Helsinki Seagulls

Helsinki Seagulls is a professional basketball team, based in Helsinki, Finland. The club is playing in the Korisliiga, the highest tier of basketball in Finland.

Helsinki Seagulls
Helsinki Seagulls logo
NicknameGulls
LeaguesKorisliiga
Founded2013 (2013)
HistoryHelsinki Seagulls
(2013–present)
ArenaTöölö Sports Hall
Capacity2,000
LocationHelsinki, Finland
Team colorsNavy, Gold, Black
     
Head coachJussi Laakso
Team captainShawn Huff
OwnershipJanne Kulvik
Sinikka Kulvik
Sami Hedberg
Websitewww.helsinkiseagulls.com

The Seagulls were founded in 2013 and made its debut in the Korisliiga in 2014, after promoting in its first season. The team has won the Finnish Cup three times. Seagulls won their first and only Korisliiga championship to date during the 2022-23 season.

History

The team was established in 2013 and it acquired its place on the second level of Finnish basketball in Division I A after the dissolution of the Torpan Pojat men's team. The license of Torpan Pojat was then transferred to the Gulls, along with the remaining players.[1][2]

The Seagulls opened their 2013-2014 season in the Division I A with winning 10 matches in a row. The team won a total of 25 of their 28 regular season games placing first in their division with Josh Gonner leading their offense with an impressive 20.5 points per game. Seagulls earned the promotion to Korisliiga after dismissing first Tampereen Pyrintö II and then BC Nokia in the division playoffs.[3]

The first ever team picture of Helsinki Seagulls in September 2013.

Seagulls started the 2022-23 season with the strongest team to date, with Americans Rene Rougeau and Jeffrey Carroll Jr. adding to an already strong team. Seagulls finished the 2022-23 regular season with a record of 25-7, and in second place behind Kauhajoki. After dominant quarter and semifinal performances against BC Nokia and Kataja Basket respectively, they advanced to the final against the defending champions Kauhajoki Karhubasket, where the Seagulls claimed their first title; defeating Karhubasket 4-2.

Honours

Korisliiga

  • Winners (1): 2023
  • Third place (4): 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022

Finnish Cup

  • Winners (3): 2020, 2021, 2022
  • Runners-up (1): 2023

Season by season
Season Tier League Pos. Finnish Cup
2013–14 2 First Division A 1st
2014–15 1 Korisliiga 8th
2015–16 1 4th
2016–17 1 3rd
2017–18 1 3rd
2018–19 1 7th
2019–20 1 2nd
2020–21 1 3rd
2021–22 1 3rd

Arena
The Töölö Sports Hall

The Seagulls play their home games in the Töölö Sports Hall.

Players

Current roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

Helsinki Seagulls roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.Age
G/F 2 United States Darko-Kelly, Zaccheus 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 93 kg (205 lb) 26 – (1997-05-03)3 May 1997
G/F 3 United States Manigault, Kenneth 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 93 kg (205 lb) 32 – (1991-05-22)22 May 1991
G 5 Finland Mäkelä, Samuli 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) 75 kg (165 lb) 24 – (1999-06-19)19 June 1999
F 7 Finland Huff, Shawn (C) 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 95 kg (209 lb) 39 – (1984-05-05)5 May 1984
PF 8 Finland Heinonen, Timo 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 102 kg (225 lb) 41 – (1981-11-26)26 November 1981
SF 9 Finland Kanervo, Antti 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 34 – (1989-04-12)12 April 1989
SF 10 Finland Van Andringa, Marius 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 84 kg (185 lb) 29 – (1994-03-20)20 March 1994
C 11 Finland Kotti, Tuukka 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) 102 kg (225 lb) 42 – (1981-03-18)18 March 1981
PG 13 Finland Nikkarinen, Lassi 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) 74 kg (163 lb) 26 – (1997-03-11)11 March 1997
SG 14 Finland Koponen, Petteri 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 35 – (1988-04-13)13 April 1988
SF 24 Finland Skyttä, Emil 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 20 – (2003-10-07)7 October 2003
G/F 30 Finland Laakso, Sakari 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 26 – (1997-04-30)30 April 1997
PF 31 United States Lawson, Joe 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 111 kg (245 lb) 31 – (1992-09-14)14 September 1992
F 33 Finland Makkonen, Santeri 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 22 – (2001-07-10)10 July 2001
Head coach
  • Finland Jussi Laakso
Assistant coach(es)
  • Finland Vesa Vertio
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured Injured
Updated: January 29, 2022

Depth chart
Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2
C Tuukka Kotti
PF Shawn Huff Timo Heinonen
SF Martin Wayne Max Besselink
SG Antti Kanervo Sakari Laakso Sami Tahvanainen
PG Petteri Koponen Erik Waxlax Samuli Mäkelä

colours: Finnish players; foreign players

Notable players

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

Criteria

To appear in this section a player must have either:

  • Set a club record or won an individual award while at the club
  • Played at least one official international match for their national team at any time
  • Played at least one official NBA match at any time.

References
  1. "ToPo jäi ilman liigalisenssiä" Iltasanomat, Retrieved 2014-9-24 (in Finnish)
  2. "Nostaako tämä seura Helsingin takaisin Korisliigaan?" Iltasanomat, Retrieved 2014-9-24 (in Finnish)
  3. "Seagulls otti ratkaisevan voiton Nokialla - helsinkiläiset palaavat Korisliigaan" YLE, Retrieved 2014-9-24 (in Finnish)
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