Kärpät Naiset

Oulun Kärpät Naiset
CityOulu, Finland
LeagueAuroraliiga
Founded1990 (1990)
Home arenaRaksila 2
ColoursBlack, yellow, white
     
General managerMika Kaijankoski
Head coachTeemu Koivula
CaptainAino Kaijankoski
AffiliatesKärpät Akatemia
Parent clubOulun Kärpät 46 ry
WebsiteOfficial website
Championships
Regular season titles2 (1996–97, 2016–17)
Aurora Borealis Cup3 (2011–12, 2016–17, 2017–18)
Current uniform
Current season

Oulun Kärpät Naiset (lit.'Oulu's Ermine Women') are an ice hockey team in the Auroraliiga. They play in Oulu, a city on the northeastern coast of the Bothnian Bay in the Finnish north-central region of North Ostrobothnia, at the Raksilan harjoitusjäähalli (lit.'Raksila training ice rink'; also known as Raksila 2) of Oulun Energia Areena. Ilves have won the Aurora Borealis Cup three times, in 2012, 2017, and 2018.[1]

The team’s parent club, Oulun Kärpät 46 ry, is the junior affiliate of the Liiga team Oulun Kärpät and the teams are loosely affiliated through that association.

Season-by-season results

This is a partial list of the most recent seasons completed by Oulun Kärpät 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 Postseason results
Finish GP W OTW OTL L GF GA Pts Top scorer
2016–17 Naisten SM-sarja 1st 28 18 5 1 1 100 41 65 S. Saari 39 (12+27) Won Championship, 3–2 (United)
2017–18 Naisten Liiga 2nd 30 17 4 3 6 147 62 62 S. Tarkki 52 (19+33) Won Championship, 3–1 (Ilves)
2018–19 Naisten Liiga 3rd 30 19 1 1 9 147 70 60 S. Tarkki 57 (23+34) Won bronze medal, 1–0 (KalPa)
2019–20 Naisten Liiga 2nd 30 19 3 1 7 90 53 64 S. Saari 35 (15+20) Lost semifinals to KalPa, 2–3
2020–21 Naisten Liiga 7th 29 15 0 2 12 98 73 47 A. Antti-Roiko 27 (8+19) Lost quarterfinals to KalPa, 0–2
2021–22 Naisten Liiga 3rd 29 16 2 0 11 85 62 52 O. Havana 27 (13+14) Won bronze medal game, 1–0 (TPS)
2022–23 Naisten Liiga 8th 36 7 1 5 23 92 150 28 O. Havana 36 (23+13) Lost quarterfinals to HIFK, 0–3
2023–24 Naisten Liiga 7th 32 7 2 2 21 69 133 27 E. Ekoluoma 27 (16+11) Lost quarterfinals to HIFK, 0–3
2024–25 Auroraliiga 8th 32 5 0 0 27 48 128 15 A. Antti-Roiko 16 (3+13) Lost quarterfinals to K-Espoo, 0–3
2025–26 Auroraliiga 7th 32 7 2 1 22 88 134 26 S. Wäänänen 34 (17+17) Lost quarterfinals to HPK, 1–3

Players and personnel

2025–26 roster

As of 18 March 2026[2][3][4]
No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
39 Kati Asikainen G L 28 2020 Haukipudas, North Ostrobothnia, Finland
18 Ella-Sofia Hautala F L 17 2024 Kokkola, Central Ostrobothnia, Finland
64 Sara Holopainen D L 19 2025 Vantaa, Uusimaa, Finland
16 Aino Kaijankoski (C) D L 25 2016 Siikajoki, North Ostrobothnia, Finland
13 Katri Kivimäki D L 19 2025
26 Inna Korpi-Halkola F L 19 2022 Kolari, Lapland, Finland
32 Olivia Laitamäki F L 22 2024 Nurmo, South Ostrobothnia, Finland
14 Martta Lampinen F L 17 2024
34 Emmi Loponen F L 17 2025 Oulu, North Ostrobothnia, Finland
8 Alexandra Mateičková D L 19 2024 Ružinov, Bratislava Region, Slovakia
46 Daria Molchun (L) F L 15 2025 Petrozavodsk, Karelia, Russia
9 Elisa Pekkala F L 26 2024 Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland
1 Emilia Piekkari G L 19 2023 Keminmaa, Lapland, Finland
21 Olivia Pinola D R 19 2023 Kärsämäki, North Ostrobothnia, Finland
42 Emmi Puusaari F L 20 2021 Liminka, North Ostrobothnia, Finland
33 Ronja Pätsi G L 21 2024 Kuusamo, North Ostrobothnia, Finland
55 Venla Rauhala F 17 2025
29 Nea Ronkainen F L 16 2025 Kemi, Lapland, Finland
12 Viivi-Maija Ruonakoski (A) D L 16 2025 Liminka, North Ostrobothnia, Finland
96 Edla Similä F L 22 2025
19 Siiri Tolonen D L 16 2025 Ii, North Ostrobothnia, Finland
28 Minttu Tukiainen F L 19 2022 Lapinlahti, North Savo, Finland
25 Noora Tukiainen D L 27 2021 Lapinlahti, North Savo, Finland
17 Linnea Tulkki F L 22 2025
22 Ada Ukkola D L 28 2025 Oulu, North Ostrobothnia, Finland
0 Erika Vitikka G L 15–16 2025 Oulu, North Ostrobothnia, Finland
7 Sari Wäänänen F L 32 2014 Ylikiiminki, North Ostrobothnia, Finland
27 Jasmine Ylitalo (A) F L 24 2021 Kalajoki, North Ostrobothnia, Finland

Coaching staff and team personnel

  • Head coach: Teemu Koivula
  • Assistant coach: Lilli Antinmäki
  • Assistant coach: Niko Pernu
  • Goaltending coach: Jani Erkinmikko
  • Conditioning coach: Arto Roukala
  • Team managers: Jukka Välitalo
  • Equipment managers: Veli-Matti Puusaari, Niina Ronkainen, Jari Siermala & Keijo Vähäkuopus
  • Physical therapist: Samu Siermala

Team captains

Head coaches

  • Kari Ikonen & Pasi Sorvisto, 1994–1997
  • Kari Ikonen, Katri Niemelä & Pasi Sorvisto, 1997–98
  • Kari Ikonen & Pasi Sorvisto, 1998–99
  • Risto Liikka, 1999–2003
  • Lauri Merikivi, 2007–2010
  • Seppo Karjalainen, 2012–13
  • Mira Kuisma, 2015–2019[7]
  • Janne Salmela, 2019–2021
  • Samuli Hassi, 2021–22
  • Sanna Lankosaari, 2022–13 October 2023[8]
  • Saija Tarkki (interim), 13–31 October 2023[9]
  • Satu Kiipeli, 31 October 2023[9] – 30 April 2024
  • Teemu Koivula, 1 May 2024[10] –

General managers

  • Eero Sirviö, 2012–2019
  • Saija Tarkki, 2019–2022
  • Timo Karjalainen, 2022–23
  • Mika Kaijankoski, 2023–

Team honors

Finnish Champions

The winner of the Naisten Liiga playoffs receives the Aurora Borealis Cup and earns the Finnish Champion title, with gold medals awarded to each player. The Aurora Borealis Cup was first awarded at the conclusion of the 2010–11 Naisten SM-sarja postseason. Prior to 2011, the Naisten SM-sarja champion received the Sammon -malja.[11]

  • Aurora Borealis Cup (3): 2012, 2017, 2018[12]
  • Runners-up (7): 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007
  • Third Place (7): 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2019, 2022

Notable alumni

Years active with Kärpät listed alongside player name.[13]

International players

  • Michaela Matejová, 2008–09
  • Marianne Mattila, 1994–95
  • Josefine Quaade, 2000–01
  • Karolína Skořepová, 2022–2025

See also

References

  1. ^ "Kärppien naisten historia". Oulun Kärpät 46 RY. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  2. ^ "Kärpät, Auroraliiga (W) – 2025-2026 Kärpät Roster". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  3. ^ "Joukkue". Kärpät Naiset (in Finnish). Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  4. ^ "2025-2026, Auroraliiga, Auroraliigan pudotuspelit – Kokoonpano Kärpät" (PDF). Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  5. ^ Pakarinen, Risto (6 March 2019). "Next level". International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  6. ^ "Kärppien kapteenisto 2019–2020" (in Finnish). Oulun Kärpät 46 ry. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  7. ^ Foster, Meredith (16 August 2018). "Mira Kuisma Named Finland U18 Head Coach". The Ice Garden. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  8. ^ Seppä, Lassi (13 October 2023). "Sanna Lankosaari sivuun Kärppien päävalmentajan tehtävästä". Jatkoaika (in Finnish). Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  9. ^ a b Seppä, Lassi (31 October 2023). "Kärppien naisten uusi päävalmentaja on Satu Kiipeli". Jatkoaika (in Finnish). Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  10. ^ Pirkkiö, Jaarli (28 March 2024). "Teemu Koivula siirtyy Kärppien naisten liigajoukkueen valmentajaksi". Lapin Kansa (in Finnish). Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  11. ^ Suomen Jääkiekkoliitto; Liiga. Aaltonen, Juha (ed.). Jääkiekkokirja 2019–2020 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Uusi Suomi/Kiekkolehti. ISSN 0784-3321. OCLC 476321083.
  12. ^ Foster, Meredith (26 March 2018). "Kärpät, Ilves headed to Aurora Borealis Cup Final". The Ice Garden. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  13. ^ "All Time Overall Totals Player Stats for Kärpät". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 12 August 2024.