KeuPa HT

Last updated

KeuPa HT
KeuPa HT logo.svg
City Keuruu, Finland
League Mestis
Founded1995(30 years ago) (1995)
Operated1995–present
Home arenaKeuruu Ice Hall
1200 Capacity
ColoursBlue, Red, White and Black
    
General manager Flag of Finland.svg Juuso Mörsky
Head coach Flag of Finland.svg Tomas Westerlund
Captain Flag of Finland.svg Juho Koivusaari
Affiliates JYP Jyväskylä,
Vaajakosken Pelikaanit
Website KeuPa HT Home
Franchise history
1995–presentKeuPa HT
Championships
Mestis 1 (2018)
Suomi-sarja 2 (2012, 2014)
Hockey current event.svg Current season

KeuPa HT are a semi-professional ice hockey team based in Keuruu, Finland. They are members of the second highest league in Finland, Mestis. The club was founded in 1995 in the Finnish fourth division II-Divisioona after the ice hockey club decided to part company with the Keuruu sports club. They play their home games in the Keuruu Ice Hall, which holds 1200 spectators. KeuPa are two time Suomi-sarja champions and one time Mestis champions.

Contents

History

KeuPa HT was born in 1995 after the ice hockey branch of the Keuruu sports club split from the football and ice skating branches. KeuPa kept their traditional name but added "Hockey Team" to the end to differentiate themselves; hence, the abbreviation HT appears at the end of the name. [1] [ better source needed ]

The club was promoted to the third division, Suomi-sarja, in 2011–2012 and went on to claim the gold medal and win the third-division championship. By winning, they entered the playoffs with LeKi, KooVee and HCK that year for the right to be promoted to the second division, Mestis. KeuPa finished third in the playoffs and remained in Suomi-sarja, while the other two clubs were promoted to Mestis. HCK, who came second in the playoffs, were promoted only because Wafer-Laser went bankrupt and had to pull out of Mestis. [2] [ better source needed ]

In the 2012–2013 season, the club sought to defend their title but could manage only a third-place finish at the conclusion of the season, winning the bronze medal. RoKi won the championship title and qualified for Mestis. KeuPa HT had to settle for another season in the third division after coming close to promotion again. The head coach quit at the end of the season. [2]

The 2013–2014 season started off badly for the club. They had not been able to find a replacement for their head coach, and the club was in a precarious financial situation, staring at bankruptcy or folding the club up and ceasing operations, which would mean that they would not be able to compete in the Suomi-sarja season. The KeuPa HT players started a fundraising campaign to raise the money needed to keep the club afloat and allow them to compete in the league that year. By season's start, they had managed to raise the needed money, and they began the season on schedule. The club went through a rocky, patchy start to the season but managed to gain momentum at the end of the regular season and just reach the playoff finals. In the playoffs, KeuPa dispatched with RoKi and Bewe Tuuskin to meet FPS (formerly FoPS) of Forssa in the final. KeuPa HT beat FPS in the final and qualified for Mestis for the first time, ending what became a Cinderella season from a very bleak start. [2]

KeuPa HT went through two head coaches in their first season in the second division in 2014–2015, firstly Jussi Tupamäki then Kari Rautakorpi from 23 February 2015. [3] The team finished the regular season in 8th position, just missing out on the relegation positions of 9 and 10. Their record for the season was 13 wins and 30 losses with 8 overtime victories and 5 overtime losses for a total of 60 points from 56 matches. [4] [ better source needed ] [5]

Season-by-season-results

ChampionsRunners-upThird PlacePromotedRelegated
KeuPa HT
SeasonLeaguePWOWOLLGFGAGDPtsFinishPost seasonCupPro/Rel
2008–09 II-divisioona 201321415190+61443rd---
2009–10II-divisioona181800019147+144541stChampion--
2010–11II-divisioona211512315884+74492ndRunner-up-Promoted
2011–12 Suomi-sarja 221620413968+71521stQualification loss--
2012–13Suomi-sarja221312610063+37433rdQualification loss--
2013–14Suomi-sarja38200315165141+24637thChampion-Promoted
2014–15 Mestis 56138530143217-74608thQuarterfinal loss--
2015–16 Mestis50197519140126+14765thBronze game loss--
2016–17 Mestis50196322144156-12728thQuarterfinal loss--
2017–18 Mestis50302315182132+50971stChampionQuarterfinal loss-
2018–19 Mestis50185522151139+12698thRunner-upRunner-up-
2019–20 Mestis50255825189182+7786thCancelled3rd Round-
2020–21 Mestis31172210112102+10574thQuarterfinal loss--
2021–22 Mestis52224620165170-5805th-Qualification loss-

Source: [6]

Honours

Championships

Gold medal icon.svgChampions (1): 2017–18
Silver medal icon.svg Runners-Up (1): 2018–19
Gold medal icon.svgChampions (2): 2011–12, 2013–14

Players

Current roster

Team roster for the 2021–22 Mestis season [7] [8]

KeuPa HT roster - 2021–22 Mestis season
Active RosterCoaching staff
Goaltenders
  • 35 Flag of Finland.svg Juho Ahopelto
  • 35 Flag of Finland.svg Sami Suni
  • 70 Flag of Finland.svg Samuli Tervo

Defencemen

  • 60 Flag of Finland.svg Olli Aitola (A)
  • 63 Flag of Finland.svg Aleksi Ek
  • 28 Flag of Finland.svg Jani Kluuskeri
  •  4 Flag of Finland.svg Kimi Kuusela (Loan)
  •  6 Flag of Finland.svg Mikko Lahtinen (A)
  • 37 Flag of Finland.svg Atro Leppänen
  •  8 Flag of Finland.svg Tomi Niku (Loan)
  • 26 Flag of Finland.svg Ville Ottavainen (Loan)
  •  4 Flag of Finland.svg Eetu Pylkkänen
  • 22 Flag of Finland.svg Elias Ruusu (Loan)
  • 26 Flag of Finland.svg Santeri Suistio
  • 44 Flag of Finland.svg Sakari Turtiainen
Forwards
  • 11 Flag of Finland.svg Joni Airo (Loan)
  • 42 Flag of Finland.svg Atte Antinaho
  •  8 Flag of Finland.svg Niko Himmanen (Loan)
  • 25 Flag of Finland.svg Konsta Keteli
  • 90 Flag of Finland.svg Juho Koivusaari
  •  7 Flag of Finland.svg Janne Kumpulainen
  • 12 Flag of Finland.svg Oula Kuure
  • 91 Flag of Finland.svg Joonas Larinmaa (A)
  • 47 Flag of Finland.svg Niklas Lehikoinen
  •  9 Flag of Finland.svg Miro Lehtimäki
  • 88 Flag of Finland.svg Justus Mikkonen
  • 85 Flag of Finland.svg Tomi Mäntynen (Loan)
  • 20 Flag of Finland.svg Tommi Niskanen
  • 73 Flag of Finland.svg Valtteri Pihlajamäki (Loan)
  • 94 Flag of Finland.svg Joni Piipponen (C)
  • 22 Flag of Finland.svg Samuel Salonen
  • 14 Flag of Finland.svg Jani Siekkinen
  • 75 Flag of Finland.svg Samuel Valkeejärvi (Loan)
  • 17 Flag of Finland.svg Veeti Vuorio

Coaches

  • Flag of Finland.svg Max Walther
  • Flag of Finland.svg Tuomo Riikonen
  • Flag of Finland.svg Antti Leskinen

Legend
(C) Captain
(A) Alternate Captain
(Loan) Player on loan with club


Statistics
Average age: 23.4
Average height: 181.2 cm
Average weight: 82.7 kg

Last updated on: 13 April 2022
Elite Prospects

Well-known former players

A list of players that have played for KeuPa HT and gone onto play at the top professional level of hockey in Finland or abroad.

NameLeague(s)
Flag of Finland.svg Joni Lius SM-liiga; Elitserien; Austria
Flag of Finland.svg Olli Palola SM-liiga; KHL; SHL
Flag of Finland.svg Sinuhe Wallinheimo SM-liiga
Flag of Finland.svg Waltteri Lehtonen SM-liiga; AlpsHL
Flag of Finland.svg Taneli Maasalo ALIH
Flag of Finland.svg Petri Pitkänen AIHL

References: [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]

Team staff

Current as of 2021–22 Mestis season [15]

KeuPa Staff
RoleStaff
Head coach Flag of Finland.svg Tomas Westerlund
Assistant coach Flag of Finland.svg Max Walther
Assistant coach Flag of Finland.svg Tuomo Riikonen
Goalkeeping coach Flag of Finland.svg Antti Leskinen
Team manager Flag of Finland.svg Tuomo Riikonen
Equipment manager Flag of Finland.svg Johannes Manni
Physical therapist Flag of Finland.svg Kari Rautakorpi

Leaders

Team captains

All team captains of the club since 2005-06: [16]

NameTerm
Flag of Finland.svg Janne Väliaho2005–2006
Flag of Finland.svg Heikki Virkajärvi2006–2009
Flag of Finland.svg Toni Rautakorpi2009–2011
Flag of Finland.svg Jani Lyytinen2011–2012
Flag of Finland.svg Matias Kiiskinen2012–2013
Flag of Finland.svg Taneli Maasalo2013–2017
Flag of Finland.svg Samuel Salonen2016–2017
Flag of Finland.svg Jani Ollitervo2016–2017
Flag of Finland.svg Markus Jokinen2017–2018
Flag of Finland.svg Waltteri Lehtonen2017–2019
Flag of Finland.svg Joni Piipponen2019–2021
Flag of Finland.svg Juho Koivusaari2021–Present


Head coaches

All head coaches of the club since 2007-08: [17]

NameTerm
Flag of Finland.svg Kari Rautakorpi2007–2015
Flag of Finland.svg Jussi Tupamäki2014–2015
Flag of Finland.svg Ville Nieminen2015–2016
Flag of Finland.svg Mikko Heiskanen2016–2018
Flag of Finland.svg Niko Härkönen2018–2019
Flag of Finland.svg Niko Eronen2019–2020
Flag of Finland.svg Tomas Westerlund2020–Present


References

  1. Keuruun Pallo (Keuruun ball), Retrieved 2015-04-27
  2. 1 2 3 KeuPa HT, Retrieved 2015-04-27
  3. Ikonen, Petteri (23 February 2015). "KeuPa HT vapautti päävalmentaja Jussi Tupamäen tehtävistään". Mestis.fi. Archived from the original on 20 March 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  4. Mestis season 2014–2015, Retrieved 2015-04-27
  5. "Sarjataulukko". Suomen Jääkiekkoliitto. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  6. "KeuPa HT Team History and Standings". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  7. "KeuPa HT 2020-2021 Roster". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  8. "Joukkue" [Team] (in Finnish). keupaht.fi. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  9. "Joni Lius". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  10. "Olli Palola". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  11. "Sinuhe Wallinheimo". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  12. "Waltteri Lehtonen". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  13. "Taneli Maasalo". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  14. "Petri Pitkanen". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  15. "KeuPa HT Team Staff". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  16. "KeuPa HT - Team Captaincy History". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  17. "KeuPa HT - Team Staff History". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 12 April 2022.