The 2021–22 season was the thirty-ninth season of the , the premier level of women's ice hockey in Finland, since the league's establishment as the Naisten SM-sarja in 1982. The season began on 11 September 2021 and concluded on 20 March 2022.
League business
Offseason
HPK Kiekkonaiset team transfer In June 2021, it was announced that the HPK team would be transferred to HPK Liiga Oy, owner of the Liiga team HPK and the U20 SM-sarja team HPK U20. HPK had previously been a part of the HPK-affiliated junior club HPK Edustusjääkiekko Ry, a non-profit association. According to Antti Toivanen, CEO of HPK Liiga Oy and general manager of the HPK men's team, the move was motivated by an interest in capitalizing on the growing women's ice hockey market, which was highlighted by the record crowds that attended the 2019 IIHF Women's World Championship in Espoo. Jorma Hassinen, general manager of HPK , expressed hope that the transfer would allow female players to develop with the same opportunities as their male counterparts.
Financial support for RoKi players Rovaniemen Kiekko ry announced it would begin supporting RoKi Naiset ice hockey players selected to women's national team camps and evaluation tournaments with grants of several hundred to a thousand euros. RoKi Naiset head coach Tuomas Liitola stated the club's long-term goal is to reduce the cost of playing with RoKi Naiset to zero.
Coaching changes +Team2019–20 2020–21 DetailsOff–seasonMari SaarinenHarri NummelaAppointed in May 2021, Nummela is the fourth HPK head coach in as many seasons. He has previously served as head coach of men's teams in the Suomi-sarja and 2. Divisioona.Oulun Kärpät NaisetJanne SalmelaSamuli HassiHassi was appointed as the new Kärpät head coach in April 2021, replacing Salmela after two seasons at the helm. The 27 year old, originally from Oulu, spent the previous four seasons studying in Rovaniemi and coaching in the junior organization of Rovaniemen Kiekko (RoKi). He served as the head coach of RoKi U18 in the 2020–21 season of the men's U18 Mestis.TPS NaisetMatti Tähkäpää, Kai OrtioTerhi MertanenOrtio was promoted from assistant coach to head coach after Tähkäpää's contract was terminated with five games remaining in the 2020–21 regular season. Mertanen was named the 2021–22 head coach shortly thereafter, in March 2021. An Olympic medalist with the Finnish national team at the 2010 Winter Olympics, Mertanen spent the previous two seasons as an assistant coach of RoKi Naiset.
Player signings of note Note: The following tables do not include all player movements made during the Naisten Liiga season but rather feature moves involving national team players or international players, extra-league moves, and player movements determined to be otherwise notable.
Preseason Player Previous team 2021–22 team ref.Incoming playersNeuchâtel HA (SWHL A)HPKNorwich Cadets (NCAA D3)HPKBuffalo Beauts (PHF)HPKŽHK Zvolen (Slovakia)RoKiKRS Vanke Rays (ZhHL)HPKKRS Vanke Rays (ZhHL)HPKKRS Vanke Rays (ZhHL)Kiekko-EspooHC 2001 KladnoRoKiIntra-league transfersKalPaKiekko-EspooHPKHIFKKalPaHIFKTeam KuortaneKiekko-EspooTeam KuortaneKiekko-EspooDeparting playersJulia HagnäsVaasan SportFärjestad BK (Damettan)Aino LaitinenTeam KuortaneBudapest JA (EWHL)Meeri RäisänenHPKJYP U20 Akatemia (U20 Mestis)Jenna SuokkoTampereen IlvesBuffalo Beauts (PHF)
Preliminaries Player Initial 2021–22 team Joining 2021–22 team ref.Incoming playersŠKP Bratislava (EWHL)HPKŠKP Bratislava (EWHL)HPKDeparting playersRoKiLuleå HF/MSSK (L) (SDHL)RoKiLuleå HF/MSSK (SDHL) Divisional series Player Initial 2021–22 team Joining 2021–22 team ref.Incoming playersŠKP Bratislava (EWHL)HPKSt. Cloud State Huskies (NCAA D1)IlvesToronto (PWHPA)HPKŠKP Bratislava (EWHL)HPKDeparting playersHPKNeuchâtel HA (SWHL A)IlvesKRS Vanke Rays (ZhHL)HPKŠKP Bratislava (EWHL)HPKŠKP Bratislava (EWHL)RoKiHK Nové Zámky U16 (Slovakia U16)HPKKRS Vanke Rays (ZhHL)Kiekko-EspooKRS Vanke Rays (ZhHL) Teams
Team Location Home venue Head coach Captain HIFK Naisetor Stadin Gimmat Helsinki Pirkkolan jäähalli Hämeenlinna Jääliikuntakeskus Hakio Ilves Naiset Tampere Tesoman jäähalli KalPa Naiset Kuopio Niiralan Monttu Kiekko-Espoo Naiset Espoo Tapiolan harjoitusareena Kärpät Naiset Oulu Raksilan jäähalli RoKi Naiset Rovaniemi Lappi Areena Sport Naiset Vaasa Vaasan Sähkö Arena Team Kuortane Kuortane Kuortaneen jäähalli TPS Naiset Turku Kupittaan jäähalli Team promoted from the Naisten Mestis to the lower division APV Naiset Alavus Alavus Areena Noora Mäkiranta Pinja Niemistö Lukko Naiset Rauma Westinghouse Areena Sami Piilikangas Maija Koski
Preliminary series The preliminary series began on 11 September and concluded on 12 December 2021. The Finnish Ice Hockey Association opted to use the points per game ranking system first implemented in the 2020–21 season to allow for the potential of cancelled matches due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some games in the preliminary series were rescheduled, however, each team was able to play all twenty matches.
The top six ranked teams in the preliminaries advanced to the regular season, also called the upper division series () and were guaranteed playoff berths.
Standings
Official ranking
Teams were officially ranked by average points per game with ties broken by greater number of games played, followed by best goal difference, then greater number of goals.
Team 1 K-Espoo 3.00 2HIFK 2.55 3Kärpät 2.05 4 Ilves 1.65 5 Kuortane 1.55 6 TPS 1.40
Team 7HPK 1.30 8RoKi 1.00 9KalPa 0.50 10Sport 0.00
Schedule Preliminaries Date Home Score Visitor OT Atn Notes11 September Ilves 0–2 HIFK 110 Shutout recorded by Iina Kuusela (1) HPK 4–7 TPS 70 Kuortane 1–6 Kärpät 35 K-Espoo 8–1 KalPa 88 RoKi 8–1 Sport 10212 September RoKi 5–2 Sport 89 TPS 2–1 Ilves SO 80 KalPa 1–2 HPK OT 112 18 September K-Espoo 8–0 HPK 58 Shutout recorded by Tiia Pajarinen (1)19 September Kärpät 2–1 Ilves 98 KalPa 0–5 K-Espoo 107 Shutout recorded by Minja Drufva (1) HPK 0–11 HIFK 50 Shutout recorded by Iina Kuusela (2) Kuortane 5–3 TPS 5525 September RoKi 2–3 Kärpät 116 TPS 2–3 Ilves 30 HIFK 4–1 KalPa 90 K-Espoo 9–1 Sport 5626 September Ilves 3–0 TPS 50 HIFK 9–2 Sport 62 Kuortane 6–5 HPK 60 K-Espoo 9–3 KalPa 622 October Kärpät 5–0 TPS 152Shutout recorded by Johanna Oksman (1) Ilves 2–1 HPK SO 110 RoKi 1–13 HIFK 60 Sport 2–17 K-Espoo 50 Game with largest goal difference, ±153 October Kärpät 0–4 HIFK 127Shutout recorded by Iina Kuusela (3) RoKi 5–6 TPS SO 75 KalPa 0–1 HPK 165Shutout recorded by Noora Räty (1) Kuortane 3–9 K-Espoo 709 October Kärpät 1–3 HPK 101 RoKi 3–1 KalPa 82 HIFK 4–0 Kuortane 82Shutout recorded by Lumi Jääskeläinen (1)10 October Ilves 2–3 HIFK 90 RoKi 0–4 HPK 84Shutout recorded by Noora Räty (2) TPS 8–0 Sport 45Shutout recorded by Erica Jaskari (1) K-Espoo 10–0 Kuortane 84Shutout recorded by Tiia Pajarinen (2) Kärpät 6–2 KalPa 105 15 October K-Espoo 2–0 HIFK 172Shutout recorded by Tiia Pajarinen (3)16 October Sport 1–7 Ilves 45 TPS 1–3 Kärpät 40 HPK 1–2 RoKi 60 Kuortane 5–1 KalPa 6017 October Ilves 6–3 Kuortane 75 HPK 2–1 Kärpät 70 TPS 4–3 RoKi 6523 October Ilves 1–3 Kärpät 60 TPS 2–5 HIFK 60 K-Espoo 8–1 RoKi 6524 October HPK 1–7 Kuortane 60 Ilves 1–5 K-Espoo 75 HIFK 6–2 RoKi 85 Sport 2–15 TPS 55 KalPa 1–2 Kärpät OT 5927 October Kuortane 7–2 Sport 6030 October KalPa 6–4 Sport 61 HPK 0–2 Ilves 50Shutout recorded by Anni Keisala (1) Kuortane 3–5 HIFK 60 Kärpät 6–0 RoKi 182Shutout recorded by Kati Asikainen (1); highest attended game K-Espoo 5–2 TPS 5731 October Sport 2–10 HIFK 65 KalPa 0–4 Ilves 87Shutout recorded by Anni Keisala (2) TPS 2–1 Kuortane OT 403 November Sport 0–7 Kuortane 41Shutout recorded by Hannele Tarkiainen (1)5 November HIFK 7–2 TPS 726 November Ilves 3–4 KalPa OT 80 RoKi 0–7 K-Espoo 51Shutout recorded by Minja Drufva (1) TPS 3–1 HPK307 November Kärpät 1–6 K-Espoo 112 Sport 1–4 KalPa 35 RoKi 1–5 Ilves 6819 November Sport 0–3 Kuortane 45 Shutout recorded by Hannele Tarkiainen (2)20 November Ilves 4–2 RoKi 68 Sport 0–6 HPK 40 No shutout recorded K-Espoo 5–2 Kärpät 4221 November KalPa 1–2 RoKi 91 HIFK 5–2 Kärpät 85 Kuortane 3–4 Ilves OT 50 HPK 2–1 TPS SO 8027 November RoKi 1–2 Kuortane OT 69 HPK 4–2 KalPa 52 Ilves 8–0 Sport 80 Shutout recorded by Salla Sivula (1) HIFK 1–3 K-Espoo 11728 November Kärpät 4–2 Kuortane 102 HPK 5–3 Sport 50 TPS 5–2 KalPa 553 December K-Espoo 5–1 Ilves 46 HIFK 6–3 HPK 774 December Kärpät 6–1 Sport 86 TPS 3–9 K-Espoo 35 HIFK 3–1 Ilves 695 December KalPa 3–4 Kuortane 75 Kärpät 4–0 RoKi 158 Shutout recorded by Kati Asikainen (2)11 December Sport 1–4 Kärpät 20 KalPa 2–4 TPS 61 HIFK 1–2 K-Espoo 102 Kuortane 3–0 RoKi 40 Shutout recorded by Hannele Tarkiainen (3)12 December Sport 2–5 RoKi 20 KalPa 1–2 HIFK 61 HPK 2–5 K-Espoo 70 Kuortane 0–6 Kärpät 40 Shutout recorded by Johanna Oksman (2)
Major events
26 September 2021 – Ilves 3–0 TPS, Tesoman jäähalli (Tampere)TPS forward Maija Otamo was issued a six-game ban – the longest suspension ever handed down to a player in the Naisten Liiga – after rendering Ilves forward Emilia Varpula unconscious with two hits in the head and neck area. The hits came with just nine seconds left on the clock and less than a minute after Varpula contributed an assist to Ilves' third and final goal in the eventual shutout. Varpula was taken directly from the ice to hospital by ambulance and was ultimately diagnosed with a concussion. Following the hits, a fight broke out between TPS forward Estelle Duvin and Ilves defenseman Elli Suoranta, resulting in one game suspensions for both players.
Player statistics Scoring leaders
The following players led the league in points at the conclusion of games the preliminaries on 12 December 2021.
PlayerTeam1K-Espoo1919234222HIFK20281240183TPS17231639494K-Espoo2020153565K-Espoo1613162946Kuortane1714132787TPS14111627338HIFK2011152669K-Espoo201411253110Kärpät20131225611Kuortane19718250
The following skaters were the top point scorers of teams not represented in the scoring leader table at the conclusion of the preliminary series, noted with their overall league scoring rank:
22. Johanna Juutilainen (F), KalPa: 18 GP, 6 G, 13 A, 19 Pts, 4 PIM 25. Jenna Heitala (F), RoKi: 19 GP, 11 G, 6 A, 17 Pts, 6 PIM 27. Susanna Viitala (F), Sport: 16 GP, 10 G, 6 A, 16 Pts, 2 PIM 49. Riikka Noronen (F), HPK: 19 GP, 2 G, 10 A, 12 Pts, 40 PIM Elisa Holopainen was the leading point scorer in the preliminaries for the third consecutive season
Goaltenders
The following goaltenders lead the league in save percentage at the conclusion of the preliminary series on 12 December 2021, while starting at least one third of matches.
Player Team 1HPK 14 7 5 493 24 2 .954 1.752HIFK 12 9 3 315 18 3 .946 1.513Ilves 15 6 7 462 27 3 .945 1.824K-Espoo 12 12 0 231 14 3 .943 1.245Kärpät 11 8 3 301 19 2 .941 1.736Kärpät 9 6 3 261 17 2 .939 1.907K-Espoo 8 7 0 129 9 1 .935 1.178RoKi 10 4 5 351 33 0 .914 3.549TPS 12 4 6 367 37 1 .908 3.0510RoKi 7 2 4 250 27 0 .903 4.1711Kuortane 10 6 4 234 26 3 .900 2.86
Vaasan Sport was the only team not represented in the top goaltenders table at the conclusion of the preliminary series. Sport's best goaltender was Oona Mäki, who played in thirteen games and recorded a .860 save percentage and 7.38 goals against average.
Regular season The Finnish Ice Hockey Association opted to use the points per game ranking system first implemented in the 2020–21 season to allow for the potential of cancelled matches due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The top six ranked teams from the preliminary series advanced to the regular season, also called the upper division series (), while teams ranked seventh through tenth progressed to the lower division series (). The regular season began on 8 January 2022.
Standings
Official ranking
Teams are officially ranked by average points per game with ties broken by greater number of games played, followed by best goal difference, then greater number of goals.