The 2024–25 Auroraliiga season is the 42nd ice hockey season of the Auroraliiga. It is the first season since the league re-branded from Naisten Liiga, the name that had been in use since 2017, to Auroraliiga.
2024–25 Auroraliiga season | |
---|---|
League | Auroraliiga |
Sport | Ice hockey |
Defending champions | IFK Helsinki (2023–24) |
Duration | 6 September 2024 – 16 February 2025 |
Number of games | 32 |
Number of teams | 9 |
Total attendance | 6518 (88.1 per game) |
TV partner(s) | Leijonat.tv |
IFK Helsinki (HIFK) are the reigning 2024 Aurora Borealis Cup champions. Kiekko-Espoo hold the 2023–24 regular season title.
League changes
League rebrand
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 using "women's [ice hockey]" (Finnish: naisten [jääkiekko]) 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
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
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] Väärälä was later appointed associate coach of HK Budapest as the team moved from the European Women's Hockey League (EWHL) to the German Women's Ice Hockey League (DFEL) ahead of the 2024–25 season.[5] 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.[6] |
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 assistant coach.[7] |
RoKi | Teemu Koivula | Oona Parviainen | [8][9] |
Player movements
Note: This section does not record all player signings. It is generally limited to player movements involving national team players from any country, international import players, and extra-league signings. Player nationality displayed 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) | Hoosac Owls (NEPSAC) | TPS Turku | [10] | |
Manuela Heidenberger (F) | EV Bozen Eagles (EWHL/IHLW) | HPK Hämeenlinna | [11] | |
Anni Keisala (G) | HV71 (SDHL) | HPK Hämeenlinna | [12] | |
Peppi Kähkönen (F) | Hamline Pipers (NCAA D3) | TPS Turku | [13] | |
Anni Montonen (F) | HV71 (SDHL) | Kiekko-Espoo | ||
Matilda Nilsson (F) | Frölunda HC (SDHL) | Ilves Tampere | [14] | |
Kokoro Ota (D) | Seibu Princess Rabbits (WJIHL) | KalPa Kuopio | [15] | |
Intra-league transfers | ||||
Tiina Ranne (G) | KalPa Kuopio | TPS Turku | [16] | |
Karoliina Rantamäki (F) | IFK Helsinki | Kiekko-Espoo | [17] | |
Mikaela Saukkonen (D) | IFK Helsinki | HPK Hämeenlinna | [11] | |
Peppi Virtanen (F) | Team Kuortane | HPK Hämeenlinna | [18] | |
Departing players | ||||
Kati Asikainen (G) | Kärpät Oulu | HC Fribourg-Gottéron (SWHL A) | [19] | |
Oona Havana (F) | Kärpät Oulu | Vermont Catamounts (NCAA D1) | ||
Elisa Holopainen (F) | KalPa Kuopio | Frölunda HC (SDHL) | [20] | |
Eliška Hotová (F) | TPS Turku | HC Příbram (Extraliga žen) | ||
Liisa Kastikainen (F) | KalPa Kuopio | Örebro HK (NDHL) | [21] | |
Oona Koukkula (D) | HPK Hämeenlinna | Brynäs IF (SDHL) | [22] | |
Jenniina Kuoppala (D) | Team Kuortane | Örebro HK (NDHL) | [21] | |
Emilia Kyrkkö (G) | Team Kuortane | St. Cloud State Huskies (NCAA D1) | [23] | |
Kiia Lahtinen (G) | IFK Helsinki | Maine Black Bears (NCAA D1) | [24] | |
Olivia Last (G) | TPS Turku | St. Olaf Oles (NCAA D3) | [25] | |
Julia Liikala (F) | IFK Helsinki | HC Ambrì-Piotta Girls (SWHL A) | [26] | |
Nenna Mehtonen (D) | IFK Helsinki | Örebro HK (NDHL) | [21] | |
Michaela Pejzlová (F) | IFK Helsinki | HC Ambrì-Piotta Girls (SWHL A) | [26] | |
Sanni Rantala (D) | KalPa Kuopio | Frölunda HC (SDHL) | [20] | |
Clara Rozier (F) | IFK Helsinki | SC Bern (SWHL A) | [27] | |
Kassidy Sauvé (G) | HPK Hämeenlinna | SDE Hockey (SDHL) | [28] | |
Julia Schalin (F) | Kiekko-Espoo | Mercyhurst Lakers (NCAA D1) | ||
Sanni Vanhanen (F) | IFK Helsinki | Brynäs IF (SDHL) | [29] | |
Siiri Yrjölä (D) | IFK Helsinki | St. Cloud State Huskies (NCAA D1) | [23] | |
Julia Zielińska (F) | Kiekko-Espoo | Bemidji State Beavers (NCAA D1) | [30][31] |
Teams
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 | Viivi Iso-Kouvola |
Team Kuortane | Kuortane | Kuortaneen jäähalli | Juuso Nieminen | Kerttu Lehmus |
TPS | Turku | Kupittaan jäähalli | Terhi Mertanen | Pihla Hämeenniemi |
Preseason
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 played three exhibition matches – against Ilves, HIFK, and HPK, respectively – during the Auroraliiga preseason.[32] No exhibition matches were scheduled for RoKi.[33]
Schedule
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Regular season
The regular season began on Friday, 6 September 2024. The season opening weekend was hosted in Turku, with eight of nine games played at Turkuhalli and the Sunday match between Team Kuortane and HPK played at Kupittaan jäähalli.
Standings
Pos | Team | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Postseason |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kiekko-Espoo | 16 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 90 | 30 | +60 | 43 | Playoffs |
2 | Tampereen Ilves | 18 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 72 | 59 | +13 | 36 | |
3 | IFK Helsinki | 16 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 58 | 35 | +23 | 34 | |
4 | HPK | 15 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 57 | 34 | +23 | 32 | |
5 | Team Kuortane | 17 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 53 | 42 | +11 | 29 | |
6 | TPS | 16 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 39 | 43 | −4 | 20 | |
7 | KalPa | 17 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 37 | 49 | −12 | 19 | |
8 | Oulun Kärpät | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 27 | 62 | −35 | 9 | |
9 | RoKi | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 25 | 104 | −79 | 0 | Qualification |
Results
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Player statistics
Scoring leaders
The following players led the league in points at the conclusion of games played on 3 Novemer 2024.[38]
Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Emma Nuutinen | K-Espoo | 14 | 11 | 22 | 33 | 4 |
Lisette Täks | K-Espoo | 16 | 16 | 13 | 29 | 20 |
Matilda Nilsson | Ilves | 18 | 15 | 12 | 27 | 8 |
Emilia Varpula | Ilves | 18 | 6 | 19 | 25 | 2 |
Barbora Juříčková | HPK | 15 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 4 |
Minttu Tuominen | K-Espoo | 14 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 4 |
Kiti Seikkula | HPK | 15 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 4 |
Emma Ekoluoma | Ilves | 18 | 12 | 8 | 20 | 10 |
Karoliina Rantamäki | K-Espoo | 12 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 4 |
Júlia Matejková | HPK | 15 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 10 |
Anni Pere | HIFK | 16 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 6 |
Noora Mylläri | Ilves | 14 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 18 |
Ada Eronen | K-Espoo | 15 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 8 |
Emmi Juusela | HIFK | 16 | 3 | 15 | 18 | 4 |
Julia Kuusisto | Ilves | 16 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 34 |
Pauliina Salonen | HIFK | 16 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 14 |
Anni Montonen | K-Espoo | 16 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 0 |
Eevi Ilvonen | TPS | 16 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 6 |
Emmi Metsä-Tokila | TPS | 16 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 10 |
Maija Koski | TPS | 16 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 4 |
The following skaters were the top point scorers of teams not represented in the scoring leader table at the conclusion of games played on 3 November 2024, noted with their overall league scoring rank:
Goaltenders
The following goaltenders had played at least one-third of their team's minutes in net at the conclusion of games played 3 November 2024, sorted by save percentage.[39]
Player | Team | GPI | TOI | W | L | SA | GA | SO | S% | GAA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tiina Ranne | TPS | 11 | 617:33 | 3 | 5 | 341 | 17 | 1 | 95.0 | 1.65 |
Salla Sivula | KalPa | 12 | 693:31 | 4 | 6 | 448 | 24 | 2 | 94.6 | 2.08 |
Kerttu Kuja-Halkola | Kuortane | 10 | 577:24 | 4 | 2 | 193 | 16 | 1 | 91.7 | 1.66 |
Emilia Piekkari | Kärpät | 11 | 616:31 | 3 | 8 | 308 | 26 | 1 | 91.6 | 2.53 |
Minja Drufva | K-Espoo | 8 | 480:51 | 8 | 0 | 154 | 13 | 1 | 91.6 | 1.62 |
Miia Vainio | HIFK | 12 | 730:00 | 7 | 3 | 307 | 26 | 0 | 91.5 | 2.14 |
Annika Saastamoinen | RoKi | 7 | 416:36 | 0 | 7 | 345 | 31 | 0 | 91.0 | 4.46 |
Anni Keisala | HPK | 10 | 609:49 | 6 | 2 | 207 | 19 | 1 | 90.8 | 1.87 |
Neea Pohjamo | Ilves | 13 | 732:55 | 8 | 3 | 317 | 30 | 1 | 90.5 | 2.46 |
Tiia Pajarinen | K-Espoo | 8 | 484:06 | 6 | 1 | 167 | 17 | 0 | 89.8 | 2.11 |
Lilia Huovinen | Kuortane | 8 | 457:55 | 4 | 4 | 198 | 24 | 1 | 87.9 | 3.14 |
Alexandra Väyrynen | RoKi | 8 | 415:41 | 0 | 8 | 278 | 47 | 0 | 83.1 | 6.78 |
Melisa Mörönen | Ilves | 6 | 292:02 | 2 | 3 | 129 | 23 | 0 | 82.2 | 4.73 |
- Top backups
The following five goaltenders had the best save percentages of those playing less than one-third of their team's minutes in net at the conclusion of games played 3 November 2024.
In-season player movements
Note: This section records all in-season player transactions. Player nationality indicates primary nation of IIHF eligibility; some players may hold multiple citizenship.
Player | Nat | Previous team | Joining team | Movement date | ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Incoming players | |||||
Emma Hall (F) | IF Björklöven (NDHL) | KalPa Kuopio | 19 October 2024 | [40] |
Awards and honors
Player of the Month
- September 2023: Salla Sivula (G), KalPa
After dominating the goaltending statistics table in the opening month of the season, Sivula became the first player to be named Auroraliiga player of the month following the league rebrandeding in August 2024. She led the league with a save percentage of 95.7% across five games in net, conceeding just nine goals on 208 shots against. KalPa struggled offesively and Sivula played a large role in securing their two wins in September – a shutout against RoKi and a 3–1 victory over Kiekko-Espoo.[41]
References
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