JYP Naiset

JYP Naiset or JYP Jyväskylä Naiset is a Finnish ice hockey team in the Naisten Liiga. Their home is the Jyväskylän harjoitusjäähalli ('Jyväskylä training ice hall') in Jyväskylä, Central Finland. JYP Naiset have won the Finnish Championship three times, in 1997, 1998, and 2016.[1]

JYP Naiset
2020–21 Naisten Liiga season
CityJyväskylä, Central Finland, Finland
LeagueNaisten Liiga
Founded1989 as JyP HT
1996 (1996) as JyHC
Home arenaJyväskylän harjoitusjäähalli
ColoursRed, black, white
     
Owner(s)JYP Juniorit ry
Head coachJoni Aho
CaptainZaida Holmström
WebsiteOfficial website
Franchise history
First
1989–1997JyP HC Naiset
1997–2000JYP Naiset
Second
1996–2004Jyväskylän Hockey Cats
2004–2009Cats Jyväskylä
2009–2016JYP Naiset
Current
2016–JYP Naiset
Championships
Finnish Championship3 (1996–97, 1997–98, 2015–16)

The team is the successor of two teams: JyP Hockey Team (HT) Naiset, which existed from 1989 to 2000 and used the name JYP Naiset during the period 1997 to 2000, and Jyväskylän Hockey Cats (JyHC), which was founded in 1996 and was known as the Cats Jyväskylä during 2004 to 2009 and JYP Naiset from 2009 to present. They are the women's representative team of the ice hockey club JYP Juniorit ry and are indirectly affiliated with JYP Jyväskylä of the Liiga.

History

JyP HT/JYP

The first JYP Naiset franchise was founded in 1989 as JyP HT Naiset by the ice hockey club JYP Jyväskylä Oy. The team competed in the Naisten I-divisioona during 1989 to 1995 and in the Naisten SM-sarja (renamed Naisten Liiga in 2017) during 1995 to 2000.

JyP HT Naiset won the Finnish Championship in 1997 and, after changing their name to JYP Naiset for the 1997–98 season, claimed the championship title again in 1998. In both championship seasons, the team was lead by top point scorers Tiina Paananen, Riikka Sallinen, Rose Matilainen, and Kirsi Hänninen, and backstopped by the goaltending of Tuula Puputti. They followed the back-to-back championship victories with a silver medal finish in 1999 and in fourth place in 2000. After the conclusion of the 1999–2000 season, the team was merged with the Jyväskylän Hockey Cats (JyHC) and a number of its players continued to play with JyHC.

Other notable players from the JyP HC Naiset/JYP Naiset era include Pirjo Ahonen, Katja Lehto, Riikka Noronen, Sanna Peura, and Hanne Sikiö, among others.

Hockey Cats

Jyväskylän Hockey Cats (JyHC) was a women's ice hockey club, which was spun off from the JYP Jyväskylä in 1996 and run by the independent association Hockey Cats ry. The club operated several junior women's teams in addition to the representative women's team, which played in the Naisten II-divisioona and Naisten I-divisioona until it making its Naisten SM-sarja debut in the 1999–2000 Postseason qualification/relegation series (Finnish: Karsintasarja; also called the qualifiers). The 1999–2000 Naisten SM-sarja season was the only instance in which both the original JYP Naiset franchise and JyHC played in the same league, though they played in separate postseason divisions – JYP in the playoffs and JyHC in the qualifiers – and never faced one another. After the season concluded, JYP Naiset was merged with the Jyväskylän Hockey Cats and the unified team took JYP's place in the Naisten SM-sarja.

2000–2009

The team, which changed its name from JyHC to the Cats Jyväskylä in 2004, found middling success in the Naisten SM-sarja, never finishing above fourth place or below sixth in the league rankings during the period from 2000 to 2009. Former JYP Naiset player Rose Matilainen served as JyHC/Cats Jyväskylä head coach for the 2000–01 to 2006–07 seasons. Notable players from the 2000–2009 JyHC/Cats Jyväskylä era include forwards Emmi Leinonen, Niina Mäkinen, Riikka Noronen, Saila Saari, and Anne Tuomanen; defencemen Pirjo Ahonen and Vilma Tarvainen; and goaltenders Anna-Kaisa Lemberg, Tuula Puputti, and Meeri Räisänen. The JyHC/Cats Jyväskylä were also able to attract several international players, including American goaltender Lisa Davis, Canadian defenceman Sheila Kocay, and Swiss national team goaltender Riitta Arnold-Schäublin.

2009–2012

In 2009, the Cats Jyväskylä became affiliated with the JYP Jyväskylä club and changed their name to JYP Naiset, through the team remained under the management of Hockey Cats ry. The team struggled in the first season after the name change, facing potential relegation in the 2009–10 season before saving themselves in the qualifiers. In 2010, 22 year old Mika Väärälä stepped in to the head coaching position and the team measurably improved, qualifying for the playoffs in 2011 and 2012, though they lost in the quarterfinals in both years. Over the 2010 to 2012 period, JYP was able to retain star skaters, like Saila Saari and Suvi Vacker, while also attracting Finnish national ice team talent, including Jenni Hiirikoski and Meeri Räisänen (who returned to the team in this period).

2012–2016

JYP reached a period of historic success in the subsequent seasons, becoming one of the top two dominant teams in the Naisten SM-sarja. The era coincided with Hiirikoski being named team captain in 2012–13 and her impact on the culture of the team and the ability of the club to attract other Finnish national team players was arguably an essential element to the triumphs of team. Over the following several seasons, JYP welcomed a number of elite new players, including Sanni Hakala and Rosa Lindstedt in 2012, IIHF Hall of Fame inductee Riikka Nieminen Sallinen (previously Välilä) in 2013, and Tiina Ranne and Marjo Voutilainen in 2014; in addition to Katja Saari assuming the head coaching position in 2013. The team was bolstered by the influx of talent and, though Saari and Hiirikoski continued to be relied upon as the top point earners, the impact of the new players can be seen in the consistent climbing of their point totals from 39 and 37 points respectively in the 28 games of the 2012–13 season to both players notching 61 points in the 28 games of the 2014–15 season.

JYP qualified for the Aurora Borealis Cup playoff final in every season of Hiirikoski's captaincy but were defeated three consecutive times by the powerhouse Espoo Blues in 2013, 2014, and 2015. For the 2015–16 season, the club signed even more elite players and iced one of the most skilled rosters in league history, which included Ranne and Räisänen in goal; Hiirikoski, Lindstedt, Emma Ritari, and Ella Viitasuo at the blue line; and Hakala, Sari Kärnä, Tanja Niskanen, Saari, Sallinen, and Voutilainen leading the forward ranks alongside longtime depth players. In the regular season, Hiirikoski scored 17 goals and notched 62 assists in 28 games played, setting the all-time league records for assists in a season and points earned by a defenceman.[2] The efforts of previous seasons were finally rewarded and they claimed the Finnish Championship title, sweeping HPK Kiekkonaiset in the 2016 Aurora Borealis Cup finals.[3]

Despite having its most successful season in eighteen years, JYP Naiset was financially relegated from the Naisten SM-sarja in the summer of 2016, after its operating association, Hockey Cats ry, declared bankruptcy.

JYP

The women's representative team of Hockey Cats ry ceased in 2016, but the club’s secondary team, called JYP-Team, and its junior teams were absorbed by JYP Juniorit ry, the junior affiliate of JYP Jyväskylä Oy. JYP-Team had previously competed in the Naisten Mestis, where it continued to compete after the merger under the name JYP Naiset. Only five JYP Naiset players from the 2015–16 Naisten Liiga team appeared with the 2016–17 Naisten Mestis team as most 2015–16 players chose to transfer to other Naisten Liiga teams or sign with teams in the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL).

JYP Naiset team found consistent success in the Mestis, ranking first in the league twice over the next four seasons and never finishing lower than third. The team gained promotion to the lower division of the Naisten Liiga in the 2020–21 season.

Season-by-season results

This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by JYP Naiset.
Note: Finish = Rank at end of regular season; GP = Games played, W = Wins (3 points), OTW = Overtime wins (2 points), T = Ties, 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 T OTL L GF GA Pts Top scorer
2015–16 Naisten SM-liiga 1st 28271 –001682683 J. Hiirikoski 79 (17+62) Won Championship, 3–0 (HPK)
2016–17 Naisten Mestis 2nd 26 18 – 2 – 6 117 48 38 E. Reittu 42 (19+23) –
2017–18 Naisten Mestis 3rd 30 26 2 – 0 2 199 33 80 T. Paananen 64 (34+30) –
2018–19 Naisten Mestis 1st 38 23 13 – 0 2 166 86 71 Z. Holmström 50 (23+27) –
2019–20 Naisten Mestis 1st 25202 –301522766 Z. Holmström 54 (27+27) –

Players and personnel

2020–21 roster
As of 27 January 2021
# Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
38 Nella Aarniovuori D L 16 2020
86 Riina Hirvonen G L 18 2018
12 Zaida Holmström (C) F L 24 2017 Oulu, North Ostrobothnia, Finland
9 Henrika Huuskonen (A) F L 26 2012 Jyväskylä, Central Finland, Finland
26 Emilia Järvinen F – 17 2020
5 Veera Kainulainen D – 15 2020
7 Laura Kalliomäki F R 18 2020
23 Riina Kalliomäki D L 22 2016
70 Juuli Kivimäki G R 19 2020 Seinäjoki, South Ostrobothnia, Finland
16 Anniina Kylmäaho F L 21 2019
11 Roosa Lahti D L 21 2017
44 Hanna Laurila D L 18 2020 Jämsä, Central Finland, Finland
17 Emma Leppälä D L 22 2020
6 Roosa-Maria Liimatainen F R 22 2020
72 Melina Niemi F L 20 2016
24 Sanni Nikkilä (A) F R 24 2018 Hämeenlinna, Kanta-Häme, Finland
32 Venla Nurmi D L 22 2019 Alavus, South Ostrobothnia, Finland
48 Veera Pohjala D L 19 2018
66 Wilma-Binella Pölkki F R 19 2020
3 Viola Rauhamaa F L 21 2020
59 Kati Rein D L 23 2019
15 Essi Reittu F L 33 2002 Jyväskylän mlk, Central Finland, Finland
25 Tuuli Repo D L 25 2019 Kuopio, North Savo, Finland
14 Milla Schutskoff F L 19 2016 Jyväskylä, Central Finland, Finland
27 Milla Soinilla D L 20 2017 Muurame, Central Finland, Finland
54 Noora Tonteri G L 23 2016 Jyväskylä, Central Finland, Finland
55 Iida Uusitalo F L 20 2020 Kuhmalahti, Pirkanmaa, Finland
19 Anna Vanhala F L 26 2010 Jyväskylä, Central Finland, Finland
10 Roosa Yliniva D L 18 2018

Coaching staff and team personnel

  • Head coach: Joni Aho
  • Assistant coach: Patrick Kåla
  • Goaltending coach: Riku-Petteri Luoma
  • Team manager: Elina Helle
  • Equipment managers: Antti-Heikki Halmesmäki & Sami Kalliomäki

Team captaincy history
  • Riikka Sallinen, 2000–01
  • Mirka Peltonen, 2005–06
  • Vilma Tarvainen, 2007–08
  • Maarit Lahtinen, 2008–2010
  • Vilma Tarvainen, 2010–11
  • Piia Perälä, 2011–12
  • Jenni Hiirikoski, 2012–2016
  • Kati Rein, 2016–17
  • Tiina Paananen, 2017–18
  • Zaida Holmström, 2018–present

Head coaches
  • Seppo Lahtinen, –2000
  • Rose Matilainen, 2000–2007
  • Mika Väärälä, 2010–2013
  • Katja Saari, 2014–2016
  • Mikko Viitanen, 2016–17
  • Perttu Silvennoinen, 2017–18
  • Mikko Viitanen, 2018–19
  • Patrick Kåla, 2019–20
  • Joni Aho, 2020–present

Retired numbers

Team honours

Finnish Championship
  • Champions (3): 1996–97, 1997–98, 2015–16
  • Runners-up (4): 1998–99, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15

Individual honours
  • Riikka Nieminen Award (Player of the Year)
    • 2013 – Jenni Hiirikoski
    • 2014 – Jenni Hiirikoski
    • 2015 – Jenni Hiirikoski
    • 2016 – Jenni Hiirikoski
  • Tuula Puputti Award (Goaltender of the Year)
    • 2013 – Meeri Räisänen
    • 2014 – Meeri Räisänen
  • Päivi Halonen Award (Defenceman of the Year)
    • 2013 – Jenni Hiirikoski
    • 2014 – Jenni Hiirikoski
    • 2015 – Jenni Hiirikoski
    • 2016 – Jenni Hiirikoski
  • Katja Riipi Award (Forward of the Year)
    • 2016 – Tanja Niskanen
  • Marianne Ihalainen Award (Most points)
    • 1997 – Riikka Nieminen Sallinen
    • 2016 – Jenni Hiirikoski
  • Sari Fisk Award (Best plus/minus)
    • 2015 – Saila Saari
  • Emma Laaksonen Award (Fair-play player)
    • 2013 – Saila Saari
    • 2014 – Tiina Paananen
    • 2016 – Sanni Hakala
  • Karoliina Rantamäki Award (Playoff MVP)
    • 2016 – Riikka Nieminen Sallinen
  • Hannu Saintula Award (Coach of the Year)
    • 2015 – Katja Saari
    • 2016 – Katja Saari

Notable alumni

Years active with JYP Naiset listed alongside player name.

International players
  • Riitta Arnold-Schäublin, 2007–08
  • Lisa Davis, 2008–2010
  • Sheila Gagnon Kocay, 2008–2010
  • Lea Schmid, 2011–12
  • Emily Usset, 2017–18

References

Content in this article is translated from the existing Finnish Wikipedia articles at :fi:Jyväskylän Hockey Cats and :fi:JYP, and the existing German Wikipedia article at :de:JYP Naiset.

  1. Kulmala, Ilkka (9 March 2016). "JYP Naiset on Suomen mestari!". Keskisuomalainen (in Finnish). Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  2. Murphy, Mike (14 October 2018). "Jenni Hiirikoski is the Best Defender in the World". The Ice Garden. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  3. "Championnat de Finlande de hockey sur glace féminin 2015/16". hockeyarchives.info. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  4. Sirkkiä-Jarva, Sari (5 January 2020). "Numerolla 13 pelannut Riikka Sallinen halusi urallaan murtaa huonon onnen myyttiä – jo yhden kauden mieletön tilasto kertoo, kuinka vakuuttavalla tavalla hän onnistui". Yle (in Finnish). Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  5. Foster, Meredith (7 November 2019). "To The Rafters: JYP to retire Riikka Sallinen's number". The Ice Garden. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
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