Kalevan Pallo Naiset (), abbreviated as KalPa Naiset, are an
ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. Tw ...
team in the
Auroraliiga
The is the national premier league for women's ice hockey in Finland. Founded by the Finnish Ice Hockey Association as the Naisten Suomen mestaruus, SM-sarja (NSMs; ) in 1982, it was known as the Naisten Liiga (NSML;) from 2017 until being rebr ...
. Founded in 1990, the team plays in
Kuopio
Kuopio ( , ) is a city in Finland and the regional capital of North Savo. It is located in the Finnish Lakeland. The population of Kuopio is approximately , while the Kuopio sub-region, sub-region has a population of approximately . It is the mos ...
, the largest city in Finland's eastern-central province of
North Savo
North Savo (or Northern Savonia; ; ) is a Regions of Finland, region in eastern Finland. It borders the regions of South Savo, Central Finland, North Ostrobothnia, Kainuu, and North Karelia. Kuopio is the largest city in the region and Kallavesi, ...
, at the
Kuopion jäähalli (unofficially known as or ); serves as a secondary venue. The team won the
Finnish Championship (SM) silver medal in
2021
Like the year 2020, 2021 was also heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the emergence of multiple Variants of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 variants. The major global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, which began at the end of 2020, continued ...
, and have won five SM bronze medals, in 1995, 1996, 2017,
2023
Catastrophic natural disasters in 2023 included the Lists of 21st-century earthquakes, 5th-deadliest earthquake of the 21st century 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, striking Turkey and Syria, leaving up to 62,000 people dead; Cyclone Freddy ...
, and
2024
The year saw the list of ongoing armed conflicts, continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Myanmar civil war (2021–present), Myanmar civil war, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudane ...
.
History
In 2020, the team qualified for the Aurora Borealis Cup playoff final and were set to face the reigning champions,
Kiekko-Espoo
Kiekko-Espoo is a Finnish professional ice hockey club founded in 2018 as a continuation of the Kiekko-Espoo team originally founded in 1984. Kiekko-Espoo men's team plays in the Liiga, where they were promoted for the 2024–25 Liiga season, 20 ...
, when the playoffs were canceled due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
before the first game of the finals. By making it to the playoff finals, KalPa was guaranteed at least a silver medal, which would have been the highest finish in team history to that point, but with the cancellation of the season no
Finnish Championship (SM) medals were awarded.
Season-by-season results
This is a partial list of the most recent seasons completed by KalPa Naiset.
Note: Finish = Rank at end of regular season; GP = Games played
Games played (GP) is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated (in any capacity); the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.
Associat ...
, W = Wins (3 points), OTW = Overtime wins (2 points), OTL = Overtime losses (1 point), L = Losses, GF = Goals for
The following are statistics commonly tracked in ice hockey.
Team statistics
* STK – winning or losing streak
* GD – ''Goal Difference'' (used as standings tie breaker)
* GP – ''Games played'' – Number of games the team has played
* W ...
, GA = Goals against, Pts = Points
A point is a small dot or the sharp tip of something. Point or points may refer to:
Mathematics
* Point (geometry), an entity that has a location in space or on a plane, but has no extent; more generally, an element of some abstract topologica ...
, Top scorer: Points
A point is a small dot or the sharp tip of something. Point or points may refer to:
Mathematics
* Point (geometry), an entity that has a location in space or on a plane, but has no extent; more generally, an element of some abstract topologica ...
( Goals+ Assists)
Players and personnel
2024–25 roster
;Coaching staff and team personnel
* Head coach: Artturi Rouhiainen
* Assistant coach: Jere Hakkarainen
* Assistant coach: Sami Tapaninen
* Conditioning coach: Tarja Koski
* Conditioning coach: Jaakko Uhlbäck
* Team managers: Taina Lappi & Maarit Paroinen
* Equipment managers: Lasse Herranen & Jari Hämäläinen
* Physical therapist: Tarja Koski
Team captains
* Johanna Juutilainen, 2010–11
*
Isa Rahunen, 2011–12
*
Marjo Voutilainen, 2012–13
*
Venla Hovi &
Anni Kettunen, 2013–14
* Johanna Juutilainen, 2015–2018
*
Tanja Niskanen, 2018–19
*
Tiina Ranne & Emma Ritari, 2019–20
* Emma Ritari, 2020–21
* Johanna Juutilainen, 2021–2024
* Elli Mäkelä, 2024–
Head coaches
* Mikko Miettinen, –2000
* Seppo Tirronen, 2000–
*
Marjo Voutilainen, 2016–2022
* Mika Väärälä, 2022–2024
* Artturi Rouhiainen, 2024
–
Awards and honours
Finnish Championship
*
Aurora Borealis Cup Runners-up ''(1)'':
2021
Like the year 2020, 2021 was also heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the emergence of multiple Variants of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 variants. The major global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, which began at the end of 2020, continued ...
* Third Place ''(4)'' : 1995, 1996, 2017,
2023
Catastrophic natural disasters in 2023 included the Lists of 21st-century earthquakes, 5th-deadliest earthquake of the 21st century 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, striking Turkey and Syria, leaving up to 62,000 people dead; Cyclone Freddy ...
.
2024
The year saw the list of ongoing armed conflicts, continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Myanmar civil war (2021–present), Myanmar civil war, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudane ...
Sources:
Individual awards
*
Riikka Nieminen Award (Player of the Year)
:* 2023–24: Elisa Holopainen
:* 2022–23: Elisa Holopainen
:* 2020–21: Elisa Holopainen
:* 2019–20: Tanja Niskanen
:* 2018–19: Elisa Holopainen
*
Katja Riipi Award (Best forward)
:* 2023–24: Elisa Holopainen
:* 2022–23: Elisa Holopainen
:* 2021–22: Elisa Holopainen
:* 2020–21: Elisa Holopainen
:* 2019–20: Elisa Holopainen
:* 2018–19: Elisa Holopainen
*
Marianne Ihalainen Award
The Marianne Ihalainen Award () an ice hockey trophy seasonally awarded by the Finnish Ice Hockey Association to the regular season top point scorer of the Auroraliiga, known as the Naisten Liiga during 2017 to 2024, and as the Naisten SM-sarja ...
(Top point scorer)
:* 2018–19: Elisa Holopainen
*
Tiia Reima Award (Top goal scorer)
:* 2022–23: Elisa Holopainen
:* 2021–22: Matilda Nilsson
:* 2020–21: Matilda Nilsson
:* 2019–20: Elisa Holopainen
:* 2018–19: Elisa Holopainen
*
Sari Fisk Award (Best plus–minus)
:* 2019–20: Matilda Nilsson
*
Emma Laaksonen Award (Fair-play player)
:* 2023–24: Johanna Juutilainen
:* 2022–23: Jenna Hietala
:* 2020–21: Johanna Juutilainen
:* 2016–17: Tanja Niskanen
*
Hannu Saintula Award (Coach of the Year)
:* 2019–20: Marjo Voutilainen
Player of the Month
* November 2023: Elisa Holopainen
* November 2022: Elisa Holopainen
* September 2020: Elisa Holopainen
* September 2019: Matilda Nilsson
All-Stars
;First Team
* 2023–24: Elisa Holopainen (LW), Sanni Rantala (D)
* 2022–23: Elisa Holopainen (LW), Sanni Rantala (D)
* 2020–21: Elisa Holopainen (LW), Matilda Nilsson (RW)
* 2019–20: Elisa Holopainen (LW), Matilda Nilsson (RW), Tanja Niskanen (C)
* 2018–19: Elisa Holopainen (LW), Tanja Niskanen (C)
* 2014–15: Matilda Nilsson (F)
;Second Team
* 2022–23: Jenna Kaila (LW), Adalmiina Makkonen (D), Tiina Ranne (G)
* 2020–21: Tiina Ranne (G)
* 2019–20: Tiina Ranne (G)
* 2018–19: Matilda Nilsson (RW)
* 2017–18: Elisa Holopainen (LW), Matilda Nilsson (RW)
Team records
Various individual KalPa Naiset player records achieved through the end of the
2022–23 season.
Regular season
;Single-season records
* Most
points
A point is a small dot or the sharp tip of something. Point or points may refer to:
Mathematics
* Point (geometry), an entity that has a location in space or on a plane, but has no extent; more generally, an element of some abstract topologica ...
:
Tanja Niskanen, 79 points (29 games; 2018–19)
* Most points in a season,
defenseman
Defence or defense (in American English) in ice hockey is a player position that is primarily responsible for preventing the opposing team from Goal (ice hockey), scoring. They are often referred to as defencemen, D, D-men or blueliners (the l ...
:
Sanni Rantala, 39 points (30 games; 2022–23)
* Most
goals:
Elisa Holopainen, 41 goals (28 games; 2022–23)
* Most
assists: Tanja Niskanen, 48 assists (29 games; 2018–19)
* Best
points per game
Points per game, often abbreviated PPG, is the average number of points scored by a player or team per game played in a sport, over the course of a series of games, a whole season, or a career. It is calculated by dividing the total number of poi ...
, over ten games played:
:* Elisa Holopainen, 3.00 P/G (19 games; 2023–24)
:*
Marjo Voutilainen, 3.00 P/G (14 games; 1997–98)
* Most
penalty minutes:
Kirsi Hänninen, 66 PIM (23 games; 1995–96)
* Best
save percentage
Save percentage (often known by such symbols as SV%, SVS%, SVP, PCT) is a statistic in various Goal (sports), goal-scoring sports that track Save (goaltender), saves as a statistic.
In ice hockey and lacrosse and association football, it is a sta ...
(Sv%), over five games played:
Tiina Ranne, .942 Sv% (18 games; 2019–20)
* Best
goals against average
Goals against average (GAA), also known as average goals against (AGA), is a statistic used in field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, and water polo that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender or goalkeeper (depending on spo ...
(GAA), over five games played:
Jenna Juutilainen, 1.49 GAA (10 games; 2022–23)
* Most
shutouts
In team sports, a shutout ( US) or clean sheet ( UK) is a game in which the losing team fails to score. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball. Shutouts are usually seen as a result of ...
in a season: Tiina Ranne, 3 shutouts (''accomplished in three different seasons'')
:* 20 games; 2022–23
:* 18 games; 2018–19
:* 14 games; 2020–21
;Career records
* Most points: Tanja Niskanen, 488 points (301 games; 2006–2022)
* Most points, defenseman:
Tanja Koljonen, 103 points (137 games; 2016–2023)
* Most goals: Tanja Niskanen, 257 goals (301 games; 2006–2022)
* Most assists: Johanna Juutilainen, 260 assists (348 games; 2009–2024)
* Best points per game, over 30 games played: Elisa Holopainen, 2.15 points per game (176 games; 2016–2024)
* Most penalty minutes:
Salla Rantanen, 322 PIM (272 games; 2012–2023)
* Most games played, skater: Johanna Juutilainen, 348 games (2009–2024)
* Most games played, goaltender: Tiina Ranne, 130 games (2017–2024)
* Best save percentage, over twenty games played: Tiina Ranne, .921 Sv% (130 games; 2017–2024)
* Best career goals against average, over twenty games played: Tiina Ranne, 2.41 GAA (130 games; 2017–2024)
* Most
shutouts
In team sports, a shutout ( US) or clean sheet ( UK) is a game in which the losing team fails to score. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball. Shutouts are usually seen as a result of ...
: Tiina Ranne, 17 shutouts (130 games; 2017–2024)
All-time scoring leaders
The top regular season point scorers in KalPa Naiset history, .
Position
Position often refers to:
* Position (geometry), the spatial location (rather than orientation) of an entity
* Position, a job or occupation
Position may also refer to:
Games and recreation
* Position (poker), location relative to the dealer
* ...
; GP = Games played
Games played (GP) is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated (in any capacity); the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.
Associat ...
; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points
A point is a small dot or the sharp tip of something. Point or points may refer to:
Mathematics
* Point (geometry), an entity that has a location in space or on a plane, but has no extent; more generally, an element of some abstract topologica ...
; P/G = Points per game
Points per game, often abbreviated PPG, is the average number of points scored by a player or team per game played in a sport, over the course of a series of games, a whole season, or a career. It is calculated by dividing the total number of poi ...
; = 2024–25 KalPa player
Notable alumni
*
Elisa Holopainen, 2016–2021 & 2022–2024
*
Venla Hovi, 2012–2014
*
Kirsi Hänninen, 1995–96
*
Kati Kovalainen, 1993–1996
*
Rose Matilainen, 1993–1996
*
Terhi Mertanen, 1999–2001
*
Matilda Nilsson, 2014–2021
*
Tanja Niskanen, 2006–2008, 2009–2015 & 2016–2022
*
Oona Parviainen, 1993–1999
*
Tuula Puputti, 1992–1995
*
Isa Rahunen, 2006–2013
*
Sanni Rantala, 2022–2024
*
Saila Saari, 2020–21
*
Riikka Sallinen
Hanna-Riikka Sallinen ( Nieminen, previously Välilä; born 12 June 1973) is a Finnish retired ice hockey, bandy, rinkball, and pesäpallo player. She is one of the most highly decorated players to have ever competed in international ice hockey. ...
, 1995–96
*
Eve Savander, 2013–14
*
Marjo Voutilainen, 1995–2001 & 2010–2014
International player(s)
* Nozomi Kiribuchi, 2015–16
*
Sarah Knee, 2022–23
References
External links
* Team information and statistics fro
EliteProspects.coman
an
(in French)
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:KalPa Naiset
KalPa
Naisten Liiga (ice hockey) teams
Sport in Kuopio
1990 establishments in Finland