HPK Kiekkonaiset

HPK Kiekkonaiset is the representative women’s team of the Finnish ice hockey club Hämeenlinnan Pallokerho (HPK), based in Hämeenlinna. The team competes in the Naisten Liiga (NSML), the premier women's hockey league in Finland. HPK was the first team to be awarded the Aurora Borealis Cup as the winner of the Finnish Championship in 2011.
== History ==
A women's hockey team has competed under the parent club HPK since at least 1999. From 1999 to 2008, HPK Kiekkonaiset competed in the I-divisioona (called Naisten Mestis after 2013). The team qualified for the Naisten SM-sarja karsintasarja (promotion/relegation series) in the 2000–01 season but lost 11 of 14 qualification games and remained in I-divisoona. The opportunity for promotion through the karsintasarja returned in the 2007–08 season and this time, with a roster that included Meeri Räisänen, Essi Salminen, Hanne Sikiö, and Eveliina Similä, HPK achieved promotion to the Naisten SM-saija.
HPK debuted in the Naisten SM-sarja at the opening of the 2008–09 season, strengthened by the addition of a number of experienced players, notably Petra Herzigová, Katja Riipi, Nora Tallus, and Vilma Vaattovaara. The team won the bronze medal match against Oulun Kärpät with a game winning goal from Riipi.
As Naisten SM-sarja Champions in 2011, HPK was the first team to be awarded the Aurora Borealis Cup.
== Players and personnel ==
=== 2020–21 roster ===
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=== 2020–21 team staff ===
* Head Coach: Mari Saarinen
* Assistant Coach: Jussi Korhonen
* Assistant Coach: Olli Simola
* Goaltending Coach: Maija Hassinen-Sullanmaa
* Team Manager: Maija Hassinen-Sullanmaa
* Equipment Manager: Kari Järvinen
* Assistant Equipment Managers: Tommi Ahola & Hanna Haakana
=== Team captaincy history ===
*Nora Tallus, 2008–2010
*Mira Huhta, 2010–2013
*Riikka Noronen, 2013–2017
*Jutta Stoltenberg, 2017–2019
*Riikka Noronen, 2019–present
=== Head coaches ===
* Tuomo Nukari, 2011–January 2013
* Jarkko Julkunen, January 2013–2013
* Vesa Mäkinen, 2014–2016
* Marko Rahikainen, 2016–2018
* Markku Pirttiniemi, 2018–19
* Katja Pasanen, 2019–20
* Mari Saarinen, 2020–present
== Team honours ==
=== Finnish Championship ===
* Aurora Borealis Cup (1): 2011
* Runners-up (1): 2016
* Third Place (4): 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014
Source: 
===IIHF European Women's Champions Cup===
* Bronze (1): 2012
== Notable alumni ==
Years active with HPK listed alongside players' names
* Kristina Brown, 2014–15
* Pia Dukarič, 2019–20
* Maija Hassinen-Sullanmaa,2008–2015 & 2017–18
* Venla Hovi, 2010–2012
* Kati Kovalainen, 2009–10
* Natsumi Kurokawa, 2019–20
* Sanna Lankosaari, 2009–2012
* Annina Rajahuhta, 2010–2012
* Meeri Räisänen, 2017–18
* Miho Shishiuchi, 2014–2016
* Eveliina Similä, 2008–2012
* Susanna Tapani, 2014-2016
* Vilma Vaattovaara, 2008–2011
* Tea Villilä, 2010–11 & 2015–16
* Hannah Westbrook, 2012–13
== See also ==
* Finland women's national ice hockey team
* Women's ice hockey in Finland
* Naisten Liiga
== References ==
== External links ==
* Official website (in Finnish)
* Team information and statistics from Eliteprospects.com and Eurohockey.com and Hockeyarchives.info
Category:Women's ice hockey in Finland
Category:Ice hockey teams in Finland