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2024–25 Auroraliiga season

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2024–25 Auroraliiga season
LeagueAuroraliiga
SportIce hockey
Defending championsIFK Helsinki (2023–24)
Duration6 September 2024 (2024-09-06) – 16 February 2025 (2025-02-16)
Number of games32
Number of teams9
Seasons
2025–26 →

The 2024–25 Auroraliiga season will be the 42nd ice hockey season of the Auroraliiga.

IFK Helsinki (HIFK) are the reigning 2023 Aurora Borealis Cup champions. Kiekko-Espoo hold the 2023–24 regular season title.

League changes

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Name change

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Founded in 1982 as the Naisten SM-sarja and known as the Naisten Liiga (NSML) since 2017, the league announced it had rebranded as Auroraliiga on 15 August 2024. Announcing the name change, league director Henni Laaksonen emphasized, "it is high time to play ice hockey without prefixes" – referring to the intentional move away from the term "women's ice hockey" in the new branding – and outlined the league's goal to develop into a top international league that will enable its players to experience the everyday life of professional athletes.[1][2]

The rebranding included a new wordmark and a black-and-green color scheme.

Postseason format

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Adjustments to the Auroraliiga postseason format were approved by the Finnish Ice Hockey Association in May 2024 and included extending the playoff semifinals and finals from best-of-five to best-of-seven series.[3]

The league qualifiers will be a best-of-five series played by the last place (i.e. ninth ranked) team of the Auroraliiga and the winner of the Naisten Mestis playoffs, regardless of the teams.[3]

Coaching changes

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Team Previous coach New coach Details
KalPa Mika Väärälä Artturi Rouhiainen Väärälä announced he would not continue as head coach of KalPa on 17 March 2024, a day after successfully coaching the team to its second consecutive Finnish Championship bronze medal. Specifics regarding his departure were not reported, however the relationship between the club and coach appeared amicable and he wished the team much success in the future.[4]
Rouhiainen was announced as the new head coach of KalPa on 20 March 2024. The 29-year old spent the 2023–24 season as head coach of KalPa's girls' under-15 team and associate head coach of the girls' under-16 team, while finishing a degree in physical education.[5]
Kärpät Satu Kiipeli Teemu Koivula After starting the 2023–24 season as an assistant coach with Kärpät, Kiipeli took on head coaching duties in October 2023 following the resignation of head coach Sanna Lankosaari earlier that month. The team achieved a 9-23 win–loss record on the season and were swept in the quarterfinals of the 2024 playoffs by eventual Aurora Borealis Cup champions HIFK.
Koivula was head coach of RoKi during the 2023–24 season, in which the team finished at the bottom of the Naisten Liiga standings. He was announced as the new head coach of Kärpät on 27 March 2024 and, at the same time, it was confirmed that Kiipeli would remain with the team and return to her previous role as assitant coach.[6]
RoKi Teemu Koivula Oona Parviainen [7][8]

Player movements

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Note: This section does not record all player signings. It is limited to player movements involving national team players (from any country), international import players, and extra-league signings. Player nationality is limited to primary nation of IIHF eligibility; some players may hold citizenship in more than one country.

Player Nat Previous team 2024–25 team ref.
Incoming players
Lea Glosíková (F) Slovakia Hoosac Owls (NEPSAC) TPS Turku [9]
Manuela Heidenberger (F) Italy EV Bozen Eagles (EWHL/IHLW) HPK Hämeenlinna [10]
Anni Keisala (G) Finland HV71 (SDHL) HPK Hämeenlinna [11]
Peppi Kähkönen (F) Finland Hamline Pipers (NCAA D3) TPS Turku [12]
Anni Montonen (F) Finland HV71 (SDHL) Kiekko-Espoo
Kokoro Ota (D) Japan Seibu Princess Rabbits (WJIHL) KalPa Kuopio [13]
Intra-league transfers
Tiina Ranne (G) Finland KalPa Kuopio TPS Turku [14]
Karoliina Rantamäki (F) Finland IFK Helsinki Kiekko-Espoo [15]
Mikaela Saukkonen (D) Finland IFK Helsinki HPK Hämeenlinna [10]
Peppi Virtanen (F) Finland Team Kuortane HPK Hämeenlinna [16]
Departing players
Kati Asikainen (G) Finland Kärpät Oulu HC Fribourg-Gottéron (SWHL A) [17]
Oona Havana (F) Finland Kärpät Oulu Vermont Catamounts (NCAA D1)
Elisa Holopainen (F) Finland KalPa Kuopio Frölunda HC (SDHL) [18]
Liisa Kastikainen (F) Finland KalPa Kuopio Örebro HK (NDHL) [19]
Oona Koukkula (D) Finland HPK Hämeenlinna Brynäs IF (SDHL) [20]
Jenniina Kuoppala (D) Finland Team Kuortane Örebro HK (NDHL) [19]
Emilia Kyrkkö (G) Finland Team Kuortane St. Cloud State Huskies (NCAA D1) [21]
Kiia Lahtinen (G) Finland IFK Helsinki Maine Black Bears (NCAA D1) [22]
Julia Liikala (F) Finland IFK Helsinki HC Ambrì-Piotta Girls (SWHL A) [23]
Nenna Mehtonen (D) Finland IFK Helsinki Örebro HK (NDHL) [19]
Michaela Pejzlová (F) Czech Republic IFK Helsinki HC Ambrì-Piotta Girls (SWHL A) [23]
Sanni Rantala (D) Finland KalPa Kuopio Frölunda HC (SDHL) [18]
Clara Rozier (F) France IFK Helsinki SC Bern (SWHL A) [24]
Kassidy Sauvé (G) Canada HPK Hämeenlinna SDE Hockey (SDHL) [25]
Julia Schalin (F) Finland Kiekko-Espoo Mercyhurst Lakers (NCAA D1)
Sanni Vanhanen (F) Finland IFK Helsinki Brynäs IF (SDHL) [26]
Siiri Yrjölä (D) Finland IFK Helsinki St. Cloud State Huskies (NCAA D1) [21]
Julia Zielińska (F) Poland Kiekko-Espoo Bemidji State Beavers (NCAA D1) [27][28]

Teams

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class=notpageimage|
Location of teams in the Naisten Liiga
Team Location Home venue Head coach Captain
HIFK  Helsinki Pirkkolan jäähalli Saara Niemi Athéna Locatelli
HPK Hämeenlinna Jääliikuntakeskus Hakio Jari Risku Heta Seikkula
Ilves Tampere Tesoman jäähalli Marjo Voutilainen Jenna Lehtiniemi
KalPa Kuopio Niiralan Monttu Artturi Rouhiainen Johanna Juutilainen
Kiekko-Espoo Espoo Tapiolan harjoitusareena Sami Haapanen Reetta Valkjärvi
Kärpät Oulu Raksilan jäähalli Teemu Koivula Aino Kaijankoski
RoKi Rovaniemi Lappi Areena Oona Parviainen Eveliina Ollila
Team Kuortane Kuortane Kuortaneen jäähalli Juuso Nieminen Kerttu Lehmus
TPS Turku Kupittaan jäähalli Terhi Mertanen Pihla Hämeenniemi

Preseason

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The preseason began on 9 August 2024 and comprised exhibition games played between Auroraliiga teams or between an Auroraliiga team and a boys' junior team from the youth department of the same club or a local club. The Regina Cougars women's ice hockey team from the University of Regina in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada will play exhibition matches against Ilves, HIFK, and HPK during the Auroraliiga preseason. No exhibition matches are scheduled for RoKi.[29]

Schedule

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Exhibition games
Date Home Score Visitor OT Attn Notes Recap
9 August HIFK 3–5 HIFK U16 II 49 [Recap 1]
10 August TPS 4–6 Ilves 30 [Recap 2]
Kärpät 1–4 Kärpät U15 Valkoinen 80 [Recap 3]
HPK 4–3 K-Espoo 60 [Recap 4]
11 August Ilves 8–3 TPS 49 Hat-trick by Noora Mylläri [Recap 5]
K-Espoo 6–0 HPK 70 Shutout recorded by Tiia Pajarinen [Recap 6]
15 August Kuortane 20–0 S-Kiekko U14 Musta 20
  • Hat-trick by Raili Mustonen
  • Hat-trick by Tuuli Tallinen
  • Shut-out recorded by Minttu Kataja
 [Recap 7]
16 August Ilves 5–0 Regina Cougars
KalPa 3–3 KalPa U16 Ak SO 28
17 August TPS HPK
HIFK Warriors U16
Ilves K-Espoo
18 August HIFK Regina Cougars
K-Espoo Ilves
20 August HPK Regina Cougars
22 August Kuortane S-Kiekko Sininen
23 August TPS K-Espoo
24 August HPK Ilves
K-Espoo TPS
25 August HIFK HIFK U15
Ilves HPK
29 August Kuortane S-Kiekko Sininen

Regular season

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The regular season is scheduled to begin on Friday, 6 September 2024. The season opening weekend will be hosted in Turku, with eight of the nine games to be played at Turkuhalli and the Sunday match between Team Kuortane and HPK to be played at Kupittaan jäähalli.

Schedule

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Regular Season

References

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  1. ^ Mennander, Pasi (15 August 2024). "Näin Auroraliiga julkistettiin – Lue tästä koko tiedote". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (Press release) (in Finnish). Retrieved 16 August 2024. Nimen ja brändin päivittäminen on pitkän pohdinnan ja uurastuksen tulos sekä tärkeä symbolinen teko – nyt on jo korkea aika pelata jääkiekkoa ilman etuliitteitä.
  2. ^ Leinonen, Otto (15 August 2024). "Naisten liigaan isoja muutoksia". Iltalehti (in Finnish). Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Naisten Liigan ja Mestiksen pelaamistapa päätetty". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). 16 May 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  4. ^ Seppä, Lassi (17 March 2024). "Mika Väärälä ei jatka KalPan naisten päävalmentajana". Jatkoaika (in Finnish). Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  5. ^ Nousiainen, Ville (20 March 2024). "KalPan naiset nimesi uuden päävalmentajan". Savon Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  6. ^ Pirkkiö, Jaarli (28 March 2024). "Teemu Koivula siirtyy Kärppien naisten liigajoukkueen valmentajaksi". Lapin Kansa (in Finnish). Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  7. ^ Hyötylä, Ville (28 March 2024). "Liigakonkari Oona Parviainen ottaa RoKin naiset komentoonsa – liigajoukkueelle perustetaan myös akatemiajoukkue". Lapin Kansa (in Finnish). Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  8. ^ Seppä, Lassi (24 March 2024). "Tuore päävalmentaja Oona Parviainen kasaa RoKia kuin Diilissä konsanaan − sponsoreilla ja akatemiajoukkueella on iso merkitys tulevaisuudessa". Jatkoaika (in Finnish). Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  9. ^ TPS Naiset [@tpsnaiset] (22 May 2024). "🤝 𝙏𝙀𝙍𝙑𝙀𝙏𝙐𝙇𝙊𝘼 𝙏𝙐𝙍𝙐𝙉 𝙋𝘼𝙇𝙇𝙊𝙎𝙀𝙐𝙍𝘼𝘼𝙉 - @leaglosikova ¶ Hyökkääjä Lea Glosíková on tepsiläinen kaudella 2024-2025..." (in Finnish and English). Turku, Finland. Retrieved 16 June 2024 – via Instagram.
  10. ^ a b Seppä, Lassi (14 May 2024). "HIFK:n tuplamestari Mikaela Saukkonen HPK:hon − viime kauden ulkomaalaistähdet jatkavat, myös kaksi nuorta mukaan". Jatkoaika (in Finnish). Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  11. ^ Lainesalo, Joonas (5 May 2024). "HPK:n naisten joukkue vahvistuu: Anni Keisala jatkaa mainioiden maalivahtien sarjaa". Hämeen Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  12. ^ Seppä, Lassi (22 May 2024). "Huippumaalivahdin sisko Yhdysvalloista Turkuun − Peppi Kähkönen TPS:ään". Jatkoaika (in Finnish). Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  13. ^ Seppä, Lassi (17 July 2024). "KalPan naiset vankisti puolustuspäätään kolmella pelaajalla − mukaan toinen japanilaisvahvistus". Jatkoaika (in Finnish). Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  14. ^ Seppä, Lassi (21 March 2024). "Kokenut Tiina Ranne jättää KalPan seitsemän yhteisen kauden jälkeen − siirtyy TPS:n riveihin". Jatkoaika (in Finnish). Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  15. ^ Hirvonen, Hinni (17 May 2024). "Karoliina Rantamäki, 46, jatkaa uraansa Espoossa: "Sydämeni on aina ollut sininen"". Yle Urheilu (in Finnish). Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  16. ^ Lainesalo, Joonas (18 June 2024). "HPK:n naisten joukkue on lähes valmis – Seura julkaisi tiistaina kymmenen uutta sopimusta". Hämeen Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  17. ^ Stettler, Frank (23 April 2024). "Vier neue Ausländerinnen und ein neuer Trainer für Gottérons Frauen". Freiburger Nachrichten [de] (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  18. ^ a b Olausson, Robin (9 April 2024). "Frölunda värvar Elisa Holopainen och Sanni Rantala". HockeySverige (in Swedish). Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  19. ^ a b c Seppä, Lassi (16 August 2024). "Örebron riveihin suomalaisnaisten vyöry". Jatkoaika (in Finnish). Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  20. ^ Mauritzon, Amelia (30 April 2024). "Brynäs förstärker i SDHL – värvar finsk VM-back". Arbetarbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  21. ^ a b "Women's Hockey Adds Three to 2024-25 Freshman Class". St. Cloud State University Athletics (Press release). 19 December 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  22. ^ Seppä, Lassi (1 May 2024). "HIFK:n mestarimaalivahti Kiia Lahtisen ura jatkuu Yhdysvalloissa". Jatkoaika (in Finnish). Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  23. ^ a b Kennedy, Ian (16 June 2024). "PWHL Rumblings: Gilmore Retires, Gender Inclusion, Ottawa's Arena, and More". The Hockey News. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  24. ^ Kennedy, Ian (24 April 2024). "Swiss League Making Significant Gains While SDHL Falls Behind". The Hockey News. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  25. ^ Karlsson, Måns (24 April 2024). "SDHL-klubben värvar ny målvakt". HockeySverige (in Swedish). Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  26. ^ Mauritzon, Amelia (17 May 2024). "Brynäs värvar poängdrottning från Finland". Gefle Dagblad [sv] (in Swedish). Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  27. ^ Bernard, Aleksander (4 February 2023). "Największy polski talent trafia do USA. Epokowy wyczyn. Ma 19 lat". Sport.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  28. ^ Krzywicki, Benjamin (31 January 2023). "Julia Zielińska To Be The First Polish Woman to Play NCAA D1 Hockey". Polish Puck. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  29. ^ "2024-2025 > Harjoitusottelut > Harjoitusottelut Naisten Liiga: Ottelut". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). 22 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2024.

Game recaps

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  1. ^ "Harjoitusottelut Naisten Liiga: Ottelut nr. 8916". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). 9 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Harjoitusottelut Naisten Liiga: Ottelut nr. 9070". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). 10 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Harjoitusottelut Naisten Liiga: Ottelut nr. 9771". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). 10 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  4. ^ "Harjoitusottelut Naisten Liiga: Ottelut nr. 8903". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). 10 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Harjoitusottelut Naisten Liiga: Ottelut nr. 8913". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). 11 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Harjoitusottelut Naisten Liiga: Ottelut nr. 8900". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). 11 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  7. ^ "Harjoitusottelut Naisten Liiga: Ottelut nr. 9570". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). 15 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Ottelupöytäkirja – Naisten Liiga – Ott.nr.: 4878" (PDF). Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Retrieved 22 June 2024.
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