Kalevan Pallo Naiset (lit. 'Kaleva's Ball Women'), abbreviated as KalPa Naiset, are an ice hockey team in the Naisten Liiga (NSML). 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.
| Kalevan Pallo Naiset | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Kuopio, Finland |
| League | Naisten Liiga |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Home arena | Kuopion jäähalli Lippumäen jäähalli |
| Colours | Black, gold |
| Owner(s) | Juniori-KalPa ry |
| General manager | Jukka Koskinen |
| Head coach | Artturi Rouhiainen |
| Captain | Johanna Juutilainen |
| Affiliate | KalPa Akatemia |
| Website | Official website |
 Current season | |
History
editIn 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.[1]
Season-by-season results
editThis 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 | Post season results | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | GP | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF | GA | Pts | Top scorer | |||
| 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
edit2024–25 roster
edit| No. | Nat | Player | Pos | S/G | Age | Acquired | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 |
|
Johanna Juutilainen | F | L | 34 | 2020 | Varkaus, North Savo, Finland |
| 18 |
|
Tilli Keränen | F | L | 19 | 2023 | Vihti, Uusimaa, Finland |
|
|
Noora Oksanen | D | L | 21 | 2024 | Jyväskylä, Central Finland, Finland | |
| 45 |
|
Veera Pohjala | D | L | 23 | 2021 | |
| 27 | 
|
Lunasa Sano | F | L | 26 | 2023 | Tokyo, Kantō, Japan |
|
|
Salla Sivula | G | L | 26 | 2024 | Tampere, Pirkanmaa, Finland | |
| 9 |
|
Vilma Sneck | F | L | 23 | 2022 | Lapinlahti, North Savo, Finland |
- 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
edit- 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[5]
- Tiina Ranne & Emma Ritari, 2019–20[6]
- Emma Ritari, 2020–21
- Johanna Juutilainen, 2021–
Head coaches
edit- Mikko Miettinen, –2000
- Seppo Tirronen, 2000–
- Marjo Voutilainen, 2016–2022
- Mika Väärälä, 2022[7]–2024[8]
- Artturi Rouhiainen, 2024[9]–
Awards and honours
editFinnish Championship
edit
Aurora Borealis Cup Runners-up (1): 2021
Third Place (4) : 1995, 1996, 2017, 2023. 2024
Individual awards
edit- Riikka Nieminen Award (Player of the Year)
- Katja Riipi Award (Best forward)
- Marianne Ihalainen Award (Top point scorer)
- 2018–19: Elisa Holopainen[22]
- Tiia Reima Award (Top goal scorer)
- Sari Fisk Award (Best plus–minus)
- 2019–20: Matilda Nilsson[20]
- Emma Laaksonen Award (Fair-play player)
- Hannu Saintula Award (Coach of the Year)
- 2019–20: Marjo Voutilainen[16]
Player of the Month
edit- November 2023: Elisa Holopainen[28]
- November 2022: Elisa Holopainen[29]
- September 2020: Elisa Holopainen[30]
- September 2019: Matilda Nilsson[31]
All-Stars
edit- 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
editVarious individual KalPa Naiset player records achieved through the end of the 2022–23 season.[32][33]
Regular season
edit- 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
editThe top regular season point scorers in KalPa Naiset history, as of June 2024[update].[32]
Note: Nat = Nationality; Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game; = 2023–24 KalPa player
| Nat | 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
editYears active with KalPa listed alongside player name.[32]
- 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)
edit
Nozomi Kiribuchi, 2015–16
Sarah Knee, 2022–23
References
edit- ^ Pulkkinen, Aki-Petteri (27 May 2020). "Näkemys: Naiskiekolle ei jäänyt kaudesta mitään käteen − Korona ryösti vuoden työn". Jatkoaika (in Finnish). Retrieved 30 August 2020.
- ^ "Naisten Liiga (W) - KalPa, 2024-2025 Roster". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "2023-2024 Naisten Liiga – Kokoonpano KalPa". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). September 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ "Naiset Liiga > Joukkue". Juniori KalPa (in Finnish). Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ Foster, Meredith (30 November 2018). "Q&A with Tanja Niskanen". The Ice Garden. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
- ^ "Naisten Liigan avausturnaus Kuopiossa - esittelyssä kauden 2019-2020 joukkue". Juniori-KalPa ry (in Finnish). 4 September 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
- ^ Ruotsalainen, Annu (6 April 2022). "KalPa Naisten päävalmentaja vaihtuu – KMH Budapestin kanssa kolme mestaruutta voittanut valmentaja Mika Väärälä siirtyy Kuopioon". Jatkoaika (in Finnish). Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ Seppä, Lassi (17 March 2024). "Mika Väärälä ei jatka KalPan naisten päävalmentajana". Jatkoaika (in Finnish). Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ Nousiainen, Ville (20 March 2024). "KalPan naiset nimesi uuden päävalmentajan". Savon Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ Suomen Jääkiekkoliitto; Liiga. Aaltonen, Juha (ed.). Jääkiekkokirja 2019–2020 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Uusi Suomi/Kiekkolehti. ISSN 0784-3321. OCLC 476321083.
- ^ "Juniori-KalPa ry - KalPan naisille SM-hopeaa". Juniori-KalPa ry (in Finnish). 26 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ^ Löfman, Heikki (18 March 2023). "KalPa juhlii pronssia – HPK taipui Niiralassa". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ a b c Mennander, Pasi (8 June 2024). "Naisten Liigan kauden 2023–24 palkitut pelaajat, valmentajat ja tuomarit". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ a b c Mennander, Pasi (10 June 2023). "Naisten Liigan kauden 2022–23 palkitut pelaajat, valmentajat ja tuomarit". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- ^ Niemeläinen, Jonne (16 March 2020). "Huikeat tehot kerännyt 19-vuotias KalPa-hyökkääjä Elisa Holopainen palkittiin Naisten Liigan runkosarjan parhaana – huomenna edessä kauden tärkein peli". Yle (in Finnish). Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ^ a b Mennander, Pasi (23 March 2020). "Naisten Liigan kauden 2019–20 palkitut pelaajat ja tähtikentät". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- ^ Mennander, Pasi (12 June 2019). "Tupu, Hupu ja Lupu jälleen yhdessä! Palkitsivat parhaat hyökkääjät Jääkiekkogaalassa". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- ^ Mennander, Pasi (13 June 2022). "Naisten Liigan kauden 2021–22 palkitut pelaajat ja tähtikentät". leijonat.fi (in Finnish). Finnish Ice Hockey Association. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
- ^ Mennander, Pasi (15 March 2021). "Naisten Liigan kauden 2020–21 palkitut pelaajat ja tähtikentät". leijonat.fi (in Finnish). Finnish Ice Hockey Association. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
- ^ a b Suomen Jääkiekkoliitto; Jääkiekkon SM-liiga Oy (2020). Aaltonen, Juha (ed.). Jääkiekkokirja 2021: Suomen Jääkiekkoliiton ja Liiga Kausijulkaisu 2020–2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Uusi Suomi/Kiekkolehti. p. 528. ISSN 0784-3321. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
- ^ Suomen Jääkiekkoliitto; Liiga (2019). Aaltonen, Juha (ed.). Jääkiekkokirja 2020: Suomen Jääkiekkoliiton ja Liiga Kausijulkaisu 2019–2020 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Uusi Suomi/Kiekkolehti. p. 554. ISSN 0784-3321. OCLC 476321083. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
- ^ a b Mennander, Pasi (27 February 2019). "Elisa Holopaiselle Naisten Liigan Ihalainen- ja Reima-palkinnot". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ Mennander, Pasi (24 February 2023). "Naisten Liigan kauden 2022–23 ensimmäisten pelaajapalkintojen voittajat ovat tässä: Pejzlova, Holopainen, Lehmus!". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- ^ Mennander, Pasi (22 March 2022). "Duvin, Nilsson, Yrjänen, Rakkolainen ja Havana – Naisten Liigan ensimmäiset kausipalkintojen voittajat julkistettu". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- ^ a b Niemeläinen, Jonne (16 March 2021). "Huikeat tehot kerännyt 19-vuotias KalPa-hyökkääjä Elisa Holopainen palkittiin Naisten Liigan runkosarjan parhaana – huomenna edessä kauden tärkein peli". Yle Urheilu (in Finnish). Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ Mennander, Pasi (21 February 2020). "Naisten Liigan Tiia Reima -palkinto 2020: Elisa Holopainen, KalPa". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ Mennander, Pasi (22 February 2017). "Naisten SM-sarjan kauden 2016-17 palkitut pelaajat, erotuomarit ja tähtikentät". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- ^ Mennander, Pasi (1 December 2023). "KalPan Elisa Holopainen Naisten Liigan marraskuun pelaaja". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ^ Mennander, Pasi (1 December 2022). "KalPan Elisa Holopainen Naisten Liigan marraskuun pelaaja". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Retrieved 8 December 2022.
- ^ Mennander, Pasi (1 October 2020). "KalPan Elisa Holopainen Naisten Liigan syyskuun pelaaja". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- ^ Mennander, Pasi (2 October 2019). "KalPan Matilda Nilsson Naisten Liigan syyskuun pelaaja". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ a b c "KalPa - All Time Regular Season Player Stats". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "KalPa - All Time Regular Season Player Stats per Season". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
External links
edit- Team information and statistics from EliteProspects.com and EuroHockey.com and HockeyArchives.info (in French)
- KalPa Naiset on Facebook
- KalPa Naiset on Instagram
