HPK Kiekkonaiset

HPK Kiekkonaiset (lit. 'HPK Puck-Women') or HPK Naiset are an ice hockey team in the Naisten Liiga (NSML), 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.

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

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 Naisten Liiga teams owned directly by a men's league team.[1]

History

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 (renamed Naisten Liiga in 2017) 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

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 30161310876653 Finland A. Kaitala 37 (17+20) Lost quarterfinals, 0-3 (Kuortane)
2018–19 Naisten Liiga 6th 30160311988751 Finland J. Liikala 33 (11+22) Lost quarterfinals, 0-3 (Kärpät)
2019–20 Naisten Liiga 4th 30181471097160 Finland R. Noronen 41 (15+26) Lost quarterfinals, 2–3 (Kuortane)
2020–21 Naisten Liiga 5th 29132311857846 Finland R. Noronen 33 (13+20) Lost quarterfinals, 0–2 (Ilves)
2021–22 Naisten Liiga 7th 301721101148056 Finland K. Seikkula 34 (19+15) Lost quarterfinals, 1–3 (HIFK)
2022–23 Naisten Liiga 4th 362031121167867 Slovakia J. Matejková 43 (15+28) Lost bronze medal game, 1–3 (KalPa)

Players and personnel

2023–24 roster
As of 19 October 2023[11][12][13]
No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
4 Finland Nella Aarniouvuori D L 18 2022
3 Finland Julia Ahlskog D L 21 2022 Vaasa, Ostrobothnia, Finland
11 Czech Republic Karolína Erbanová F L 30 2022 Vrchlabí, Czechoslovakia
33 Netherlands Eline Gabriele G L 21 2023 Zoetermeer, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
80 Finland Viivi Iso-Kouvola F L 24 2023
19 Czech Republic Barbora Juříčková F L 19 2022
27 Finland Janika Järvikari G L 24 2023
39 Slovakia Iveta Klimášová F L 25 2023 Prakovce, Košický kraj, Slovakia
8 Finland Oona Koukkula D L 20 2022 Riihimäki, Kanta-Häme, Finland
5 Finland Laura Kuukasjärvi D L 19 2022
17 Finland Eva Lamberg F R 15 2023 Hämeenlinna, Kanta-Häme, Finland
20 Finland Saimi Lehto F L 21 2019 Riihimäki, Kanta-Häme, Finland
9 Finland Ines Lukkarila F L 22 2023 Rovaniemi, Lappi, Finland
13 Slovakia Júlia Matejková F R 21 2022 Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
21 Finland Jade Mäkivaara F L 26 2019 Kauhajoki, South Ostrobothnia, Finland
18 Czech Republic Tereza Pištěková F L 18 2023 Tábor, Jihočeský kraj, Czechia
1 Finland Ronja Pätsi G L 18 2022 Kuusamo, North Ostrobothnia, Finland
24 Finland Assi Saarinen F L 18 2022 Hämeenlinna, Kanta-Häme, Finland
16 Finland Heta Seikkula (C) D L 22 2017 Kauhava, South Ostrobothnia, Finland
51 Finland Kiti Seikkula (A) F L 22 2017 Kauhava, South Ostrobothnia, Finland
38 Finland Alisa Skog F L 19 2020 Vihti, Uusimaa, Finland
22 Finland Jutta Stoltenberg (A) D L 32 2008 Hamburg, Germany
15 Czech Republic Anna Vaníčková D L 17 2023
10 Finland Vanessa Viitala F L 18 2022
23 Finland Ella Välikangas F R 26 2023 Kokkola, Central Ostrobothnia, Finland
6 Finland Daniela Wilkman D L 19 2020 Vantaa, Uusimaa, Finland

Coaching staff and team personnel

  • Head coach: Jari Risku
  • Assistant coach: Emmi Leinonen
  • Assistant coach: Lauri Valkeamäki
  • Goaltending coach: Maija Hassinen-Sullanmaa
  • Team manager: Maija Hassinen-Sullanmaa
  • Equipment managers: Kari Järvinen, Hanna Haakana & Marko Lamberg
  • Official: Inka Kuusinen

Team captaincy history

Head coaches
  • 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,[14] 2022–

Team honours

Finnish Championship

Source: [15]

IIHF European Women's Champions Cup

Notable alumnae

Years active with HPK listed alongside player names.

International players
  • Switzerland0 Nicole Andenmatten, 2021–22
  • United States Samantha Benoit, 2021–22
  • United States Kristina Brown, 2014–15
  • Slovakia Lenka Čurmová, 2020–21
  • Canada Megan Delay, 2021–22
  • Slovenia Pia Dukarič, 2019–20
  • Czech Republic Petra Herzigová, 2008–09 & 2013–2015
  • Slovakia Lucia Ištocyová, 2021–22
  • Czech Republic Adéla Jůzková, 2020–21
  • Slovakia Lívia Kúbeková, 2021–22
  • Japan Natsumi Kurokawa, 2019–20
  • France Margaux Mameri, September–November 2022
  • Czech Republic Alena Mills, September–November 2021
  • Canada Kassidy Sauvé, 2021–22
  • Japan Miho Shishiuchi, 2014–2016
  • Slovakia Sofia Vysokajová, 2021–22
  • United States Hannah Westbrook, 2012–13

See also

References
  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. 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, 2023-2024 Roster". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  12. "2023-2024 Naisten Liiga, harjoitusottelu – Kokoonpano HPK". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  13. "2023-2024, Naisten Liiga – Kookoonpano HPK". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  14. "HPK Naisten katsaus kauteen 2021–2022 – uudeksi päävalmentajaksi Jari Risku". Hämeenlinnan Pallokerho (in Finnish). 7 April 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  15. 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. Annamedia Oy. ISSN 0784-3321. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  16. 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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