Kiekko-Espoo

Kiekko-Espoo Naiset (previously Espoo Blues Naiset) is the representative women's ice hockey team of the hockey club Kiekko-Espoo based in Espoo, Finland. They compete in the Naisten Liiga, the premier women's ice hockey league in Finland, where they are the winningest team in league history.[1] The team has been known as Espoon Kiekkoseura (EKS), Espoo Blues Naiset, Espoo United Naiset, and Kiekko-Espoo during its tenure in the Naisten Liiga; at least one Finnish Championship medal (gold, silver, or bronze) was won under each name.

This article is about the women's ice hockey team, previously called Espoo Blues and Espoo United. For the former men's ice hockey teams, see Espoo Blues and Espoo United (ice hockey).

Kiekko-Espoo Naiset
2020–21 Naisten Liiga season
CityEspoo, Uusimaa, Finland
LeagueNaisten Liiga
Founded1989 (1989)
Home arenaTapiolan urheilupuisto
ColoursNavy, gold, blue
     
General managerEmma Terho
Head coachSami Haapanen
CaptainAnnina Rajahuhta
AffiliatesKiekko-Espoo Akatemia
Espoon Kiekkoseura (EKS)
Websitewww.kiekko-espoonaiset.fi
Franchise history
1989–1992Espoon Kiekkoseura (EKS)
1992–1998Kiekko-Espoo Naiset
1998–2016Espoo Blues Naiset
2016–17Espoo United Naiset
2017–2019Espoo Blues
2019–Kiekko-Espoo Naiset
Championships
Playoff championships14 (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019)

History

EKS, 1990–1992

The team entered Naisten SM-sarja (now Naisten Liiga) in the 1990–91 season under the name EKS (Espoon Kiekkoseura). The two seasons played as EKS were an impressive showing for the newcomers and each resulted in a bronze medal, one in the 1990–91 season after defeating Ässät and one in the 1991–92 season after defeating KalPa.

Several EKS players also played for the bronze medal winning Finnish women's national team at the 1992 IIHF World Championship including Liisa Karikoski, Katri-Helena Luomajoki, and Hanna Teerijoki.[2]

Kiekko-Espoo, 1992–1998

In 1992 EKS was renamed Kiekko-Espoo, the same name as its brother-team in the Liiga. The team continued to be held to bronze or lower finishes, making it to five bronze medal series in six years and winning four of them (1993, 1994, 1997, 1998).

The Golden Age: Espoo Blues, 1998–2016

The team was renamed Espoo Blues in 1998, continuing the trend of sharing the name of its brother-team in the Liiga, which also renamed Espoo Blues in that year. The name change unwittingly marked the beginning of a "golden age" for the team. Starting with their first SM-sarja gold medal in 1999, after achieving victory over JYP in the finals, they went on to win a staggering seven consecutive championships (1999–2005) and a total of thirteen championships in eighteen years. The Blues were kept off the SM-sarja medal podium only three times in the 1998–2016 span; in addition to their championship titles, they earned the team's first silver medal in 2009 and two more bronze medals in 2006 and 2016.

The Espoo Blues were also strong competitors at international tournaments in this period, earning medals at six IIHF European Women's Champions Cups: three silver medals (2005, 2007-08, 2009-10) and three bronze medals (2008-09, 2013–14, 2014–15).[3]

Espoo United, 2016–17

In March 2016 Jääkiekko Espoo Oy, the parent club of both the Espoo Blues of the Naisten Liiga and Espoo Blues of the Liiga, declared bankruptcy with estimated liabilities of approximately €3 million.[4] In response, Jussi Salonoja, a Finnish millionaire and film director who had previously owned the Espoo Blues franchise from 2002–2012, created a new club and organization called Espoo United Oy,[5] stating that he was "committed to supporting hockey in Espoo."[6] The Espoo Blues men's and women's basketball and ice hockey teams would play for Espoo United.

For the 2016–17 season the Espoo United women's ice hockey team played in the Naisten SM-sarja and won silver in the 2017 Finnish Championship. The Espoo United men's team played in the Mestis, the league below the premier-level Liiga, where they won bronze in the playoffs.

On 15 August 2017 Salonoja announced that the Espoo United was abandoning its women's ice hockey and basketball teams for financial reasons.[7] “The reason is twofold: the men's teams' budgets are far greater than those of women's teams, so their running is more demanding, but on the other hand, [the men's teams] are more interesting to sponsors and audiences,” Salonoja said.[8][9]

The future of women's ice hockey team was left uncertain and many possible solutions were proposed, including being acquired by HIFK[10] or merging with Espoo Blues Juniorit (a junior club with strong ties to the franchise).[8]

Espoo Blues part 2, 2017–2019

In September 2017 the Finnish Ice Hockey Association announced that it had supported the creation of an independent association, Ysikoppi ry, to oversee the team and had given its approval for the team to compete in the upcoming 2017–18 season under the name Espoo Blues.[11][12]

Players and personnel

2020–21 roster
As of 30 November 2020[13][14][15]
# Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
12 Janina Aro D L 21 2018 Espoo, Uusimaa, Finland
35 Minja Drufva G L 19 2018 Lohja, Uusimaa, Finland
13 Ada Eronen D L 16 2018 Espoo, Uusimaa, Finland
19 Tinja Haukijärvi F L 23 2017 Järvenpää, Uusimaa, Finland
32 Erica Jaskari G L 19 2017 Lapua, South Ostrobothnia, Finland
27 Riikka Järvinen D L 20 2018 Kotka, Kymenlaakso, Finland
17 Nea Katajamäki F R 23 2013 Espoo, Uusimaa, Finland
9 Nelli Laitinen D L 18 2017 Lohja, Uusimaa, Finland
88 Siru Lehtopelto D L 24 2014 Lohja, Uusimaa, Finland
16 Emmi Leinonen F L 31 2019 Valkeakoski, Pirkanmaa, Finland
26 Anni Montonen F L 20 2017 Espoo, Uusimaa, Finland
61 Emma Nuutinen F L 24 2020 Vantaa, Uusimaa, Finland
21 Sofia Nuutinen F L 18 2018 Vantaa, Uusimaa, Finland
33 Heta Paasilinna D 15 2020 Espoo, Uusimaa, Finland
31 Tiia Pajarinen G L 22 2019 Polvijärvi, North Karelia, Finland
11 Annina Rajahuhta (C) F L 31 2012 Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
91 Emmi Rakkolainen F L 24 2017 Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
22 Julia Schalin F L 16 2020 Espoo, Uusimaa, Finland
23 Elsa Talvitie F 16 2020 Espoo, Uusimaa, Finland
20 Reetta Valkjärvi (A) F L 24 2015 Hollola, Päijät-Häme, Finland
18 Emilia Vesa F R 20 2020 Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
3 Ella Viitasuo (A) D L 24 2016 Lahti, Päijät-Häme, Finland
8 Tea Villilä (A) D L 29 2016 Hyvinkää, Uusimaa, Finland
68 Roosa Vuosalmi (L) F L 14 2020 Vantaa, Uusimaa, Finland
30 Alexandra Väyrynen G L 22 2020 Sandton, Gauteng, South Africa
34 Julia Zielińska D L 16 2020 Sanok, Podkarpackie Voivodeship, Poland

2020–21 coaching staff
  • Head Coach: Sami Haapanen
  • Assistant Coach: Timo Löppönen
  • Goaltending Coach: Risto Jaakkola
  • Conditioning Coach: Viola Kaukonen
  • Team Manager: Jarkko Malm
  • Equipment Manager: Marko Ahlroth & Harri Lehtonen

Team captaincy history

Head coaches
  • Jari Kalho, 2000–01
  • Hannu Saintula, 2001–02
  • Jari Peltonen, 2002–2006
  • Sami Haapanen, 2008–2011
  • Kai Jansson, 2012–13
  • Sami Haapanen, 2013–present

Team honours

Finnish Championship
  • Finnish Champions (14): 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019
  • Runners-up (2): 2010, 2017
  • Third Place (8): 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2006, 2016

Note:

  1. The Aurora Borealis Cup was first awarded in the 2010–11 season. It serves as the Finnish Championship trophy in women's club ice hockey and is awarded annually to the winner of the Naisten Liiga playoffs, in the same fashion as the Kanada-malja in the Liiga and the Stanley Cup to the NHL. Prior to the 2010–11 season, the winners of the Naisten Liiga playoffs were awarded Finnish Championship medals only. Since 2010–11, Naisten Liiga playoff winners have revived both medals and the Aurora Borealis Cup.

IIHF European Women's Champions Cup

Season-by-season results

This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the franchise. The team was called the “Espoo Blues” during the 2015–16, 2017–18, and 2018–19 seasons; “Espoo United” in the 2016–17 season, and “Kiekko-Espoo” in the 2019–20 season.

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 (0 points); GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points

Season League Regular season Post season results Top scorer (regular season)
Finish GP W OTW OTL L GF GA Pts
2015–16 SM-sarja 2nd 28193 1 51626764 Won bronze medal, 1-0 (Kärpät) L. Välimäki 70 (31+39)
2016–17 SM-sarja 2nd 28173171096858 Lost final, 2–3 (Kärpät) L. Välimäki 60 (29+31)
2017–18 Liiga 3rd 30162481257456 4th: Lost bronze medal, 0-1 (Team Kuortane) E. Rakkolainen 27 (16+11)
2018–19 Liiga 1st 30231061645871 Won Championship, 3-0 (Ilves) A. Rajahuhta 66 (36+30)
2019–20 Liiga 1st 30203251456068 Won semi-final, 3–0 (Team Kuortane);
Finals cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic		 E. Rakkolainen 42 (13+29)

Source(s): Finnish Ice Hockey Association[16][17][18][19][20]

Franchise records and leaders

Single-season records

Career records
  • Most career goals: Karoliina Rantamäki, 355 goals (338 games; 1992–2007)
  • Most career assists: Petra Vaarakallio, 351 assists (286 games; 1992–1994, 1995–2006)
  • Most career points: Karoliina Rantamäki, 639 points (338 games; 1992–2007)
  • Best career points per game, over 30 games played: Michelle Karvinen, 3.667 points per game (39 games; 2007–2009)
  • Most career points, defenceman: Minttu Tuominen, 313 points (208 games; 2006–2009, 2013–2016, 2017–2020)
  • Most career penalty minutes: Tea Villilä, 317 penalty minutes (142 games; 2008–2010, 2016–present)

All-time scoring leaders

The top-ten point-scorers in franchise history.

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game;   = current Kiekko-Espoo player; Bold indicates franchise record

Points
PlayerPosGPGAPtsP/G
Karoliina RantamäkiF3383552846391.891
Petra VaarakallioF2862803516312.206
Annina RajahuhtaW2061762193951.917
Linda VälimäkiC1511741863602.384
Minttu TuominenD2081082053131.505
Oona ParviainenF2231191432621.175
Piia LallukkaF1951011382391.226
Emma TerhoD262541732270.866
Christine PosaW2411101042140.888
Essi SieversD250711171880.752

Source(s): Elite Prospects[21]

Notable alumni

Years active with Kiekko-Espoo listed alongside players' names.

References
  1. Foster, Meredith (26 March 2019). "The Espoo Blues are the 2019 Aurora Borealis Cup Champions". The Ice Garden. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  2. "Historia". Kiekko-Espoo Naiset (in Finnish). Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  3. "Espoo Blues Women - In English". Blues Naiset. 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  4. Hiitelä, Juha (12 April 2016). "Konkurssipesä myöntää: Bluesin tilanteeseen ei ratkaisua" [Bankrupt organization concedes: Blues situation has no solution] (in Finnish). Ilta-Sanomat. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  5. Lempinen, Marko (28 April 2016). "Nyt se on varmaa: Jussi Salonoja perusti uuden seuran – "Lähetän hakupaperit tänään"" [Now it is certain: Jussi Salonoja founded a new club - "I'm submitting league admittance papers today"] (in Finnish). Ilta-Sanomat. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  6. "Espoo Unitedin konkurssista tuli virallista" [Espoo United's bankruptcy becomes official] (in Finnish). Ilta-Sanomat. 4 May 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  7. "Espoo United Cuts Women's Basketball & Ice Hockey Teams". News Now Finland. 15 August 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  8. Oivio, Janne; Lempinen, Marko (15 August 2017). "Jussi Salonojalta raju ratkaisu: Espoo United hylkää naisjoukkueet" [Jussi Salonoja makes a drastic decision: Espoo United reject women's teams] (in Finnish). Ilta-Sanomat. Retrieved 16 August 2019. Syy kaksijakoinen: miesten joukkueiden budjetit ovat selvästi suuremmat kuin naisten joukkueissa, eli niiden toiminnan pyörittäminen on vaativampaa, mutta toisaalta juuri ne kiinnostavat sponsoreita ja yleisöä enemmän, Salonoja sanoo.
  9. Foster, Meredith (17 August 2017). "Espoo United women's team folds one month before puck drop". The Ice Garden. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  10. Tammilehto, Teemu; Leinonen, Simu (15 August 2017). "HIFK on kiinnostunut Salonojan hylkäämästä Espoo Unitedin naisjoukkueesta" [HIFK is interested in the Espoo United women's team that Salonoja has abandoned] (in Finnish). yle. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  11. "Espoo Unitedin sarjapaikka Naisten Liigassa Ysikoppi ry:lle" [Espoo United has a place in the Naisten Liiga with Ysikoppi ry] (in Finnish). Finnish Ice Hockey Association. 4 September 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  12. Saarinen, Joska (4 September 2017). "Espoo Unitedin hylkäämä joukkue sai tarvittavat rahat kasaan: "Kumppaneita on sen verran, että uskallamme lähteä kauteen"" [Rejected by Espoo United, the team got the money they needed: "There are so many partners that we dare to enter the season"] (in Finnish). yle. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  13. "Liiga (W): Kiekko-Espoo". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  14. "Jokkue 2019-2020" [Players 2019-2020]. Kiekko-Espoo Naiset (in Finnish). Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  15. "Espoo Blues 2018-2019". eurohockey.com. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  16. "2015–16 Naisten SM-sarja playoff" (.xls). tilastopalvelu.fi (in Finnish). Finnish Ice Hockey Association. March 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  17. "2016–17 Naisten SM-sarja playoff". tilastopalvelu.fi (in Finnish). Finnish Ice Hockey Association. March 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  18. "2017–18 Naisten Liiga pudotuspelit". tilastopalvelu.fi (in Finnish). Finnish Ice Hockey Association. March 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  19. "2018–19 Naisten Liiga pudotuspelit". tilastopalvelu.fi (in Finnish). Finnish Ice Hockey Association. March 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  20. "2019–20 Naisten Liiga pudotuspelit". tilastopalvelu.fi (in Finnish). Finnish Ice Hockey Association. March 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  21. "All Time Regular Season Player Stats for Kiekko-Espoo". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
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