Riikka Nieminen Award

The Riikka Nieminen Award () 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.
The trophy was first awarded for the 2008–09 season and Michelle Karvinen of the Espoo Blues was the first recipient. Jenni Hiirikoski is the only defenceman to ever win the trophy and holds the record for most wins, with five. Elisa Holopainen is the only other player to have claimed the trophy more than once, winning it in the 2018–19 season and 2020–21 season. Anni Keisala is the current title holder after winning the Riikka Nieminen Award for the 2021–22 season, becoming the first goaltender to do so.
==Award winners==
Season 	Winner	Team 	
2008–09	 	Espoo Blues 	
2009–10	 	Ilves Tampere	
2010–11	 	Kärpät Oulu 	
2011–12	 	Kärpät Oulu 	
2012–13	 	JYP Jyväskylä	
2013–14	 	JYP Jyväskylä	
2014–15	 	JYP Jyväskylä	
2015–16	 	JYP Jyväskylä	
2016–17	 	Kärpät Oulu 	
2017–18	 	Ilves Tampere	
2018–19	 	KalPa Kuopio 	
2019–20	 	KalPa Kuopio 	
2020–21	 	KalPa Kuopio 	
2021–22	 	Ilves Tampere	
Source: Elite Prospects
==All time award recipients==
Player	Wins	Year(s) won
 	5 	2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
 	2 	2019, 2021
 	1 	2011
 	1 	2009
 	1 	2022
 	1 	2020
 	1 	2017
 	1 	2012
 	1 	2018
==References==
Category:Ice hockey player of the year awards
Category:Naisten Liiga trophies and awards