Wikipedia

Helsinki Seagulls

Helsinki Seagulls is a professional basketball team, based in Helsinki, Finland. The club plays in the Korisliiga, the highest tier of basketball in Finland.

Helsinki Seagulls
Helsinki Seagulls logo
NicknameGulls
LeaguesKorisliiga
Founded2013; 11 years ago (2013)
HistoryHelsinki Seagulls
(2013–present)
ArenaTöölö Sports Hall
Capacity1,600
LocationHelsinki, Finland
Team colorsNavy, Gold, Black
     
Head coachVesa Vertio
Team captainRené Rougeau
OwnershipJanne Kulvik
Sinikka Kulvik
Sami Hedberg
Websitewww.helsinkiseagulls.com

The Seagulls were founded in 2013 and made its debut in the Korisliiga in 2014, after promoting in its first season. The team has won the Finnish Cup three times. Seagulls won their first and only Korisliiga championship to date during the 2022–23 season.

History edit

The team was established in 2013 and it acquired its place on the second level of Finnish basketball in Division I A after the dissolution of the Torpan Pojat men's team. The license of Torpan Pojat was then transferred to the Gulls, along with the remaining players.[1][2]

The Seagulls opened their 2013–2014 season in the Division I A with winning 10 matches in a row. The team won a total of 25 of their 28 regular season games placing first in their division with Josh Gonner leading their offense with an impressive 20.5 points per game. Seagulls earned the promotion to Korisliiga after dismissing first Tampereen Pyrintö II and then BC Nokia in the division playoffs.[3]

 
The first ever team picture of Helsinki Seagulls in September 2013.

Seagulls started the 2022–23 season with the strongest team to date, with Americans Rene Rougeau and Jeffrey Carroll Jr. adding to an already strong team. Seagulls finished the 2022–23 regular season with a record of 25–7, and in second place behind Kauhajoki. After dominant quarter and semifinal performances against BC Nokia and Kataja Basket respectively, they advanced to the final against the defending champions Kauhajoki Karhubasket, where the Seagulls claimed their first title; defeating Karhubasket 4–2.

Honours edit

Korisliiga

  • Winners (1): 2023
  • Third place (4): 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022

Finnish Cup

  • Winners (4): 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024
  • Runners-up (1): 2023

Season by season edit

Season Tier League Pos. Finnish Cup
2013–14 2 First Division A 1st
2014–15 1 Korisliiga 8th
2015–16 1 4th
2016–17 1 3rd
2017–18 1 3rd
2018–19 1 7th
2019–20 1 2nd
2020–21 1 3rd
2021–22 1 3rd

Arena edit

 
The Töölö Sports Hall

The Seagulls play their home games in the Töölö Sports Hall.

Players edit

Current roster edit

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

Helsinki Seagulls roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age
F 0   Mennander, Henri 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 20 – (2003-10-07)7 October 2003
C 1   Ohams, Chuba 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 26 – (1997-12-22)22 December 1997
SG 2   Grant, Mar'Qualen 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 25 – (1999-03-10)10 March 1999
F 3   Pihlajamäki, Tomas 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 24 – (2000-01-26)26 January 2000
PF 4   Rougeau, Rene 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 38 – (1986-03-25)25 March 1986
F 5   Leskinen, Elias 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) 22 – (2002-01-01)1 January 2002
G 6   Gilbert, Alterique 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 26 – (1997-10-06)6 October 1997
F 8   Heinonen, Timo 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 42 – (1981-11-26)26 November 1981
F 10   Laakso, Sakari 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 27 – (1997-04-30)30 April 1997
F 11   Härsilä, Tuukka 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 20 – (2004-02-21)21 February 2004
PG 13   Nikkarinen, Lassi 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) 27 – (1997-03-11)11 March 1997
F 14   Järvi, Okko 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 28 – (1996-01-12)12 January 1996
SF 15   Coleman, Shavon 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 31 – (1992-10-07)7 October 1992
G 25   Hervola, Lenni 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) 21 – (2003-02-01)1 February 2003
F 47   Waxlax, Ricky 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 25 – (1999-02-12)12 February 1999
Head coach
  •   Vesa Vertio
Assistant coach(es)
  •   Kimmo Kujansivu
  •   Timo Saukkola
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  •   Injured
Updated: February 6, 2024

Depth chart edit

Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2
C Chuba Ohams Timo Heinonen
PF Rene Rougeau Sakari Laakso Henri Mennander
SF Shavon Coleman Ricky Waxlax Elias Leskinen
SG Okko Järvi Alterique Gilbert Tuukka Härsilä
PG Lassi Nikkarinen Tomas Pihlajamäki Lenni Hervola

colours: Finnish players; foreign players

Notable players edit

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

Criteria

To appear in this section a player must have either:

  • Set a club record or won an individual award while at the club
  • Played at least one official international match for their national team at any time
  • Played at least one official NBA match at any time.

References edit

  1. ^ "ToPo jäi ilman liigalisenssiä" Iltasanomat, Retrieved 2014-9-24 (in Finnish)
  2. ^ "Nostaako tämä seura Helsingin takaisin Korisliigaan?" Iltasanomat, Retrieved 2014-9-24 (in Finnish)
  3. ^ "Seagulls otti ratkaisevan voiton Nokialla - helsinkiläiset palaavat Korisliigaan" YLE, Retrieved 2014-9-24 (in Finnish)

External links edit

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