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Women's ice hockey in Finland
Country Finland
Governing bodyFinnish Ice Hockey Association
National team(s)National team
National U18 team
Registered players5,763[1]
National competitions
International competitions

Across the Finnish population as a whole, ice hockey ranks among the top three most popular sports in terms of participation, television viewership, and game attendance. However, women's ice hockey in Finland lags behind its male counterpart in all three metrics.

Participation by demographics

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Population statistics[2][3]

  • Men, 18+: 0.8
  • Women, 18+: 0.2
  • Total, 0–17: 3.5

has produced high-performing women's ice hockey teams and players since international tournaments were first organized in the 1980s. The Finnish women's national program has ranked among the top-five in the world since the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) first introduced its World Ranking system in 2003. . had 5,858 active players in 2019.[4] The Finnish Ice Hockey Association organizes both the national women's program and the three levels of domestic women's leagues in Finland.

History

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The first women's hockey teams were founded in Finland in the early 1970s[5] but it took many years for women's ice hockey to gain enough popularity and participation to warrant the creation of a national league. In 1978, the first "lipstick tournament" was held, creating an informal national women's championship, though records of the competition outcomes are not available.

In 1982 the Naisten SM-sarja was founded as the first elite women's national league in Finland. The first season was played in two divisions of five teams each (10 teams total) and the first playoffs were held in Tampere on March 12 and 13, 1983.[6] Since its founding, the number of teams per season has ranged from 8 to 13. In 2017, the Naisten SM-sarja was renamed Naisten Liiga and in 2018 the number of teams was expanded to the league's original number of 10.

The Finland women's national team entered international competition in the 1988–1989 season, quickly claiming its first gold at the 1989 IIHF European Women Championships. The team has remained successful since its emergence on the international stage, medalling in three Olympics and 13 Women's World Championships. Most recently, Finland took silver at the 2019 Women's World Championship after a controversial loss in the finals to the United States.[7][8]

Developmental leagues

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The number of young women in the junior level increased slowly, from 500 players at the beginning to approximately 2000 today.[9] The growth rate was not satisfactory, so the Finnish Ice Hockey Association decided to invest in development of women's ice hockey by supporting leagues.[9] The number of teams considerably increased: there are now 12 teams in the Women's 1st Division, is Naisten Mestis (second level after the Naisten Liiga).

Lohko 1

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Team City
HPK Hämeenlinna
Ilves Tampere
Reipas Lahti
Marski-Hockey Mikkeli
SaiPa Lappeenranta
Ässät Pori

Lohko 2

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Team City
EPS Espoo Espoo
HG-92 Tuusula
Karhu-Kissat Vantaa
PaKa Kuusamo
Sport Vaasa
Tappara Tampere

Tournaments

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The following IIHF tournaments were hosted in Finland.

Event Location Finish
1992 IIHF Women's World Championship Tampere 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze[10]
1998 3 Nations Cup Kuortane 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze
1999 IIHF Women's World Championship Espoo 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze
2001 3 Nations Cup Vierumäki and Tampere 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver
2005 4 Nations Cup Hämeenlinna 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze
2008–09 IIHF European Women's Champions Cup Lohja 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze (Espoo Blues)
2009 IIHF Women's World Championship Hämeenlinna 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze[10]
2009 4 Nations Cup Vierumäki Fourth
2011–12 IIHF European Women's Champions Cup Hämeenlinna 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze (HPK)
2012 4 Nations Cup Tikkurila Fourth
2012–13 IIHF European Women's Champions Cup Oulu 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze (Oulun Kärpät)
2014–15 IIHF European Women's Champions Cup Espoo 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze (Espoo Blues)
2016 4 Nations Cup Vierumäki 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze

Leading scorers

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IIHF Worlds

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  • Riikka Sallinen (née Nieminen, previously Välilä) is Finland's all-time leader with 41 points (23 goals, 18 assists). She participated in four IIHF Worlds. She led two World Championships (1994 and 1997) in scoring.[11] Her 41 points ranks seventh all-time in World Championship scoring. She appeared in 118 games for Finland, scoring 109 goals, 95 assists and 204 points.[12]
  • Tiia Reima ranks second all-time with 34 points (14 goals, 20 assists) and participated in six tournaments. Her 20 assists is the Finnish career mark for most assists in World Championship play. She earned five bronze medals at the '90, '92, '94, '97 and '99 World Championships.

Olympics

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  • Riikka Sallinen ranks as the all time leading Olympic scorer for Finland.[13] She was the top point producer at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games.

Famous firsts

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  • 1983: Official start of a women's elite league in Finland[14]
  • 1989: Naisleijonat won the first Women's European Championships
  • 1990: Finland claimed the bronze in the first IIHF Women's World Championships
  • May 21, 2010: Riikka Sallinen was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in Cologne, Germany. She was only the fourth woman to receive this honor and the first from Finland.

Finnish women in NCAA

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Main article: List of Finnish women in North American collegiate ice hockey
Position Name NCAA school Seasons
G Noora Räty Minnesota 2009–2013
D Mariia Posa Minnesota Duluth 2009–2012
F Nina Tikkinen Minnesota State 2007–2010
F Minttu Tuominen Ohio State 2009–2013
F Saara Niemi Minnesota Duluth 2008–2010

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "IIHF Member National Associations: Finland". International Ice Hockey Federation. 26 May 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  2. ^ "Preliminary population structure by Month, Area, Age, Information and Sex: Age period 18–". Statistics Finland. August 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Preliminary population structure by Month, Area, Age, Information and Sex: Age period 0–17". Statistics Finland. August 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  4. ^ "IIHF National Association Member: Finland". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
  5. ^ "Termit tutuiksi!" [Know the terms!]. leijonat.fi (in Finnish). Finnish Ice Hockey Association. Retrieved 2019-07-11.
  6. ^ "Women's Hockey in Finland". Whockey.com. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
  7. ^ Spencer, Donna (2019-04-15). "U.S. wins women's world hockey title with controversial shootout victory over Finland". CBC Sports. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
  8. ^ Weiswerda, Brennin (2019-04-14). "Controversial goalie-interference call costs Finland gold medal, USA wins in shootout". Russian Machine Never Breaks (RMNB). Retrieved 2019-07-04.
  9. ^ a b "Women's Hockey History in Finland". Whockey.com. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
  10. ^ a b Collins gem Hockey Facts and Stats 2009–10, p.540, Andrew Podnieks, Harper Collins Publishers Ltd, Toronto, Canada, ISBN 978-1-55468-621-6
  11. ^ "Notable Women Hockey Players". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
  12. ^ "IIHF Hall of Fame inducts six new members". National Hockey League. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  13. ^ "Timeline — Evolution Of Women's Hockey". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
  14. ^ "Milestones of Finnish Ice Hockey: Years 1975 –". Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
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