Vaasan Sport Naiset were a women's ice hockey team in Finland. They played in Vaasa, on the west coast of Finland, at the Vaasan Sähkö Areena. Founded in 1983, the team most recently played in the Naisten Liiga from the 2018–19 season until being relegated at the conclusion of the 2021–22 season . The team was dissolved following relegation.

Vaasan Sport Naiset
CityVaasa, Ostrobothnia, Finland
LeagueNaisten Liiga
Founded1983 (1983)
Folded2022 (2022)
Home arenaVaasan Sähkö Areena
ColoursRed, black, white
     
Owner(s)Vaasan Sportin Juniorit Ry
Head coachSusanne Uppgård (2021–22)
CaptainPauliina Suoniemi (2021–22)
WebsiteOfficial website
Current uniform

History

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The women’s representative team of Vaasan Sport debuted in the Naisten SM-sarja, predecessor of the Naisten Liiga, in the 1983–84 season. Sport quickly established themselves as a competitive team, finishing in the top half of the league during their first five seasons and achieving Finnish Championship bronze in 1986. The 1988–89 season was the first time the team finished in the bottom of the league, ranking seventh of eight teams. Following the disappointing season, the team was financially relegated.

Vaasan Sport gained promotion to the SM-sarja in 1993 but the team struggled with the high level of competition and finished in last place. They were able to stave off relegation in the 1993–94 qualifiers but were unable to do so in the following season and were relegated to the Naisten I-divisioona (renamed Naisten Mestis in 2012) in 1995.[1]

In the following two decades, Vaasan Sport played in either the second-tier I-divisioona or third-tier Naisten II-divisioona (renamed Naisten Suomi-sarja in 2003). The team spent at least seven consecutive seasons in the Suomi-sarja prior to their return to the Mestis in the 2015–16 season. The return to Mestis marked a positive shift in the performance of the team and they continued to markedly improve over the ensuing seasons, culminating in their promotion to the Naisten Liiga for the 2018–19 season.[2]

Players and personnel

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2021–22 roster

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As of 20 December 2021[3][4][5]
No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
19   Alva Eloluoma D 17 2021
32   Sara Erkkilä D L 19 2018 Vaasa, Ostrobothnia, Finland
11   Fanny Fagerudd F L 22 2019 Pietarsaari, Ostrobothnia, Finland
18   Meri Haaranoja D 19 2021
12   Wilma Hautamäki D L 20 2019 Pedersöre, Ostrobothnia, Finland
23   Sanna Karppinen F L 25 2021
17   Susanna Kupari (A) F L 24 2020
26   Julia Kuusisto F L 18 2020
13   Emma-Lotta Laamanen F L 22 2021
25   Neea Lehtimäki D L 23 2018 Kiukainen, Satakunta, Finland
20   Sanna-Lotta Myllyniemi F R 24 2018 Vaasa, Ostrobothnia, Finland
14   Noora Mylläri (A) F L 24 2013 Vaasa, Ostrobothnia, Finland
30   Oona Mäki G L 25 2019 Seinäjoki, South Ostrobothnia, Finland
31   Melisa Mörönen G L 26 2018 Alavus, South Ostrobothnia, Finland
10   Emma Pitkänen F L 28 2014 Vaasa, Ostrobothnia, Finland
15   Emma Salpakari D R 25 2020 Suonenjoki, North Savo, Finland
8   Pauliina Suoniemi (C) F L 33 2014 Tampere, Pirkanmaa, Finland
28   Mari Tervala D/F L 25 2021 Joensuu, North Karelia, Finland
19   Lyubov Tokar F R 20 2020 Holon, Tel Aviv, Israel
16   Kiia Tuovinen (L) F L 21 2019 Haapavesi, North Ostrobothnia, Finland
21   Susanna Viitala F L 25 2019 Kokkola, Central Ostrobothnia, Finland
7   Minna Väglund D 20 2020

Coaching staff and team personnel

  • Head coach: Susanne Uppgård[6]
  • Assistant coach: Juhani Sarilo
  • Goaltending coach: Jonathan Iilahti
  • Goaltending coach: Vesa Perkiö
  • Team manager: Leena Kuusisto
  • Equipment managers: Jani Kuusisto & Mika Myllyniemi

Team captaincy history

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  • Susanne Uppgård, 2015–2016
  • Elina Ojala, 2016–2020
  • Pauliina Suoniemi, 2020–2022

Head coaches

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Team honours

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Finnish Championship

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Notable alumni

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Years active with Sport listed alongside players' names.

References

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  1. ^ Suomen Jääkiekkoliitto; Liiga. Aaltonen, Juha (ed.). Jääkiekkokirja 2019–2020 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Uusi Suomi/Kiekkolehti. ISSN 0784-3321. OCLC 476321083.
  2. ^ Terhi, Varjonen (3 December 2018). "Naisten liigauntuvikko Sport tykkää vauhdista ja haasteista". Yle (in Finnish). Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Joukkueet: Naiset, Joukkue". Vaasan Sportin Juniorit Ry (in Finnish). Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  4. ^ "Sport, 2021-2022 Roster – Naisten Liiga (W)". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  5. ^ "Kokoonpano Sport – Naisten Liiga, alkusarja". tulospalvelu.leijonat.fi (in Finnish). Finnish Ice Hockey Association. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  6. ^ Viljanen, Markus (16 March 2021). "Kesken kauden päävalmentajaksi noussut Susanne Uppgård tavoittelee Sportin kanssa onnistumisia karsintasarjassa". leijonat.fi (in Finnish). Finnish Ice Hockey Association. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
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