HIFK Naiset

For other teams of the parent club, see HIFK.

HIFK Naiset, also known by the nickname Stadin Gimmat ('Girls of Stadi,' a nickname for Helsinki), are an ice hockey team in the Naisten Liiga. They play in the Pirkkola district of Helsinki, at the Pirkkola Ice Hall (Finnish: Pirkkolan jäähalli). As the representative women's ice hockey team of the Helsinki-based multi-sport club HIFK, the team is closely affiliated with the HIFK men's ice hockey team of the Liiga.^[1]

HIFK Naiset
City	Helsinki, Finland
League	Naisten Liiga
Founded	1982 (1982) Refounded 2018
Home arena	Pirkkolan jäähalli
Colours	Red, white, dark blue
Owner(s)	Oy HIFK-Hockey Ab
General manager	Saara Niemi
Head coach	Saara Niemi
Captain	Karoliina Rantamäki
Affiliate	HIFK Akatemia
Website	Official website
Franchise history
1982–1989	HIFK Naiset
2018–	HIFK Naiset (Stadin Gimmat)
Current uniform
Current season

One of the ten founding teams from the inaugural 1982–83 Naisten SM-sarja season, the original HIFK Naiset was financially relegated in 1989 and the club chose not to pursue women’s ice hockey for the following several decades. The current team was established in 2018 and gained promotion to the Naisten Liiga from the second-tier Naisten Mestis at the end of their debut season in 2018–19.^[2]

History

Original team, 1982–1989

HIFK Naiset was one of the original ten teams to play in the inaugural season, 1982–83, of the Naisten SM-sarja, 'Women's Finnish Championship Series' (renamed Naisten Liiga in 2017). The team struggled early on, forced to compete with fellow Helsinki-based team Helsingin Jääkiekkoklubi (HJK) for top talent. HIFK finished in the bottom half of the league in their first five seasons, ranking seventh of ten teams in 1982–83, ninth of twelve in 1983–84, eighth of thirteen in 1984–85, fifth of eight in 1985–86, and sixth of eight in 1986–87.

The team’s fortunes turned in the 1987–88 season and they earned a 7-2-5 (win-tie-loss) record with a +3 goal differential and claimed third place in the Naisten SM-sarja playoffs, earning Finnish Championship bronze. With a 1988–89 roster that included three members of the newly-created Finnish women's national ice hockey team – defencemen Johanna Ikonen and Maria Turki (Novitsky), and forward Ulla Saarikko – HIFK continued their upward trajectory, posting an 8-2-4 record with a +20 goal differential and claiming Finnish Championship bronze for the second consecutive season.

Despite the marked improvement of the team, HIFK was financially relegated after the 1988–89 season and no senior women’s representative team or any programs for women and girls existed in the club for the following twenty-five years.

Season-by-season results

This is a list of all seasons completed by HIFK Naiset, including the original HIFK Naiset (1982–1989) and Stadin Gimmat-HIFK Naiset (2018–present).^[3]

Note: Finish = Rank at end of regular season; GP = Games played, W = Wins (3 points), OTW = Overtime/shootout wins (2 points), T = Ties (1 point), OTL = Overtime/shootout losses (1 point), L = Losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, Pts = Points, Top scorer: Points (Goals+Assists)

Season	League	Preliminaries and regular season											Post season results
		Finish	GP	W	OTW	T	OTL	L	GF	GA	Pts	Top scorer
1982–83	Naisten SM-sarja	7th	8	3	–	0	–	5	43	26	6		Did not qualify
1983–84	Naisten SM-sarja	9th	8	2	–	0	–	6	27	42	4		Did not qualify
1984–85	Naisten SM-sarja	8th	9	3	–	0	–	6	26	29	6		Did not qualify
1985–86	Naisten SM-sarja	5th	14	3	–	4	–	7	36	40	10		Did not qualify
1986–87	Naisten SM-sarja	6th	14	6	–	0	–	8	33	39	12		Did not qualify
1987–88	Naisten SM-sarja	3rd	14	7	–	2	–	5	35	32	16		Won bronze medal
1988–89	Naisten SM-sarja	3rd	14	8	–	2	–	4	53	33	18		Won bronze medal
2018–19	Naisten Mestis	1st	26	24	1	–	0	1	159	26	74	Mi. Klemola 50 (23+27)	Promoted to Naisten Liiga
2019–20	Naisten Liiga	7th	30	15	2	–	3	10	124	74	52	E. Passard 47 (28+19)	Lost quarterfinals, 0–3 (Kärpät)
2020–21	Naisten Liiga	3rd	27	16	4	–	1	6	104	57	57	E. Passard 37 (19+21)	Won bronze medal, 2–1 (Ilves)
2021–22	Naisten Liiga	2nd	29	26	0	–	0	3	137	41	78	M. Nilsson 55 (37+18)	Lost final, 2–3 (K-Espoo)

Players and personnel

2022–23 roster

As of 26 November 2022^[4][5][6][7]

No.	Nat	Player	Pos	S/G	Age	Acquired	Birthplace
3		Emma Andersson	F	L	16	2022
3		Nelly Andersson	D	R	15	2022	Kotka, Kymenlaakso, Finland
13		Veera Huotari	F	L	24	2020
19		Lumi Jääskeläinen	G	L	24	2019	Lohja, Uusimaa, Finland
44		Nellie Karlberg	F	L	18	2022
23		Johanna Kemppainen (A)	F	L	25	2019	Mäntsälä, Uusimaa, Finland
22		Eveliina Kitula (L)	F	R	17	2022	Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
20		Erica Korhonen	F	L	17	2022
16		Sara Kuuluvainen	D	L	19	2022
21		Iina Kuusela	G	L	26	2020	Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
92		Olivia Kylliäinen	D	R	18	2020	Lappeenranta, South Karelia, Finland
33		Kiia Lahtinen	G	L	19	2019	Porvoo, Uusimaa, Finland
91		Julia Liikala (A)	F	L	21	2021	Peräseinäjoki, South Ostrobothnia, Finland
88		Athéna Locatelli (A)	D	L	31	2020	Bourg-de-Péage, ARA, France
27		Miressa Mäkelä	F	L	22	2022	Porvoo, Uusimaa, Finland
9		Nenna Mehtonen	D	L	21	2018	Klaukkala, Uusimaa, Finland
12		Ilona Palin	D	L	16	2021
18		Michaela Pejzlová	F	L	25	2020	Pardubice, Czech Republic
29		Anni Pere	F	L	19	2018	Loviisa, Uusimaa, Finland
11		Karoliina Rantamäki (C)	F	L	44	2019	Vantaa, Uusimaa, Finland
72		Clara Rozier	F	R	25	2020	Évian, ARA, France
15		Mikaela Saukkonen	F	L	22	2018	Hyvinkää, Uusimaa, Finland
39		Sara Suhonen	F	L	17	2022	Vantaa, Uusimaa, Finland
28		Sanni Vanhanen	F	L	17	2022	Nokia, Pirkanmaa, Finland
10		Emilia Vesa	F	R	22	2022	Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
26		Satu-Maaria Vihervuori	D	L	18	2019	Vantaa, Uusimaa, Finland
4		Siiri Yrjöla	D	L	18	2020	Vantaa, Uusimaa, Finland

Coaching staff and team personnel

• Head coach: Saara Niemi
• Goaltending coach: Tuukka Hämäläinen
• Video coach: Nikolas Sepponen
• Skills coach: Martin Andler
• Conditioning coach: Simon Dannapfel
• Conditioning coach: Joonas Lahtinen
• Conditioning coach: Margot Vander Ghinst
• Team managers: Jukka Ahola & Johanna Sandqvist
• Equipment managers: Riikka Ahola & Timo Nikunen

Team captaincy history

• Saara Suomikallio, 2018–19 (Mestis)
• Karoliina Rantamäki, 2019–

Head coaches

• Saara Niemi,^[8] 2018–

Awards and honors

Finnish Championship

•   Runners-up (1): 2022
•   Third Place (3): 1988, 1989, 2021

Source: ^[9]

Player awards

• Noora Räty Award (Rookie of the Year)

• Krista Parkkonen, 2019–20

• Marianne Ihalainen Award (Top point scorer)

• Michaela Pejzlová, 2020–21

• Tiia Reima Award (Top goal scorer)

• Matilda Nilsson, 2021–22^[10]

• Hannu Saintula Award (Coach of the Year)

• Saara Niemi, 2020–21^[11]

• Scholar-Athlete Award

• Anni Hietaharju, 2020–21

All-Stars

• Second Team
  • Athéna Locatelli, 2020–21
  • Krista Parkkonen, 2020–21
  • Michaela Pejzlová, 2020–21

Player of the Month

• December 2019 – Emmanuelle Passard

Team records

The individual records detailed here include statistics since the team joined the Naisten Liiga in the 2019–20 season only, as complete player statistics for HIFK Naiset during the 1982–1989 Naisten SM-sarja seasons are not available. Records valid through the conclusion of the 2021–22 season.^[12]

Single-season records

• Most goals in a season: Matilda Nilsson, 37 goals (29 games; 2021–22)
• Most assists in a season: Michaela Pejzlová, 27 assists (21 games; 2021–22)
• Most points in a season: Matilda Nilsson, 55 points (29 games; 2021–22)
• Most points in a season, defenceman: Caroline Shaunessy, 27 points (30 games; 2019–20)
• Most points in a season, rookie: Krista Parkkonen, 21 points (28 games; 2019–20)
• Best points per game in a season, over ten games played: Michaela Pejzlová, 2.00 P/G (21 games; 2021–22)
• Most penalty minutes in a season: Krista Parkkonen, 63 PIM (28 games; 2019–20)
• Best save percentage in a season, over ten games played: Iina Kuusela, .951 SV% (18 games; 2021–22)
• Best goals against average in a season, over ten games played: Iina Kuusela, 1.23 GAA (18 games; 2021–22)
• Most shutouts in a season: Iina Kuusela, 6 shutouts (18 games; 2021–22)

Career records

Statistics valid from 2019–20 season through 2021–22 season.^[13]

• Most career goals: Emmanuelle Passard, 65 goals (85 games; 2019–2022)
• Most career assists: Karoliina Rantamäki, 58 assists (74 games; 2019–2022)
• Most career points: Emmanuelle Passard, 120 points (85 games; 2019–2022)
• Most career points, defenceman: Krista Parkkonen, 49 points (69 games; 2019–2022)
• Best career points per game, over 30 games played: Michaela Pejzlová, 1.84 P/G (43 games; 2019–2022)
• Most career penalty minutes: Krista Parkkonen, 75 PIM (69 games; 2019–2022)
• Most games played, skater: Emmanuelle Passard, 85 games (2019–2022)
• Most games played, goaltender: Iina Kuusela, 33 games (2020–2022)

All-time scoring leaders

The top-ten point (goal+assist) scorers since HIFK joined the Naisten Liiga in 2019.

As of April 2022

Note: Nat = Nationality; Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game

Points

Nat	Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	P/G
	Emmanuelle Passard	F	85	65	55	120	1.41
	Karoliina Rantamäki	F	74	28	58	86	1.16
	Michaela Pejzlová	F	43	32	47	79	1.84
	Matilda Nilsson	F	29	37	18	55	1.90
	Johanna Kemppainen	F	81	29	25	54	0.67
	Clara Rozier	F	55	22	31	53	0.96
	Krista Parkkonen	D	69	14	35	49	0.71
	Athéna Locatelli	D	54	6	33	39	0.72
	Miressa Mäkelä	F	44	18	17	35	0.80
	Fanny Jalonen	F	54	12	22	34	0.63
	Julia Liikala	F	27	15	18	33	1.22
	Caroline Shaunessy	D	30	7	20	27	0.90
	Emmi Juusela	F	47	12	13	25	0.53
	Siiri Yrjölä	D	56	6	19	25	0.45
	Veronika Lorencová	F	74	10	12	22	0.30

Source(s): Finnish Ice Hockey Association, Elite Prospects^[13]

References

1. Foster, Meredith (24 July 2018). "Q & A with Saara Niemi of HIFK". The Ice Garden. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
2. Kauhala, Hannu (26 April 2018). "HIFK julkisti naisten joukkueen, aloittaa ensi kaudella Mestiksessä". Länsi-Suomi (in Finnish). Retrieved 29 August 2020.
3. "SM-sarja (W) - HIFK, Team History and Standings". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
4. "Naisten Liiga (W) - HIFK 2022-2023 Roster". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
5. "Joukkue". Stadin Gimmat (in Finnish). Retrieved 10 August 2022.
6. "Stadin Gimmat 2022 - 23". Stadin Gimmat (in Finnish). 19 August 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
7. "Kokoonpano HIFK – Naisten Liiga". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Retrieved 11 September 2022.
8. Salomäki, Anne (7 December 2018). "HIFK's Saara Niemi is ice hockey from head to toe". Wärtsilä. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
9. Suomen Jääkiekkoliitto; Liiga. Aaltonen, Juha (ed.). Jääkiekkokirja 2019–2020 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Uusi Suomi/Kiekkolehti. ISSN 0784-3321. OCLC 476321083.
10. Mennander, Pasi (22 March 2022). "Duvin, Nilsson, Yrjänen, Rakkolainen ja Havana – Naisten Liigan ensimmäiset kausipalkintojen voittajat julkistettu". leijonat.fi (in Finnish). Finnish Ice Hockey Association. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
11. Mennander, Pasi (15 March 2021). "Naisten Liigan parhaan valmentajan palkinto Saara Niemelle". leijonat.fi (in Finnish). Finnish Ice Hockey Association. Retrieved 23 March 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
12. "All Time Regular Season Player Stats per Season for HIFK from 19/20 Season – Naisten Liiga (W)". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 24 April 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
13. "All Time Regular Season Player Stats for HIFK from 19/20 Season – Naisten Liiga (W)". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 24 April 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

External links

• Official website (in Finnish)
• HIFK Naiset on Facebook  
• HIFK Naiset on Instagram  
• HIFK Naiset on Twitter