Naisten Liiga
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2023–24 Naisten Liiga season
FormerlyNaisten SM-sarja
1982–2017
SportIce hockey
Founded1982 (1982)
Inaugural season
  • as Naisten SM-sarja,
  • 1982–83
  • as Naisten Liiga,
  • 2017–18
AdministratorFinnish Ice Hockey Association
No. of teams9
Country Finland
Most recent
champion(s)		HIFK Helsinki
(2022–23)
Most titlesKiekko-Espoo (16)
TV partner(s)Leijonat.tv
Relegation toNaisten Mestis
International cup(s)European Women's Champions Cup
Official websiteOfficial website

Naisten Liiga (lit. 'Women's League'), also called the Naisten SM-liiga (NSML) and Jääkiekon naisten SM-liiga (lit. 'Ice Hockey Women's Finnish Championship League'), is the elite league for women's ice hockey in Finland. Founded by the Finnish Ice Hockey Association as the Naisten SM-sarja (lit. 'Women's Finnish Championship series') in 1982, it was so known until being rebranded as the Naisten Liiga in 2017.[1][2] The league comprises approximately 250 players across ten teams.

Kiekko-Espoo (previously 'Espoo Blues' and 'Espoo United') has dominated Naisten Liiga in the 21st century, winning sixteen Finnish Championships during the span of 1999 to 2022.[3] Tampereen Ilves is the second most successful club, with ten championship titles, and are the only organization to have iced a team in every season since the league's inception.

A majority of teams in Naisten Liiga share their names with men's professional teams in the Liiga or Mestis – HIFK, HPK, Ilves, KalPa, Kiekko-Espoo, Kärpät, Lukko, RoKi, TPS – but the women's teams have historically received few resources and limited promotion from the affiliated men's clubs.[4] In recent years progress has been made in building better relationships between the men's and women's teams; most men's clubs now provide some support to their women's counterparts by advertising games together or helping secure sponsorships.[5][6]

Teams

2023–24 season

Location of teams in the Naisten Liiga
Team Location Home venue Head coach Captain
HIFK Helsinki Pirkkolan jäähalli Saara Niemi Karoliina Rantamäki
HPK Hämeenlinna Jääliikuntakeskus Hakio Jari Risku Heta Seikkula
Ilves Tampere Tesoman jäähalli Marjo Voutilainen Jenna Lehtiniemi
KalPa Kuopio Niiralan Monttu Mika Väärälä Johanna Juutilainen
Kiekko-Espoo Espoo Tapiolan harjoitusareena Sami Haapanen Reetta Valkjärvi
Kärpät Oulu Raksilan jäähalli Saija Tarkki Aino Kaijankoski
RoKi Rovaniemi Lappi Areena Teemu Koivula Eveliina Ollila
Team Kuortane Kuortane Kuortaneen jäähalli Juuso Nieminen Jenniina Kuoppala
TPS Turku Kupittaan jäähalli Terhi Mertanen Pihla Hämeenniemi

Past participants

Sources:[7][8]

Format

Season format

The Finnish Ice Hockey Association has altered the season format of the Naisten Liiga several times over the league's history. The system currently in use was introduced for the 2022–23 season.[9] It added six games per team to the regular season schedule and matched the season structure of the league's closest neighbor, the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL). The new format replaced the previous twenty-game preliminary series and ten-game divisional series structure, which was first introduced in the 2018–19 season and refined prior to the 2019–20 season.[10]

Regular season

The regular season is a quadruple round-robin tournament, with each team playing every other team four times – generally speaking, each team plays every other team twice at home and twice away, though there are some small variations – resulting in a 36-game season per team. Teams are ranked by points, with three points awarded for a win in regulation time, two points for an overtime win, one point for an overtime loss, and no points awarded for a regulation loss. Individual player statistics from the regular season determine the winner of the Marianne Ihalainen Award, for most points, and the Tiia Reima Award, for most goals scored.

The top eight teams at the end of the regular season qualify for the Naisten Liiga playoffs.

Playoffs

The three rounds of the Naisten Liiga playoffs (Finnish: Naisten Liiga pudotuspelit) are played as a best-of-five tournament, with the exception of the single-elimination game for the Finnish Championship bronze medal. In the quarterfinals, the initial round, teams are paired by seeding from the regular season, with the first seed facing the eighth seed, the second seed facing the seventh seed, and so on.

The champions of the Naisten Liiga playoffs receive the Aurora Borealis Cup as league champions and gold medals as Finnish Champions in women's ice hockey. Selected by the Finnish Ice Hockey Association, the MVP of the playoffs is awarded the Karoliina Rantamäki Trophy.

Qualification

The teams finishing the season ranked ninth and tenth play a promotion/relegation series (Finnish: karsintasarja, lit. 'qualifying series') against the top two teams of the Naisten Mestis regular season.[9] The two teams that finish the series with the most points qualify for the following Naisten Liiga season and the two lower ranked teams are relegated to or remain in the Naisten Mestis for the following season.

Game format

A regulation game is sixty minutes in length, played over three 20-minute periods. In the event of a tie at the end of regulation time the winner is decided by a five-minute-length, three-skaters-per-side overtime period. If the game remains tied after the overtime period, the teams proceed to a shootout, in which each team designates three skaters to take penalty shots, one at a time, against the opposing goaltender. Teams alternate shots and each team takes one shot per round. The winner is the team with more goals after three rounds or the team that amasses an unreachable advantage before the third round. If the shootout is tied after three rounds, tie-breaker rounds are played one at a time until there is a winner.

Champions

All-time medal count

  – team participating in 2023–24 Naisten Liiga season

Team
Kiekko-Espoo[lower-alpha 1]1638
Tampereen Ilves10126
Oulun Kärpät378
Shakers Kerava341
JYP Jyväskylä[lower-alpha 2]340
Helsingin Jääkiekkoklubi (HJK)211
Etelä-Vantaan Urheilijat (EVU)151
Hämeenlinnan Pallokerho (HPK)114
HIFK113
Kalevan Pallo (KalPa)013
Itä-Helsingin Kiekko (IHK)010
Saimaan Pallo (SaiPa)001
Vaasan Sport001
Team Kuortane001

Notes:

  1. ↑ Includes record of Espoo Blues, Espoo United, and Espoon Kiekkoseura (EKS)
  2. ↑ Includes record of JyP HT

Sources:[11][12][13]

Finnish Champions by season

Naisten Liiga logo, 2017–2020
Season Gold Champion Silver Runner-up Bronze Third Place
1982–83HJK HelsinkiIlves TampereEVU Vantaa
1983–84HJK HelsinkiEVU VantaaIlves Tampere
1984–85Ilves TampereEVU VantaaHJK Helsinki
1985–86Ilves TampereHJK HelsinkiVaasan Sport
1986–87Ilves TampereEVU VantaaShakers Kerava
1987–88Ilves TampereEVU VantaaHIFK Helsinki
1988–89EVU VantaaIlves TampereHIFK Helsinki
1989–90Ilves TampereEVU VantaaSaiPa Lappeenranta
1990–91Ilves TampereShakers KeravaEKS Espoo[lower-alpha 1]
1991–92Ilves TampereShakers KeravaEKS Espoo[lower-alpha 1]
1992–93Ilves TampereShakers KeravaKiekko-Espoo
1993–94Shakers KeravaIlves TampereKiekko-Espoo
1994–95Shakers KeravaIlves TampereKalPa Kuopio
1995–96Shakers KeravaOulun KärpätKalPa Kuopio
1996–97JyP HT Jyväskylä[lower-alpha 2]Shakers KeravaKiekko-Espoo
1997–98JYP JyväskyläOulun KärpätKiekko-Espoo
1998–99Espoo Blues[lower-alpha 1]JYP JyväskyläIlves Tampere
1999-2000Espoo Blues[lower-alpha 1]Oulun KärpätIlves Tampere
2000–01Espoo Blues[lower-alpha 1]Oulun KärpätIlves Tampere
2001–02Espoo Blues[lower-alpha 1]IHK HelsinkiOulun Kärpät
2002–03Espoo Blues[lower-alpha 1]Oulun KärpätIlves Tampere
2003–04Espoo Blues[lower-alpha 1]Ilves TampereOulun Kärpät
2004–05Espoo Blues[lower-alpha 1]Ilves TampereOulun Kärpät
2005–06Ilves TampereOulun KärpätEspoo Blues[lower-alpha 1]
2006–07Espoo Blues[lower-alpha 1]Oulun KärpätIHK Helsinki
2007–08Espoo Blues[lower-alpha 1]Ilves TampereOulun Kärpät
2008–09Espoo Blues[lower-alpha 1]Ilves TampereHPK Hämeenlinna
2009–10Ilves TampereEspoo Blues[lower-alpha 1]HPK Hämeenlinna
2010–11HPK HämeenlinnaIlves TampereOulun Kärpät
2011–12Oulun KärpätIlves TampereHPK Hämeenlinna
2012–13Espoo Blues[lower-alpha 1]JYP JyväskyläOulun Kärpät
2013–14Espoo Blues[lower-alpha 1]JYP JyväskyläHPK Hämeenlinna
2014–15Espoo Blues[lower-alpha 1]JYP JyväskyläIlves Tampere
2015–16JYP JyväskyläHPK HämeenlinnaEspoo Blues[lower-alpha 1]
2016–17Oulun KärpätEspoo United[lower-alpha 1]KalPa Kuopio
2017–18Oulun KärpätIlves TampereTeam Kuortane
2018–19Espoo Blues[lower-alpha 1]Ilves TampereOulun Kärpät
2019–20[lower-alpha 3] Post-season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.
2020–21Kiekko-EspooKalPa KuopioHIFK Helsinki
2021–22Kiekko-EspooHIFK HelsinkiOulun Kärpät
2022–23HIFK HelsinkiKiekko-EspooKalPa Kuopio

Notes:

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Included in record of Kiekko-Espoo
  2. ↑ Included in record of JYP
  3. ↑ The 2019–20 Naisten Liiga post-season was cancelled by the Finnish Ice Hockey Association on 12 March 2020, citing public health concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. The Aurora Borealis Cup Finnish Championship finals between Kiekko-Espoo and KalPa and the Finnish Championship bronze medal games between Team Kuortane and Kärpät were scheduled to begin on 14 March 2020. With the cancellation of the season, neither the Aurora Borealis Cup nor any Finnish Championship medals were awarded for the 2019–20 season.[14]

Sources:[11][12][13][15]

League records

All-time records of the Naisten SM-sarja and Naisten Liiga combined, from 1982–83 through the conclusion of the 2021–22 season.[16][17]

Single-season records

  • Most goals in a season: Riikka Sallinen, 73 goals (21 games; 1993–94, Shakers Kerava)
  • Most assists in a season: Jenni Hiirikoski, 62 assists (28 games; 2015–16, JYP Jyväskylä)
  • Most points in a season: Riikka Sallinen, 129 points (21 games; 1993–94, Shakers Kerava)
  • Most points in a season, defenceman: Jenni Hiirikoski, 79 points (29 games; 2015–16, JYP Jyväskylä)
  • Best points per game in a season, over ten games played: Riikka Sallinen, 6.14 points per game (129 points in 21 games; 1994, Shakers Kerava)
  • Most penalty minutes in a season: Jenna Grönroos, 98 PIM (15 games; 2011–12, LoKV)

Single-playoff records

  • Most goals in a playoff: Elisa Holopainen, 19 goals (12 games; 2022, Kiekko-Espoo)
  • Most assists in a playoff: Susanna Tapani, 14 assists (6 games; 2015, HPK Hämeenlinna)
  • Most points in a playoff: Elisa Holopainen, 29 points (12 games; 2022, Kiekko-Espoo)
  • Most points in a playoff, defenceman: Nelli Laitinen, 21 points (10 games; 2022, Kiekko-Espoo)
  • Best points per game in a playoff: Riikka Sallinen, 4.40 points per game (22 points in 5 games; 1994, Shakers Kerava)
  • Most penalty minutes in a playoff: Marjo Voutilainen, 45 PIM (4 games; 2012, KalPa)

Career records

  • Most career games played, skater: Riikka Noronen, 644 games (1995–2022)
  • Most career goals: Karoliina Rantamäki, 375 goals (403 games; 1992–2022)
  • Most career assists: Riikka Noronen, 447 assists (644 games; 1995–2022)
  • Most career points: Riikka Noronen, 775 points (644 games; 1995–2022)
  • Best career points per game, over 30 games played: Michelle Karvinen, 3.667 points per game (39 games; 2007–2009)
  • Most career points, defenceman: Päivi Virta, 495 points (401 games; 1982–2006)
  • Most career penalty minutes: Rosa Lindstedt, 483 PIM (314 games; 2002–2016)
  • Most career games played, goaltender: Susanna Airaksinen, 224 games (2009–2022)
  • Most shutouts in a career: Tiina Ranne, 29 shutouts (169 games; 2010–2022)

All-time scoring leaders

The top-ten point-scorers in Naisten SM-sarja/Naisten Liiga history. Statistics valid through conclusion of 2021–22 season.[16]

Note: Nat = Nationality; Pos = Position; S = Seasons played; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game;   = player active in 2022–23 Naisten Liiga season

Points
Nat PlayerPos SGPGAPtsPIM
Finland Riikka NoronenF 27644328 447775468
Finland Karoliina RantamäkiF 18403375 331 706 112
Finland Linda LeppänenF 16332360342 702 176
Finland Petra VaarakallioF 13286280 351 631 142
Finland Tiia ReimaF 20332 330 272 602 352
Finland Marianne IhalainenF 19323 320 282 602 152
Finland Sari MarjamäkiF 23401 339 253 592 158
Finland Anne HelinF 14276 327 222 549 260
Finland Annina RajahuhtaF 15325 239 298 537 240
Finland Johanna KoivulaF 21523 205 319 524 337

See also

References

  1. ↑ Foster, Meredith (21 March 2017). "Finnish Women's Hockey League Unveils New Name, Logo". The Ice Garden. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  2. ↑ Finnish Ice Hockey Association, ed. (21 March 2017). "Naisten SM-sarja historiaan - Ensi kaudella pelataan Naisten Liigaa". leijonat.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  3. ↑ Foster, Meredith (26 March 2019). "The Espoo Blues are the 2019 Aurora Borealis Cup Champions". The Ice Garden. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  4. ↑ Foster, Meredith (24 March 2017). "Women's Pro Hockey in Finland Tries to Get More Spotlight". The Victory Press. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  5. ↑ Aykroyd, Lucas (29 March 2019). "Women's Worlds media round-table". International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  6. ↑ Teiskonlahti, Kirsi (11 September 2018). "Naiskiekon arvostus on kasvanut, mutta ihannetilanteeseen on Suomessa vielä pitkä matka – kehitys vaatii hurmosta ja SM-liigaseurojen apua" [Appreciation for women's hockey has increased but it is far from an ideal situation in Finland - development will require funds and assistance from Liiga clubs] (in Finnish). YLE Sport. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  7. ↑ Hunter, Andria (2008). "Finnish Women's Hockey League Results: 1990-91 to 1994-95". whockey.com. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  8. ↑ Aaltonen, Juha, ed. (2019). Jääkiekkokirja: Suomen Jääkiekkoliiton ja Liigan Virallinen Kausijulkaisu 2019–2020 [The Ice Hockey Book: The Finnish Ice Hockey Association and Liiga Official Guide & Record Book 2019–2020] (PDF) (in Finnish). Layout by Joonas Ahola. Jääkiekon SM-liiga Oy & Suomen Jääkiekkoliito. Annamedia Oy. ISSN 0784-3321. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  9. 1 2 Antila, Pirkka (28 April 2022). "Naisten Liigan, Mestiksen ja Suomi-sarjan pelaamistavat vahvistettu kausille 22-23 ja 23-24". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  10. ↑ "Sarjatoiminta: Sarjojen pelaamistavat miehet, naiset ja A–C nuoret: Kaavio Naisten Sarjat 19-20" (in Finnish). Finnish Ice Hockey Association. June 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  11. 1 2 "Liiga (W)". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  12. 1 2 "Compétitions nationales: Finlande hockey féminin 1997-98 to 2014-15". Hockey Archives (in French). Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  13. 1 2 "Naisten Liiga details". eurohockey.com. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  14. ↑ Mennander, Pasi (12 March 2020). "Koronavirus lopettaa Jääkiekkoliiton alaisten sarjojen kauden". leijonat.fi (in Finnish). Finnish Ice Hockey Association. Archived from the original on 24 March 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  15. ↑ Salmela, Sari; Pelkonen, Johanna (2008). "SM-sarjan historiaa vuosilta 1982 - 2008" [History of the SM-sarja from 1982 to 2008]. leijonat.fi (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 6 September 2008. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  16. 1 2 Suomen Jääkiekkoliitto; Jääkiekkon SM-liiga Oy (2020). Aaltonen, Juha (ed.). Jääkiekkokirja 2021: Suomen Jääkiekkoliiton ja Liiga Kausijulkaisu 2020–2021 [Ice Hockey Book 2021: The Finnish Ice Hockey Association and Liiga Guide & Record Book 2020–2021] (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Uusi Suomi/Kiekkolehti. p. 237. ISSN 0784-3321.
  17. ↑ "Naisten Liiga (W) - All-time totals". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
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