Riikka Nieminen Award
The Riikka Nieminen Award (Finnish: Riikka Nieminen -palkinto) is an ice hockey trophy, seasonally awarded by the Finnish Ice Hockey Association to the Naisten Liiga Player of the Year. It is named after Riikka Sallinen (née Nieminen), now retired, who is widely considered the best European women’s ice hockey player to ever compete internationally.[1][2]
| Riikka Nieminen Award | |
|---|---|
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| League | Naisten Liiga |
| Given for | Best player in the Naisten Liiga |
| Local name | Riikka Nieminen -palkinto (Finnish) |
| Country | Finland |
| Presented by | Finnish Ice Hockey Association |
| History | |
| First award | 2008 |
| First winner | Michelle Karvinen |
| Most wins | Jenni Hiirikoski (5) |
| Most recent | Tanja Niskanen, 2020 |
The trophy was first awarded for the 2008–09 season and Michelle Karvinen of the Espoo Blues was the first recipient. Jenni Hiirikoski has been award the trophy five times, the only player to have received the award more than once and the only defenceman to ever receive it.
Award winners
| Season | Winner | Team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008–09 | Michelle Karvinen | Espoo Blues | [3] |
| 2009–10 | Jenni Hiirikoski | Ilves Tampere | |
| 2010–11 | Anne Helin | Kärpät Oulu | |
| 2011–12 | Nina Tikkinen | Kärpät Oulu | |
| 2012–13 | Jenni Hiirikoski | JYP Jyväskylä | |
| 2013–14 | Jenni Hiirikoski | JYP Jyväskylä | |
| 2014–15 | Jenni Hiirikoski | JYP Jyväskylä | |
| 2015–16 | Jenni Hiirikoski | JYP Jyväskylä | |
| 2016–17 | Isa Rahunen | Kärpät Oulu | |
| 2017–18 | Linda Välimäki | Ilves Tampere | [4] |
| 2018–19 | Elisa Holopainen | KalPa Kuopio | [5] |
| 2019–20 | Tanja Niskanen | KalPa Kuopio | [6] |
All time award recipients
Player still active in Naisten Liiga
Player still active in league other than Naisten Liiga
| Player | Wins | Year(s) won |
|---|---|---|
| Jenni Hiirikoski | 5 | 2010, 2013, 2014 2015, 2016 |
| Anne Helin | 1 | 2011 |
| Elisa Holopainen | 1 | 2019 |
| Michelle Karvinen | 1 | 2009 |
| Tanja Niskanen | 1 | 2020 |
| Isa Rahunen | 1 | 2017 |
| Nina Tikkinen | 1 | 2012 |
| Linda Välimäki | 1 | 2018 |
References
- Foster, Meredith (15 June 2019). "Team Finland legend Riikka Sallinen retires". The Ice Garden. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- "Legends of Hockey: Profiles of Notable Women in Hockey". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- "SM-sarja (W) Best Player (Riikka Nieminen Award)". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- Seppänen, Antti, ed. (2 May 2018). "Liiga palkitsi kauden 2017–18 parhaat – tässä palkittujen lista". liiga.fi (in Finnish). Liiga. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- Mennander, Pasi (12 June 2019). "Leijonat - Tupu, Hupu ja Lupu jälleen yhdessä! Palkitsivat parhaat hyökkääjät Jääkiekkogaalassa". www.leijonat.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- Mennander, Pasi (23 March 2020). "Naisten Liigan kauden 2019–20 palkitut pelaajat ja tähtikentät". leijonat.fi (in Finnish). Finnish Ice Hockey Association. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
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