HPK Kiekkonaiset are an

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice h ...

team in the Naisten Liiga (NSML), the premier women's ice hockey league in Finland. They are the representative women’s team of Hämeenlinnan Pallokerho (HPK), a multi-sport club in

Hämeenlinna Hämeenlinna (; sv, Tavastehus; krl, Hämienlinna; la, Tavastum or ''Croneburgum'') is a city and municipality of about inhabitants in the heart of the historical province of Tavastia and the modern province of Kanta-Häme in the south of F ...

Kanta-Häme Kanta-Häme (), sometimes referred to by the obsolete Tavastia Proper ( sv, Egentliga Tavastland) or as the Häme region, is a region ( / ) of Finland. It borders the regions of Southwest Finland, Pirkanmaa, Päijät-Häme, and Uusimaa. Hämeenli ...

, Finland. HPK were the first team to be awarded the

Aurora Borealis Cup The Aurora Borealis Cup ( fi, Aurora Borealis -malja) is the trophy awarded to the Finnish Champion in women's ice hockey, the victorious team of the Naisten Liiga playoffs. The Aurora Borealis Cup was created to honor the quality of play in Na ...

as the winners of the

Finnish Championship Finnish may refer to: * Something or someone from, or related to Finland * Culture of Finland * Finnish people or Finns, the primary ethnic group in Finland * Finnish language, the national language of the Finnish people * Finnish cuisine See also ...

in 2011.

History

A women's 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 (called Naisten Mestis after 2013). The team qualified for the Naisten SM-sarja ( promotion/relegation series) in the 2000–01 season but lost 11 of 14 qualification games and remained in the I-divisoona. The opportunity for promotion through the 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-saija. 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 Katja Hannele Riipi (born 26 October 1975) is a Finnish retired ice hockey player and former member of the Finnish national ice hockey team. She won an Olympic bronze medal representing Finland in the women's ice hockey tournament at the 1998 ...

, Nora Tallus, and Vilma Vaattovaara. The team won the bronze medal match against Oulun Kärpät with a game winning goal from Riipi. As Naisten SM-sarja Champions in 2011, HPK was the first team to be awarded the

Players and personnel

2022–23 roster

Coaching staff and team personnel * Head coach:

Jari Risku Jari Risku (born 11 February 1966) is a Finnish ice hockey coach, currently serving as head coach of HPK Kiekkonaiset in the Naisten Liiga. He had a brief career as a professional ice hockey defenceman with Jokerit during 1984 to 1987, appearing ...

* Assistant coach: Emmi Leinonen * Goaltending coach: Maija Hassinen-Sullanmaa * Team manager: Maija Hassinen-Sullanmaa * Equipment managers: Hanna Haakana & Kari Järvinen * Functionaries: Inka Kuusinen & Riikka Noronen

Team captaincy history

* Nora Tallus, 2008–2010 * Mira Huhta, 2010–2013 * Riikka Noronen, 2013–2017 * Jutta Stoltenberg, 2017–2019 * Riikka Noronen, 2019–2021 * Heta Seikkula, 2021–

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, 2022–

Team honours

Finnish Championship

''(1)'': 2011 * Runners-up ''(1)'': 2016 * Third Place ''(4)'': 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014 Source:

IIHF European Women's Champions Cup

* Bronze ''(1)'':

2012 File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gat ...

Notable alumnae

Years active with HPK listed alongside players' names * Maija Hassinen-Sullanmaa, 2008–2015 & 2017–18 *

Venla Hovi Venla Hovi (; born 28 October 1987) is a Finnish former ice hockey forward and the current head coach of the Metropolitan Riveters in the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF). She played with the Finnish national team and won bronze medals at the 20 ...

, 2010–2012 * Kati Kovalainen, 2009–10 * Sanna Lankosaari, 2009–2012 * Annina Rajahuhta, 2010–2012 * Meeri Räisänen, 2017–18 * Eveliina Similä, 2008–2012 *

Susanna Tapani Susanna "Suski" Tapani (born 2 March 1993) is a Finnish multi-sport elite athlete who competes in ice hockey, ringette, and in-line hockey. She is a member of the Finnish national ice hockey team and Finnish national ringette team. Tapani i ...

, 2014–2016 * Vilma Vaattovaara, 2008–2011 * Tea Villilä, 2010–11 & 2015–16

International players

* Nicole Andenmatten, 2021–22 * Samantha Benoit, 2021–22 * Kristina Brown, 2014–15 * Lenka Čurmová, 2020–21 * Megan Delay, 2021–22 * Pia Dukarič, 2019–20 * Petra Herzigová, 2008–09 & 2013–2015 * Lucia Ištocyová, 2021–22 * Adéla Jůzková, 2020–21 * Lívia Kúbeková, 2021–22 * Natsumi Kurokawa, 2019–20 * Alena Mills, 2021–22 *

Kassidy Sauvé Kassidy Sauvé (born May 19, 1996) is a Canadian ice hockey goaltender. Currently a free agent, she was named to the training camp roster of PWHL New York, but was released on November 30, 2023. She previously played in the Premier Hockey Fede ...

, 2021–22 * Miho Shishiuchi, 2014–2016 * Sofia Vysokajová, 2021–22 * Hannah Westbrook, 2012–13

References

External links

Official website
(in Finnish) * Team information and statistics fro
Eliteprospects.com
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Women's ice hockey in Finland Ice hockey teams in Finland Sport in Hämeenlinna Naisten Liiga (ice hockey) teams 1999 establishments in Finland {{DEFAULTSORT:HPK Kiekkonaiset