# KalPa Naiset

Kalevan Pallo Naiset (lit. 'Kaleva's Ball Women'), abbreviated as KalPa Naiset, are an ice hockey team in the Auroraliiga. Founded in 1990, the team plays in Kuopio, the largest city in Finland's eastern-central province of North Savo, at the Kuopion jäähalli (unofficially known as Niiralan Monttu or Niirala); Lippumäen jäähalli serves as a secondary venue. The team won the Finnish Championship (SM) silver medal in 2021, and have won five SM bronze medals, in 1995, 1996, 2017, 2023, and 2024.

## History

In 2020, the team qualified for the Aurora Borealis Cup playoff final and were set to face the reigning champions, Kiekko-Espoo, when the playoffs were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic before the first game of the finals. By making it to the playoff finals, KalPa was guaranteed at least a silver medal, which would have been the highest finish in team history to that point, but with the cancellation of the season no Finnish Championship (SM) medals were awarded.

## Season-by-season results

This is a partial list of the most recent seasons completed by KalPa Naiset. 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, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, Pts = Points, Top scorer: Points (Goals+Assists)
| Season | League | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Post season results |
| Season | League | Finish | GP | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF | GA | Pts | Top scorer | Post season results |
| 2015–16 | Naisten SM-sarja | 6th | 28 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 47 | 124 | 24 | Jo. Juutilainen 32 (10+22) | Lost quarterfinals, 0–2 (HPK) |
| 2016–17 | Naisten SM-sarja | 3rd | 28 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 100 | 72 | 57 | T. Niskanen 36 (15+21) | Won bronze medal, 1–0 (HPK) |
| 2017–18 | Naisten Liiga | 6th | 30 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 112 | 92 | 47 | T. Niskanen 44 (20+24) | Lost quarterfinals, 1–3 (Blues) |
| 2018–19 | Naisten Liiga | 4th | 30 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 154 | 83 | 57 | T. Niskanen 79 (31+48) | Lost bronze medal, 0–1 (Kärpät) |
| 2019–20 | Naisten Liiga | 3rd | 30 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 124 | 64 | 61 | E. Holopainen 62 (37+25) | Won semifinals, 3–0 (Ilves) Finals cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2020–21 | Naisten Liiga | 2nd | 25 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 121 | 51 | 56 | E. Holopainen 64 (39+25) | Lost finals, 1–3 (K-Espoo) |
| 2021–22 | Naisten Liiga | 8th | 30 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 70 | 96 | 32 | Jo. Juutilainen 34 (9+25) | Lost quarterfinals, 1–3 (K-Espoo) |
| 2022–23 | Naisten Liiga | 2nd | 36 | 29 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 197 | 65 | 93 | E. Holopainen 75 (41+34) | Won bronze medal, 1–0 (HPK) |
| 2023–24 | Naisten Liiga | 4th | 32 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 119 | 81 | 60 | E. Holopainen 57 (32+25) | Won bronze medal, 3–1 (HPK) |

## Players and personnel
### 2024–25 roster

    As of 20 October 2024
| No. | Player | Pos | S/G | Age | Acquired | Birthplace |
| 23 | Emma Hall | F | L | 24 | 2024 | Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada |
| 15 | Minea Huovinen | F | L | 15 | 2024 | Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa |
| 37 | Jenna Juutilainen | G | L | 34 | 2020 | Varkaus, North Savo, Finland |
| 17 | Johanna Juutilainen (A) | F | L | 34 | 2020 | Varkaus, North Savo, Finland |
| 28 | Mimmi Keinonen | D | L | 20 | 2022 | |
| 18 | Tilli Keränen (A) | F | L | 19 | 2023 | Vihti, Uusimaa, Finland |
| 24 | Mirka Kivi | D | L | 22 | 2019 | Valkeakoski, Pirkanmaa, Finland |
| 16 | Tanja Koljonen (A) | D | L | 29 | 2020 | Mikkeli, South Savo, Finland |
| 21 | Kaisla Kortelainen | F | L | 23 | 2020 | |
| 6 | Viola Kärkkäinen | D | L | 15 | 2024 | Kiuruvesi, North Savo, Finland |
| 31 | Aino Laitinen | G | L | 22 | 2022 | Sonkajärvi, North Savo, Finland |
| 5 | Elli Mäkelä (C) | D | L | 23 | 2020 | Kotka, Kymenlaakso, Finland |
| 8 | Oona Nenonen | F | – | 17 | 2024 | |
| 46 | Noora Oksanen | D | L | 22 | 2024 | Jyväskylä, Central Finland, Finland |
| 13 | Kokoro Ota | D | L | 24 | 2024 | Hokkaido, Japan |
| 19 | Jessica Pappinen | F | – | 18 | 2024 | |
| 49 | Veera Paroinen | F | L | 19 | 2021 | |
| 45 | Veera Pohjala | D | L | 23 | 2021 | |
| 7 | Lunasa Sano | F | L | 26 | 2023 | Tokyo, Kantō, Japan |
| 10 | Milja Siira | F | L | 17 | 2024 | Lieksa, North Karelia, Finland |
| 33 | Salla Sivula | G | L | 26 | 2024 | Tampere, Pirkanmaa, Finland |
| 9 | Vilma Sneck (A) | F | L | 23 | 2022 | Lapinlahti, North Savo, Finland |
| 22 | Venla Tulppo | F | L | 19 | 2024 | |

#### Coaching staff and team personnel

* Head coach: Artturi Rouhiainen
* Assistant coach: Jere Hakkarainen
* Assistant coach: Sami Tapaninen
* Conditioning coach: Tarja Koski
* Conditioning coach: Jaakko Uhlbäck
* Team managers: Taina Lappi & Maarit Paroinen
* Equipment managers: Lasse Herranen & Jari Hämäläinen
* Physical therapist: Tarja Koski

### Team captains

* Johanna Juutilainen, 2010–11
* Isa Rahunen, 2011–12
* Marjo Voutilainen, 2012–13
* Venla Hovi & Anni Kettunen, 2013–14
* Johanna Juutilainen, 2015–2018
* Tanja Niskanen, 2018–19
* Tiina Ranne & Emma Ritari, 2019–20
* Emma Ritari, 2020–21
* Johanna Juutilainen, 2021–2024
* Elli Mäkelä, 2024–

### Head coaches

* Mikko Miettinen, 0–2000
* Seppo Tirronen, 2000–
* Marjo Voutilainen, 2016–2022
* Mika Väärälä, 2022–2024
* Artturi Rouhiainen, 2024–

## Awards and honours
### Finnish Championship

* Aurora Borealis Cup Runners-up (1): 2021
* Third Place (4) : 1995, 1996, 2017, 2023. 2024
Sources:

### Individual awards

* Riikka Nieminen Award (Player of the Year)
   * 2023–24: Elisa Holopainen
   * 2022–23: Elisa Holopainen
   * 2020–21: Elisa Holopainen
   * 2019–20: Tanja Niskanen
   * 2018–19: Elisa Holopainen
* Katja Riipi Award (Best forward)
   * 2023–24: Elisa Holopainen
   * 2022–23: Elisa Holopainen
   * 2021–22: Elisa Holopainen
   * 2020–21: Elisa Holopainen
   * 2019–20: Elisa Holopainen
   * 2018–19: Elisa Holopainen
* Marianne Ihalainen Award (Top point scorer)
   * 2018–19: Elisa Holopainen
* Tiia Reima Award (Top goal scorer)
   * 2022–23: Elisa Holopainen
   * 2021–22: Matilda Nilsson
   * 2020–21: Matilda Nilsson
   * 2019–20: Elisa Holopainen
   * 2018–19: Elisa Holopainen
* Sari Fisk Award (Best plus–minus)
   * 2019–20: Matilda Nilsson
* Emma Laaksonen Award (Fair-play player)
   * 2023–24: Johanna Juutilainen
   * 2022–23: Jenna Hietala
   * 2020–21: Johanna Juutilainen
   * 2016–17: Tanja Niskanen
* Hannu Saintula Award (Coach of the Year)
   * 2019–20: Marjo Voutilainen

#### Player of the Month

* November 2023: Elisa Holopainen
* November 2022: Elisa Holopainen
* September 2020: Elisa Holopainen
* September 2019: Matilda Nilsson

### All-Stars
#### First Team

* 2023–24: Elisa Holopainen (LW), Sanni Rantala (D)
* 2022–23: Elisa Holopainen (LW), Sanni Rantala (D)
* 2020–21: Elisa Holopainen (LW), Matilda Nilsson (RW)
* 2019–20: Elisa Holopainen (LW), Matilda Nilsson (RW), Tanja Niskanen (C)
* 2018–19: Elisa Holopainen (LW), Tanja Niskanen (C)
* 2014–15: Matilda Nilsson (F)

#### Second Team

* 2022–23: Jenna Kaila (LW), Adalmiina Makkonen (D), Tiina Ranne (G)
* 2020–21: Tiina Ranne (G)
* 2019–20: Tiina Ranne (G)
* 2018–19: Matilda Nilsson (RW)
* 2017–18: Elisa Holopainen (LW), Matilda Nilsson (RW)

## Team records

Various individual KalPa Naiset player records achieved through the end of the 2022–23 season.

### Regular season
#### Single-season records

* Most points: Tanja Niskanen, 79 points (29 games; 2018–19)
* Most points in a season, defenseman: Sanni Rantala, 39 points (30 games; 2022–23)
* Most goals: Elisa Holopainen, 41 goals (28 games; 2022–23)
* Most assists: Tanja Niskanen, 48 assists (29 games; 2018–19)
* Best points per game, over ten games played:
   * Elisa Holopainen, 3.00 P/G (19 games; 2023–24)
   * Marjo Voutilainen, 3.00 P/G (14 games; 1997–98)
* Most penalty minutes: Kirsi Hänninen, 66 PIM (23 games; 1995–96)
* Best save percentage (Sv%), over five games played: Tiina Ranne, .942 Sv% (18 games; 2019–20)
* Best goals against average (GAA), over five games played: Jenna Juutilainen, 1.49 GAA (10 games; 2022–23)
* Most shutouts in a season: Tiina Ranne, 3 shutouts (accomplished in three different seasons)
   * 20 games; 2022–23
   * 18 games; 2018–19
   * 14 games; 2020–21

#### Career records

* Most points: Tanja Niskanen, 488 points (301 games; 2006–2022)
* Most points, defenseman: Tanja Koljonen, 103 points (137 games; 2016–2023)
* Most goals: Tanja Niskanen, 257 goals (301 games; 2006–2022)
* Most assists: Johanna Juutilainen, 260 assists (348 games; 2009–2024)
* Best points per game, over 30 games played: Elisa Holopainen, 2.15 points per game (176 games; 2016–2024)
* Most penalty minutes: Salla Rantanen, 322 PIM (272 games; 2012–2023)
* Most games played, skater: Johanna Juutilainen, 348 games (2009–2024)
* Most games played, goaltender: Tiina Ranne, 130 games (2017–2024)
* Best save percentage, over twenty games played: Tiina Ranne, .921 Sv% (130 games; 2017–2024)
* Best career goals against average, over twenty games played: Tiina Ranne, 2.41 GAA (130 games; 2017–2024)
* Most shutouts: Tiina Ranne, 17 shutouts (130 games; 2017–2024)

### All-time scoring leaders

The top regular season point scorers in KalPa Naiset history, as of June 2024.
Note: Nat = Nationality; Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game; = 2024–25 KalPa player
Points :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | P/G |
| Tanja Niskanen | F | 301 | 257 | 231 | 488 | 1.62 |
| Johanna Juutilainen | F | 348 | 162 | 260 | 422 | 1.21 |
| Elisa Holopainen | F | 176 | 206 | 173 | 379 | 2.15 |
| Matilda Nilsson | F | 189 | 164 | 140 | 304 | 1.61 |
| Salla Rantanen | F | 272 | 97 | 112 | 209 | 0.77 |
| Marjo Voutilainen | F | 177 | 86 | 101 | 187 | 1.06 |
| Tanja Koljonen | D | 169 | 26 | 91 | 117 | 0.69 |
| Liisa Kastikainen | F | 199 | 54 | 63 | 117 | 0.59 |
| Kati Kovalainen | F | 70 | 72 | 35 | 107 | 1.53 |
| Emma Ritari | D | 251 | 34 | 68 | 102 | 0.41 |
| Eija Rahunen | F | 80 | 28 | 54 | 82 | 1.03 |
| Tiina Paananen | F | 58 | 46 | 35 | 81 | 1.40 |
| Isa Rahunen | D | 135 | 34 | 47 | 81 | 0.60 |
| Kaisla Kortelainen | F | 120 | 29 | 46 | 75 | 0.63 |
| Venla Hovi | F | 49 | 38 | 36 | 74 | 1.51 |

## Notable alumni

Years active with KalPa listed alongside player name.
* Elisa Holopainen, 2016–2021 & 2022–2024
* Venla Hovi, 2012–2014
* Kirsi Hänninen, 1995–96
* Kati Kovalainen, 1993–1996
* Rose Matilainen, 1993–1996
* Terhi Mertanen, 1999–2001
* Matilda Nilsson, 2014–2021
* Tanja Niskanen, 2006–2008, 2009–2015 & 2016–2022
* Oona Parviainen, 1993–1999
* Tuula Puputti, 1992–1995
* Isa Rahunen, 2006–2013
* Sanni Rantala, 2022–2024
* Saila Saari, 2020–21
* Riikka Sallinen, 1995–96
* Eve Savander, 2013–14
* Marjo Voutilainen, 1995–2001 & 2010–2014

### International player(s)

* Nozomi Kiribuchi, 2015–16
* Sarah Knee, 2022–23