Women's ice hockey in Finland

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Women's Ice Hockey in Finland has 2 593 players in 2005 and 4 694 in 2011.[1] The Jääkiekon naisten SM-sarja (Finnish national Women's league ) is the league elite of Women's ice Hockey. This league is organized by the Finnish Ice Hockey Association.

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History

The first league was created in 1982–1983. Several teams of this first Finnish Women's League was established in the beginning of the 1970s. However, it was necessary for a long time before the hockey at the women to spread widely in the country. In 1978, the tournament of lipstick became a kind of "unofficial" national Women's championship during some years. Finally in 1982-83 began a series of efforts with the new league Jääkiekon naisten SM-sarja. The first season was played in two division of five teams each (10 teams). The first Playoffs was played at Tampere on March 12 and 13, 1983.[2] For period 2004-2005, the number of teams was reduced for 6, until it was widened in 2008 for 8 and 9 in 2010.

Current Teams 2014-15

Team City
Espoo Blues Espoo
Hämeenlinnan Pallokerho Hämeenlinna
JYP Jyväskylä
Kalevan Pallo Kuopio
KJT Keski-Uusimaa
Oriflame Team Kuortane
Oulun Kärpät Oulu
Tampereen Ilves (jääkiekko) Tampere

Championships

Developmental league

The number of young women in junior level increased slowly, at the beginning of 500 players to approximately 2000 today.[3] The growth rate was not satisfactory at the woman's Ice hockey. Consequently, the Finnish Ice Hockey Association decided to invest in development of the Women's ice hockey by supporting leagues.[3] The number of teams considerably increased: There are now 12 teams in the Women's 1st Division NAISTEN I-DIVISIOONA ( second level after the Finnish National Women's league).

Lohko 1

Team City
HPK Hameenlinna
ILVES Tampere
REIPAS Lahti
MARSKI-HOCKEY Mikkeli
SAIPA Lappeenranta
ASSAT Pori

Lohko 2

Team City
EPS Espoo
HG-92 Tuusula
K-KISSAT Vantaa
PAKA Kuusamo
SPORT Vaasa
TAPPARA Tampere

Tournaments

The following IIHF tournaments were hosted in Finland.

Event Location Finish
1992 IIHF Women's World Championship Tampere 3rd Bronze[4]
1998 Four Nations Cup Kuortane 3rd Bronze
1999 IIHF Women's World Championship Espoo 3rd Bronze
2001 Four Nations Cup Vierumäki and Tampere 2nd Silver
2005 Four Nations Cup Hämeenlinna 3rd Bronze
2008–2009 IIHF European Women's Champions Cup Lohja Espoo Blues 3rd Bronze
2009 Women's World Ice Hockey Championships Hämeenlinna 3rd Bronze[4]
2009 Four Nations Cup Vierumäki Fourth

Leading scorers

IIHF Worlds

  • Riikka Nieminen is Finland’s all-time leader with 41 points (23 goals, 18 assists). She participated in four IIHF Worlds. She led two World Championships (1994 and 1997) in scoring.[5] Her 41 points ranks seventh all-time in World Championship scoring. She appeared in 118 games for Finland, scoring 109 goals, 95 assists and 204 points.[6]
  • Tiia Reima ranks second all-time with 34 points (14 goals, 20 assists) and participated in six tournaments. Her 20 assists is the Finnish career mark for most assists in World Championship play.She earned five bronze medals at the '90, '92, '94, '97 and '99 World Championships.

Olympics

  • Riikka Nieminen ranks as the all time leading Olympic scorer for Finland.[7] She was the top point producer at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games.

Famous firsts

  • 1983: The official start of a women's league in Finland.[8]
  • 1989: The Finnish Women's National Team win the first Women’s European Championships.
  • 1990: Finland claims the bronze in the first IIHF Women’s World Championships.
  • May 21, 2010: Riikka Nieminen was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame on 21 May 2010 in Cologne, Germany, as part of the World Championship festivities. She was only the fourth woman to receive this honor and the first from Finland.

Finnish women in NCAA

Position Name NCAA school Seasons
G Noora Räty Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey 2009–present
D Mariia Posa Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs women's ice hockey
F Nina Tikkinen Minnesota State–Mankato Mavericks women's ice hockey 2007–present
F Minnamari Tuominen Ohio State Buckeyes women's ice hockey
F Saara Tuominen Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs women's ice hockey

References

  1. ↑ http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/countries/finland.html
  2. ↑ In http://www.whockey.com/country/finland
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.whockey.com/country/finland/history.html
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Collins gem Hockey Facts and Stats 2009-10, p.540, Andrew Podnieks, Harper Collins Publishers Ltd, Toronto, Canada, ISBN 978-1-55468-621-6
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

This page was written with a translation of Jääkiekon naisten SM-sarja on Finnish Wikipedia

See also

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