Helsinki Wolverines

Helsinki Wolverines is a Finnish American football club based in Helsinki and was founded in 1995. The clubs Top Men's Team plays in the Vaahteraliiga of the American Football Association of Finland which is the highest ranking level of American football in all of Finland. The league in Finland was established in 1980.

Helsinki Wolverines
Team logo
Established1995
Based inHelsinki, Finland
Home stadiumHelsinki Velodrome
Head coachFinland Pekka Lamminsalo
LeagueVaahteraliiga
League titles1 title (2011)
Websitehelsinkiwolverines.com
Current uniform
Helmet
Left arm Body Right arm
Trousers
Socks
Home kit
Helmet
Left arm Body Right arm
Trousers
Socks
Away kit

History

Helsinki Wolverines was founded on 10 October 1995. The team played its first official game in 1996 season of 2nd Division, a third tier american football league in Finland, against the Lahti Jets. The first Wolverines team was mainly made up of former Helsinki Whips players and the first head coach was Jimmy Lawson. In five seasons Wolverines rose from 2nd Division to Vaahteraliiga, the top american football league in Finland. The Wolverines have strong rivalry with other teams from Helsinki: the Roosters and the 69ers.[1] The Wolverines chose their colors, maize and blue, as an homage to the Michigan Wolverines of the University of Michigan.

Helsinki Wolverines took their only Vaahteraliiga (Maple League) title so far in 2011, when they beat Seinäjoki Crocodiles on Sonera Stadium in a close match by a score of 30–27. Stephen Stokes from Wolverines was chosen as the Most Valuable Player of the final.[2]

Club structure

Wolverines' Men's first team plays in Vaahteraliiga (Maple League), the premier league of american football in Finland. Men's second team, Wolverines II, plays in 2nd Division, a third tier league. Men's third team plays in 4th Division, a fifth tier league. Wolverines also have 5 boys' youth teams: U20, U17, U15, U13 and U11.

Women's first team was founded again in 2014 after years of inactivity. The team participates in Women's Finnish Championship Series (Maple League) and has recently won 4 consecutive titles in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. The club also has two cheerleading teams.[3]

Season by season
Helsinki Wolverines faced Turku Trojans in Vaahteraliiga 2011 season.
SeasonLeagueTierFinal position
19962nd DivisionIII4th*
19971st DivisionII7th
19981st DivisionII4th
19991st DivisionII2nd
20001st DivisionII1st*
2001VaahteraliigaI5th
2002VaahteraliigaI7th
2003VaahteraliigaI8th
2004VaahteraliigaI8th
2005VaahteraliigaI5th
2006VaahteraliigaI2nd
2007VaahteraliigaI4th
2008VaahteraliigaI4th
2009VaahteraliigaI6th
2010VaahteraliigaI3rd
2011VaahteraliigaI1st
2012VaahteraliigaI2nd
2013VaahteraliigaI2nd
2014VaahteraliigaI7th
20151st DivisionII4th
20161st DivisionII2nd
20171st DivisionII2nd
20181st DivisionII1st*
2019VaahteraliigaI3rd
2020VaahteraliigaI2nd
2021VaahteraliigaI5th
2022VaahteraliigaI3rd

* denotes promotion
Updated as of season 2020.[4][5]

See also

References
  1. "Historia". helsinkiwolverines.com (in Finnish). Helsinki Wolverines Ry. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  2. "Vaahteramaljat 2010-2014". salj.fi (in Finnish). American Football Association of Finland. Archived from the original on 11 October 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  3. "Naiset". helsinkiwolverines.com (in Finnish). Helsinki Wolverines. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  4. "Mestari". sajl.fi (in Finnish). American Football Association of Finland. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  5. "Sarjataulukot". sajl.org (in Finnish). American Football Association of Finland. Retrieved 25 November 2014.


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