HPK Kiekkonaiset () or HPK Naiset are an ice hockey team in the Auroraliiga, the premier women's ice hockey league in Finland. They play in Hämeenlinna, capital city of the south-central Finnish province of Kanta-Häme, at Pihlajalinna Areena (also known as the , ), the secondary ice rink connected to Hämeenlinna Ice Hall. HPK were the first team to be awarded the Aurora Borealis Cup as the winners of the Finnish Championship in 2011 and also won bronze in the 2011–12 IIHF European Women's Champions Cup.

They are the representative women's ice hockey team of the multi-sport club Hämeenlinnan Pallokerho (HPK), however, the team is directly owned by HPK Liiga Oy, the ownership organization of the Liiga team HPK. HPK Kiekkonaiset are one of two Auroraliiga teams owned directly by a men's league team.

History A women's ice hockey team has competed under the parent club HPK since at least 1999. From 1999 to 2008, HPK competed in the Naisten I-divisioona (renamed Naisten Mestis in 2013). In 2001, the team qualified to contend for promotion to the Naisten SM-sarja (NSMs; called Naisten Liiga during 2017–2024 and rebranded as Auroraliiga in 2024) in the league's (qualification series) but they lost eleven of fourteen qualification games and remained in the I-divisoona. The opportunity for promotion through the returned in the 2007–08 season and, this time, with a roster that included Meeri Räisänen, Essi Salminen, Hanne Sikiö, and Eveliina Similä, HPK achieved promotion to the Naisten SM-sarja.

HPK debuted in the Naisten SM-sarja at the opening of the 2008–09 season, strengthened by the addition of a number of experienced players, notably Petra Herzigová, Katja Riipi, Nora Tallus, and Vilma Vaattovaara. The team won the bronze medal match against Oulun Kärpät with a game winning goal from Riipi.

HPK was the first team to be awarded the Aurora Borealis Cup the Naisten SM-sarja Champions in 2011.

As the 2011 Finnish Champions, the team was automatically granted placement in the second round, Group E of the following season's IIHF European Women's Champions Cup (EWCC). The Group E round-robin was contested in Hämeenlinna during 2 to 4 December 2011 and HPK bested ESC Planegg, Aisulu Almaty, and the EHV Sabres to sweep the series and earn a berth in the tournament finals. Venla Hovi and Riikka Noronen led all Group E skaters in scoring, with 9 points and 7 points in four games, respectively. The EWCC Finals were also hosted in Hämeenlinna and were played during 24 to 26 February 2012 at Metritiski Areena. HPK won their first match, beating ESC Planegg with a score of 3–2, but they were unable to overcome the scoring power and excellent goaltending of their final two opponents, losing 2–6 to Tornado Moscow Region and 1–5 to the ZSC Lions Frauen. They were awarded European Women's Champions Cup bronze medals, becoming the third Finnish team to medal in the EWCC.

In June 2021, it was announced that the team would be transferred to HPK Liiga Oy, owner of the HPK Liiga team and the U20 SM-sarja team HPK U20. HPK Kiekkonaiset had previously been a part of the HPK-affiliated junior ice hockey club HPK Edustusjääkiekko Ry, a non-profit registered association. At the time of the transfer, Antti Toivanen, CEO of HPK Liiga Oy and general manager of the HPK men's team, explained that the move was motivated by an interest in capitalizing on the growing women's ice hockey market, which had been highlighted by the record crowds that attended the 2019 IIHF Women's World Championship in Espoo. Jorma Hassinen, general manager of HPK Kiekkonaiset, expressed hope that the transfer would allow female players to develop with the same opportunities as their male counterparts.

Season-by-season results This is a partial list of the most recent seasons completed by HPK Naiset.

Season League Regular season Postseason results Finish GP W OTW OTL L GF GA Pts Top scorer 2017–18 Naisten Liiga 4th 30 16 1 3 10 87 66 53 A. Kaitala 37 (17+20) Lost quarterfinals to Kuortane, 2018–19 Naisten Liiga 6th 30 16 0 3 11 98 87 51 J. Liikala 33 (11+22) Lost quarterfinals to Kärpät, 2019–20 Naisten Liiga 4th 30 18 1 4 7 109 71 60 R. Noronen 41 (15+26) Lost quarterfinals to Kuortane, 2020–21 Naisten Liiga 5th 29 13 2 3 11 85 78 46 R. Noronen 33 (13+20) Lost quarterfinals to Ilves, 2021–22 Naisten Liiga 7th 30 17 2 1 10 114 80 56 K. Seikkula 34 (19+15) Lost quarterfinals to HIFK, 2022–23 Naisten Liiga 4th 36 20 3 1 12 116 78 67 J. Matejková 43 (15+28) Lost bronze medal game to KalPa, 2023–24 Naisten Liiga 3rd 32 21 0 3 8 120 68 66 K. Seikkula 45 (22+23) Lost bronze medal game to KalPa, 2024–25 Auroraliiga 2nd 32 22 1 3 6 133 71 71 K. Seikkula 59 (29+30) Championship runner up to , 2025–26 Auroraliiga 2nd 32 23 3 1 5 145 45 76 B. Juříčková 53 (22+31) Championship runner up to ,

Players and personnel 2025–26 roster

Coaching staff and team personnel Head coach: Marko Peltoniemi Assistant coach: Riikka Noronen Goaltending coach: Maija Hassinen-Sullanmaa Team manager: Maija Hassinen-Sullanmaa Equipment managers: Hanna Haakana, Kari Järvinen & Enni Peltoniemi

Team captaincy history Nora Tallus, 2008–2010 Mira Huhta, 2010–2013 Riikka Noronen, 2013–2017 Jutta Stoltenberg, 2017–2019 Riikka Noronen, 2019–2021 Heta Seikkula, 2021–

Head coaches Tuomo Nukari, 2011–January 2013 Jarkko Julkunen, January 2013 – 2013 Vesa Mäkinen, 2014–2016 Marko Rahikainen, 2016–2018 Markku Pirttiniemi, 2018–19 Katja Pasanen, 2019–20 Mari Saarinen, 2020–21 Harri Nummela, 2021–22 Jari Risku, 2022–2025 Marko Peltoniemi, 2025–

Team honours Finnish Championship Since 2011, the victorious team of the Auroraliiga playoffs has received the Aurora Borealis Cup. Prior to 2011, the title-winners of the league were awarded the . The players of the victorious team also receive gold medals as Finnish Champions in women's ice hockey. Aurora Borealis Cup (1): 2011 Runners-up (2): 2016, 2025, 2026 Third Place (4): 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014

IIHF European Women's Champions Cup

Bronze (1): 2012

Notable alumnae

Maija Hassinen-Sullanmaa, 2008–2015 & 2017–18 Venla Hovi, 2010–2012 Kati Kovalainen, 2009–10 Sanna Lankosaari, 2009–2012 Julia Liikala, 2016–2021 Riikka Noronen, 2009–2017 & 2018–2022 Annina Rajahuhta, 2010–2012 Meeri Räisänen, 2017–18 Eveliina Similä, 2008–2012 Susanna Tapani, 2014–2016 Vilma Vaattovaara, 2008–2011 Tea Villilä, 2010–11 & 2015–16

International players

Nicole Andenmatten, 2021–22 Samantha Benoit, 2021–22 Kristina Brown, 2014–15 Lenka Čurmová, 2020–21 Megan Delay, 2021–22 Pia Dukarič, 2019–20 Karolína Erbanová, 2022–23 Eline Gabriele, 2023–24 Petra Herzigová, 2008–09 & 2013–2015 Lucia Ištocyová, 2021–22 Adéla Jůzková, 2020–21 Iveta Klimášová, 2023–24 Lívia Kúbeková, 2021–22 Natsumi Kurokawa, 2019–20 Margaux Mameri, September–November 2022 Júlia Matejková, 2021–2025 Tereza Pištěková, 2023–24 Alena Polenská, September–November 2021 Kassidy Sauvé, 2021–22 & 2023–24 Miho Shishiuchi, 2014–2016 Anna Vaníčková, 2023–24 Sofia Vysokajová, 2021–22 Hannah Westbrook, 2012–13 Lucia Záborská, 2022–23 Anna Zíková, 2022–23

See also Women's ice hockey in Finland Finland women's national ice hockey team Finland women's national under-18 ice hockey team

References

External links

Team information and statistics from and and