Women's Hockey in Finland


International Hockey

Finland claimed the first-ever Olympic bronze medal in women's hockey history, by defeating China by a score of 4-1. Finland has claimed the bronze medal in all four IIHF World Championships to date. Finland won the gold medal at the 1995 European A Championship which was held from March 19-26, 1995 in Riga, Latvia. They placed first at the following four European A Championships: 1989, 1991, 1993 and 1995. In 1996, Finland placed 3rd at the European A Championship.

Here is a link that provides the results of all games played by the Finnish Women's National team.

Prior to 1998, to qualify to attend the World Championships, Finland had to finish in the top 5 teams at the European A Championship. Now there are A and B Pool World Championships, so the European Championships will no longer be held. Finland competes in the A Pool World Championship.

By placing among the top 5 teams at the 1997 World Championship, Finland has qualified for the first ever Olympics for Women's hockey! Here are some pictures of Team Finland players from the 1997 WWC.

Finland placed as follows at the most recent European A Championships:

Team Finland also competes in the Three/Four Nations' Cups. These championships feature the top 3 or 4 countries in women's hockey: Canada, USA, Finland, and Sweden.


Team Finland Rosters


1998 Olympic Game Results

  February  8 1998:  12:00    Sweden   0 -vs-  Finland 6
  February  9 1998:  12:00    Finland 11 -vs-  Japan   1
  February 11 1998:  20:00    USA      4 -vs-  Finland 2
  February 12 1998:  20:00    Finland  2 -vs-  Canada  4
  February 13 1998:  Day Off
  February 14 1998:  16:00    Finland  6 -vs-  China   1
  February 15 1998:  Day Off
  February 16 1998:  Day Off
  February 17 1998:  14:00    Finland  4 -vs- China    1 (Bronze)

Exhibition Games leading up to the 2001 WWC

  Feb  8, 2001 7:00 p.m. Sweden vs Finland, Sandviken, Sweden
  Feb  9, 2001 7:00 p.m. Sweden vs Finland, G\344vle, Sweden
  Feb 10, 2001 6:00 p.m. Sweden vs Finland, Norrt\344lje, Sweden

Exhibition Games leading up to the '98 Olympics

  Sept 10 1997:  USA  3 -vs- Finland 1 (Nokia, Finland)
  Sept 12 1997:  USA  3 -vs- Finland 2 (Huittinen, Finland)
  Sept 13 1997:  USA  3 -vs- Finland 0 (Kangasaia, Finland)

  Nov 12-20 97:  ***Tour of Finland***
  Nov  12 1997:  Finland 5 -vs- Sweden 0  (Lahti, Finland)
  Nov  14 1997:  Finland 2 -vs- Canada 5  (Valkeala, Finland)
  Nov  16 1997:  Finland 3 -vs- Sweden 2  (Tikkakoski, Finland)
  Nov  18 1997:  Finland 4 -vs- Canada 7  (Helsinki, Finland)
  Nov  20 1997:  Finland 1 -vs- Canada 6  (Matinkyla, Finland)

  Dec 13-20 97:  ***1997 Three Nations Cup***
  Dec  13 1997:  USA     3 -vs- Finland 3 (Lake Placid, NY, Olympic Center)
  Dec  15 1997:  Finland 3 -vs- Canada  6 (Ottawa, ON, Nepean Sportsplex)
  Dec  16 1997:  USA     6 -vs- Finland 2 (Saratoga, NY, Wiezel Avenue Arena)
  Dec  18 1997:  Finland 3 -vs- Canada  8 (Belleville, ON, Quinte Sports Centre)
  Dec  20 1997:  Championship Game        (3:30pm, Lake Placid, NY, Olympic Center)

  Jan     1997:  Finland 10 -vs- Sweden 0
  Jan     1997:  Finland 13 -vs- Norway 0

Older Exhibition Game Scores:

November 11th, 1995:
 Finland 5 -v- Russia 0  (2-0,2-0,1-0)
      Goal Scorers: Ihalainen (2), Matilainen,
                    Kanerva, Lehtimaki
      Goalie: Liisa-Maria Sneck had 12 saves

November 12th, 1995:
 Finland 8 -v- Russia 1  (3-1,2-0,3-0)
      Goal Scorers: Nieminen (2), Ihalainen,
                    Halonen, Matilainen, Aaltomaa,
                    Lehtimaki, Kanerva
      Goalie: Kati Ahonen had 10 saves

November 14th, 1995:
   Finland 5 -v- Russia 2  (1-1,1-0,3-1)
      Goal Scorers: Kanerva, Vaarakallio,
                    Riipi, Aaltonen, Ihalainen
      Goalie: Tuula Puputti had 9 saves

February 9th, 1996:
   Finland 2 -vs- Sweden 3  (1-0,1-2,0-1) (in Vermuntila, Finland)
     Scoring for Sweden: Lotta Almblad 2, Anne Ferm

February 10th, 1996:
   Finland 3 -vs- Sweden 2  (1-1, 1-0, 1-1) (in Tarvasjoki, Finland)
     Scoring for Sweden: Ann Louise Edstarnd, Joa Elfsberg

Hockey within Finland

Finnish national Women's league was first started in 1983. There are now 8 teams in the Finnish National league, and 12 teams in the 1st Division. Here is a link to the Finnish results page.


Finnish National League 1997-98

Top three play-off finishers...

  1. JYP
  2. Kärpät
  3. K-Espoo

  March 13, 1998 in Perjantain:
     JYP 5 -vs- Ilves 3  (1-0, 2-2, 2-1)

  March 15, 1998 in Sunnuntain:
     JYP 16 -vs- Tappara 0

  March 21, 1998 in Lauantain:
     JYP 2 -vs- Kärpät 1

  Semi-Finals:
     Kärpät defeated Ilves
     JYP defeated K-Espoo

  Finals:
     JYP defeated Kärpät

Finnish National League 1997-98


     Team     GP  W T  L  GF:GA PTS
  1. K-Espoo  24 20 0  4 148:45  40
  2. Karpat   24 19 0  5 110:53  38
  3. Ilves    24 17 0  7 144:52  34
  4. JYP      24 13 1 10  89:65  27
  5. Shakers  24 10 1 13  87:71  21
  6. Tappara  24  3 0 21  35:153  6

The lists of teams below were provided by Kristiina Korve (tokrko@uta.fi) of Finland.

Women's Finnish National League 1995-96:
(NAISTEN SM-SARJA 1995-96)

Team Name
City
Head Coach
ILVES
JYP HT
K-ESPOO
K-KARHUT
KALPA
KARPAT
SHAKERS
TPS
Tampere
Jyvaskyla
Espoo
Joensuu
Kuopia
Oulu
Kerava
Turku
Jarmo Nurmi
Jorma Uusi-Einola
Kari Heiskanen
Harri Huttunen
Ilkka Laakkonen
Pasi Sorvisto
Aki Ropponen
Janne Karelius

Women's 1st Division 1995-96:
(NAISTEN I-DIVISIOONA 1995-96)

LOHKO 1
Team Name
City
Head Coach
HPK
ILVES
REIPAS
MARSKI-HOCKEY
SAIPA
ASSAT
Hameenlinna
Tampere
Lahti
Mikkeli
Lappeenranta
Pori
Ismo Aho
Kari Maenpaa
Kimmo Virtanen
Antti Korhonen
Markku Innanen
Seppo Koskinen

LOHKO 2
Team Name
City
Head Coach
EPS
HG-92
K-KISSAT
PAKA
SPORT
TAPPARA
Espoo
Tuusula
Vantaa
Kuusamo
Vaasa
Tampere
Mikko Heinonen
Ari Koponen
Timo Lehtonen
Jukka Tormanen
Niklas Hudd
Eero Koskimaa


Related Links


Finnish Men's Hockey Links


National Federation


This page is maintained by © 1998 Andria Hunter (andria@whockey.com).

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