The Riikka Nieminen Award () is an ice hockey trophy, seasonally awarded by the Finnish Ice Hockey Association to the Auroraliiga Player of the Year. It is named after Riikka Sallinen (née Nieminen), now retired, who is widely considered the best European women’s ice hockey player to ever compete internationally.
The trophy was first awarded for the 2008–09 season and Michelle Karvinen of the Espoo Blues was the first recipient.
Jenni Hiirikoski is the only defenceman to ever win the trophy and holds the record for most wins, with five.
Elisa Holopainen is winningest forward, having claimed the trophy in the 2018–19 season, 2020–21 season, 2022–23 season, and 2023–24 season. Forward Emma Nuutinen is the only other player to have won the award more than once, receiving it for both the 2024–25 season and the 2025–26 season.
The only goaltender to have won the award is Anni Keisala in the 2021–22 season.
Award winners Season Winner Team 2008–09 Espoo Blues 2009–10 Ilves Tampere2010–11 Kärpät Oulu2011–12 Kärpät Oulu2012–13 JYP Jyväskylä2013–14 JYP Jyväskylä2014–15 JYP Jyväskylä2015–16 JYP Jyväskylä2016–17 Kärpät Oulu2017–18 Ilves Tampere2018–19 KalPa Kuopio2019–20 KalPa Kuopio2020–21KalPa Kuopio 2021–22 Ilves Tampere 2022–23 KalPa Kuopio2023–24 KalPa Kuopio2024–25 Kiekko-Espoo2025–26 Kiekko-Espoo Source: Elite Prospects
All time award recipients +PlayerWinsYear(s) won 5 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 4 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024 2 2025, 2026 1 2011 1 2009 1 2022 1 2020 1 2017 1 2012 1 2018
References