–4

Franchise records
See also: Porin Ässät (women's hockey) § Franchise records
Pasi Peltonen, the player with the most games with Ässät in October 2008

These are the top-five-point-scorers in franchise history including playoffs. Figures are updated after each completed Liiga season.

  •  *  – current Ässät player

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points

Sources: "Elite Prospects – Ässät franchise records".

Home arena
Main article: Isomäki Ice Hall

Home arena
Isomäki Ice Hall's ice rink from the inside.
Isomäki ice rink in 1964

The Isomäki Ice Hall was opened in 1964 as an outside artificial ice rink. The arena was finished in 1971 with a capacity of 8 000 spectators. As of 2023, the spectator capacity is 6 150.

Today the Isomäki Areena is known for its close atmosphere and reputation as a difficult place for away teams. The arena is located in the Pori sporting center in the Isomäki district. It was last renovated in 2014–2016, and its name was officially changed to Isomäki Areena.[33][34] The current audience capacity of the arena is from 6,350 to 6,500 spectators. The name of the arena was changed to West Areena for the 2022–23 season.[35] As of 9 September 2023, the arena was known by sponsor name Enersense Areena.[36]

Training facilities

Ässät mainly trains in the Isomäki Areena ice rink, but they also use the Astora Areena, which was constructed in 2011. Astora Areena is in the ownership of Porin Ässät ry and is also used by all Ässät junior teams.

The Astora Areena has a kiosk, several dressing rooms, an ice hockey rink and a small stand that can hold up to 540 people. The Porin Ässät ry's office is also located in the arena

See also

Notes
  1. Other nicknames for the club include Punakone, Pubijoukkue, Patasydämet and Patapaidat
  2. Ässät played on the outdoor artificial ice rink of Isomäki from 1967 to 1971
  3. Originally retired in 2003, un-retired in 2004 but re-retired in 2007
  4. Uusitalo played as captain for one game before he retired. It is the shortest captaincy period in the history of Liiga.

References
  1. Majasaari, Matti (1994). Pitkä laukaus : porilaisen jääkiekkoilun historia (in Finnish). Pori: Satakunnan kirjateollisuus. pp. 19–80. ISBN 9519583750.
  2. Majasaari, Matti (1994). Pitkä laukaus : porilaisen jääkiekkoilun historia (in Finnish). Pori: Satakunnan kirjateollisuus. p. 81. ISBN 9519583750.
  3. "Ässät opetti jääkiekkoa SaPKo:lle" [Ässät taught SaPKo how to play ice hockey]. Satakunnan kansa (in Finnish). 1967.
  4. "SaPKo Jääkiekon Suomen Cupissa". SaPKo - Savonlinnan Pallokerho Oy (in Finnish). Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  5. Majasaari, Matti (1994). Pitkä laukaus : porilaisen jääkiekkoilun historia (in Finnish). Pori: Satakunnan kirjateollisuus. pp. 82–83. ISBN 9519583750.
  6. "Coupe d'Europe des clubs champions de hockey sur glace 1967/68". www.hockeyarchives.info. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  7. Majasaari, Matti (1994). Pitkä laukaus : porilaisen jääkiekkoilun historia (in Finnish). Pori: Satakunnan kirjateollisuus. pp. 85–89. ISBN 9519583750.
  8. Majasaari, Matti (1994). Pitkä laukaus : porilaisen jääkiekkoilun historia (in Finnish). Pori: Satakunnan kirjateollisuus. pp. 94–97. ISBN 9519583750.
  9. Majasaari (1994). Pitkä Laukaus. pp. 97–102. ISBN 9519583750.
  10. Majasaari, Matti (1994). Pitkä laukaus : porilaisen jääkiekkoilun historia (in Finnish). Pori: satakunnan kirjateollisuus. pp. 128–132. ISBN 9519583750.
  11. Majasaari, Matti (1994). Pitkä laukaus : porilaisen jääkiekkoilun historia (in Finnish). Pori: Satakunnan kirjateollisuus. pp. 125–127. ISBN 9519583750.
  12. "Muistatteko: Tasan 30 vuotta sitten Ässät putosi 1. divisioonaan". Satakunnan Kansa (in Finnish). 1 March 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  13. "Championnat de Finlande de hockey sur glace 1994/95". www.hockeyarchives.info. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  14. "Porin Ässät palasi Suomen mestariksi 35 vuoden tauon jälkeen!". Yle Urheilu (in Finnish). 24 April 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  15. "SM-liigan klassikkohetket: Porin Ässien sensaatiomainen mestaruus 2013". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). 10 March 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  16. "Ässät lanseeraa maskotin lauantain Perhepelissä". assat.com. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  17. "Ehdota uudelle maskotille nimi". assat.com. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  18. "Ottaako joku naapuriyhdistyksessä pattiin? - Raumam Boja ja Pataljoona vastaavat". LS24 (in Finnish). 22 January 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  19. "Ässät vaatii Sport-faneilta korvauksia". Yle Urheilu (in Finnish). 19 November 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  20. "Ässät 2023-24". www.eliteprospects.com.
  21. "Ässät homepage". www.assat.com.
  22. "SM-liigan karmeimmasta tragediasta 20 vuotta: "Raavas mies oli aivan avuton"". www.iltalehti.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  23. "Ässät jäädyttää seuralegendan pelinumeron – mutta seremoniaan liittyy melkoinen erikoisuus". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). 5 August 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  24. "Raimo Kilpiön pelipaita nousee Isomäki Areenan kattoon". assat.com. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  25. "Ässät jäädytti Levon pelinumeron". mtvuutiset.fi (in Finnish). 21 November 2007. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  26. Holopainen, Pekka (23 November 2007). ""Revin paidan alas saman tien"". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  27. "Jaroslav Otevrel ansaitsee nimeään kantavan palkinnon". Jatkoaika.com - Kaikki jääkiekosta (in Finnish). Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  28. "Ässät at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  29. "Elite Prospects - Liiga". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  30. "Elite Prospects - SM-sarja". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  31. "Otteluohjelma ja tulokset - Ässät - Jatkoaika.com - Kaikki jääkiekosta". www.jatkoaika.com. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  32. UrheiluSuomi.com. "UrheiluPori.com - Pori - UrheiluSuomi - Porilaisen urheilun aitiopaikalla vuodesta 2006. Urheilu-uutisia ja valokuvia Porista". www.urheilupori.com (in Finnish). Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  33. "Porin kiekkoväelle tärkeä nimi säilyy – jäähalli on nyt Isomäki Areena".
  34. "Porin jäähallin remontissa loppukiri: "Töitä tehdään yötä päivää"".
  35. "Isomäki Areenan uusi nimi on West Areena". assat.com. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  36. "Enersense Ässien pääyhteistyökumppaniksi – Porin jäähalli muuttuu Enersense Areenaksi". Enersense (in Finnish). 8 September 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
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