Kim Hirschovits | |||
---|---|---|---|
Born | Helsinki, Finland | 9 May 1982||
Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
Weight | 196 lb (89 kg; 14 st 0 lb) | ||
Position | Centre | ||
Shot | Left | ||
Played for | |||
Coached for | Kiekko-Espoo | ||
National team | Finland | ||
NHL draft | 194th overall, 2002 New York Rangers | ||
Playing career | 2001–2019 | ||
Coaching career | 2019–present |
Kim Michael Hirschovits-Gerz (born 9 May 1982) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward and current [update] sports manager of Kiekko-Espoo in the Mestis. [1] During his playing career, he skated in the Finnish Liiga (called SM-liiga until 2013) with HIFK, Jokerit, the Espoo Blues, and Oulun Kärpät; in the Swedish Elitserien with Timrå IK and Luleå HF; and in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod and Dinamo Minsk. Hirschovits was drafted by the New York Rangers as their sixth-round pick, 194th overall, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
Following his retirement in 2019, Hirschovits stepped into role as sports manager Kiekko-Espoo. He also served as the team's head coach during the 2019–20 season and 2021–22 season. [2]
Hirschovits started his professional playing career with HIFK in the 2000–01 SM-liiga season, but his career took off in the 2005–06 season, when he scored 40 points. Hirschovits then created controversy by signing with HIFK's local rival Jokerit, following in the footsteps of coach Doug Shedden. Hirschovits's career included a brief visit to North America in 2002, when he played six games with the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League (USHL).
In September 2006, he was the SM-liiga Player of the Month. In the 2008–09 season he led the SM-liiga in assists (48) and points (Veli-Pekka Ketola Trophy; 66) and was the January 2009 SM-liiga Player of the Month. In the 2014–15 season, he was named the Liiga Best Player of the regular season (Lasse Oksanen Trophy), won the Liiga Golden Helmet, led the Liiga in assists (45) and points (Veli-Pekka Ketola Trophy; 58), and was the February 2015 Liiga Player of the Month. [3]
Hirschovits made his international debut on Team Finland on the Euro Hockey Tour's Moscow tournament in December 2006.
Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
1998–99 | HIFK | FIN U18 | 31 | 19 | 11 | 30 | 22 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||
1999–00 | HIFK | FIN U18 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 2 | ||
1999–00 | HIFK | Jr. A | 40 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 45 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
2000–01 | HIFK | Jr. A | 35 | 24 | 20 | 44 | 41 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 6 | ||
2000–01 | HIFK | SM-l | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2001–02 | HIFK | Jr. A | 5 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 0 | ||
2001–02 | HIFK | SM-l | 45 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2001–02 | KJT | Mestis | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2001–02 | Chicago Steel | USHL | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2002–03 | HIFK | SM-l | 55 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 26 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
2003–04 | HIFK | SM-l | 56 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 56 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 | ||
2004–05 | HIFK | SM-l | 55 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 61 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 16 | ||
2005–06 | HIFK | SM-l | 53 | 14 | 26 | 40 | 69 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 16 | ||
2006–07 | Jokerit | SM-l | 54 | 19 | 40 | 59 | 62 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 14 | ||
2007–08 | Jokerit | SM-l | 54 | 17 | 24 | 41 | 99 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 | ||
2008–09 | HIFK | SM-l | 58 | 18 | 48 | 66 | 54 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | ||
2009–10 | HIFK | SM-l | 54 | 18 | 26 | 44 | 62 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 10 | ||
2010–11 | Timrå IK | SEL | 52 | 12 | 21 | 33 | 52 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2011–12 | HIFK | SM-l | 30 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2011–12 | Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod | KHL | 12 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | ||
2012–13 | Luleå HF | SEL | 39 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2012–13 | Dinamo Minsk | KHL | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2013–14 | Blues | Liiga | 60 | 9 | 22 | 31 | 62 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
2014–15 | Blues | Liiga | 59 | 13 | 45 | 58 | 46 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||
2015–16 | Blues | Liiga | 25 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2015–16 | Kärpät | Liiga | 29 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 22 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
2016–17 | Espoo United | Mestis | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2017–18 | Espoo United | Mestis | 29 | 2 | 19 | 21 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2018–19 | Kiekko–Espoo | FIN.3 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
SM-l/Liiga totals | 689 | 141 | 302 | 443 | 691 | 77 | 10 | 18 | 28 | 94 |
Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | Finland | WJC | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||
Junior totals | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
The SM-liiga, colloquially called the Finnish Elite League in English or FM-ligan in Swedish, is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. The league comprises 16 teams from all around Finland with relegation and promotion between the Mestis. The winner of the Liiga playoffs is awarded the Kanada-malja at the end of each season.
Helsingin Jokerit is a professional ice hockey team based in Helsinki, Finland, which competes in Mestis. Jokerit plays its home games at the Helsinki Ice Hall in Helsinki.
Porin Ässät, officially named Hockey Club Ässät Pori and colloquially known as Pata, is a professional ice hockey club based in Pori, Finland. It competes in the SM-liiga, the highest-ranking league of ice hockey in Finland. Since 1971, Ässät has played its games in the Isomäki Ice Hall.
Jere Kalervo Lehtinen is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward. A right winger, he was drafted in the third round, 88th overall, in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota North Stars. Lehtinen played his entire 15-year National Hockey League (NHL) career with the organization after the franchise moved to Dallas in 1993. A two-way forward, Lehtinen is perhaps best known for his defensive responsibilities, for which he won the Frank J. Selke Trophy three times as the NHL's top defensive forward. After his retirement, he has served as the general manager of the Finnish national ice hockey team. He was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2018.
Jarkko Samuli Ruutu ; born 23 August 1975) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators and Anaheim Ducks. He is currently serving as a European development coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Steven Tetsuo Kariya is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger and younger brother of former National Hockey League player Paul Kariya. Kariya was born in North Vancouver, British Columbia.
Petri Johannes Varis is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward. He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks as their 6th-round pick in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft.
Raimo Olavi Summanen is a former professional ice hockey forward and the current head coach of HIFK of the Finnish Elite League. He is also a former coach of the Finnish national team. He was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the sixth round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft, 125th overall, and spent his NHL career with Edmonton and the Vancouver Canucks.
Ville Sakari Peltonen is a Finnish ice hockey coach and a former professional ice hockey forward. Peltonen was drafted by the San Jose Sharks as their third round pick, 58th overall, in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. During his professional career, he has played 382 NHL games for Sharks, Nashville Predators and Florida Panthers. Internationally, he represented the Finland men's national ice hockey team, and was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2016.
Tony Salmelainen is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward. He last played for HIFK of the Finnish Liiga in 2013. He was originally drafted by the Edmonton Oilers as their second-round pick in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. His father Tommi Salmelainen was the first European ever to be drafted by an NHL team.
Esa Juhani Keskinen is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey forward.
Veli-Pekka Ketola is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player and coach. He played 15 seasons in the top flight of ice hockey in Finland, 10 of which were with the Porin Ässät. Ketola retired from professional ice hockey in 1982 after his National Hockey League (NHL) debut season with the Colorado Rockies. Ketola also represented the World Hockey Association (WHA) teams Winnipeg Jets and the Calgary Cowboys.
Pekka Olavi "Rocky" Rautakallio is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenceman and coach. He played 14 seasons in Finland's SM-sarja and SM-liiga between 1968 and 1987 for Ässät and HIFK Helsinki, during which he was a five-time Finnish All-Star. Rautakallio was a member of Ässät's championship team that won the Kanada-malja in 1978. He was named the best defenceman of the SM-liiga in 1978, 1979 and 1986; the league later named the award the Pekka Rautakallio trophy in his honour. Internationally, Rautakallio played with the Finnish national team in seven World Championships and two Canada Cup tournaments.
Janne Tapani Pesonen is a Finnish former professional ice hockey winger who played for Oulun Kärpät of the Finnish Liiga.
The 1997–98 SM-liiga season was the 23rd season of the SM-liiga, the top level of ice hockey in Finland. 12 teams participated in the league, and HIFK Helsinki won the championship.
Henrik Haapala is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing for Malmö Redhawks in the SHL. He has previously played with the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Miro Karjalainen is a Finnish professional ice hockey player, currently playing for HIFK of the Liiga.
Antti Suomela is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward for Lausanne HC of the National League (NL).
Kiekko-Espoo is a Finnish professional ice hockey club founded in 2018 as a continuation of the Kiekko-Espoo team originally founded in 1984. Kiekko-Espoo men's team plays in the Liiga, where they were promoted for the 2024–25 season, and the women's team plays in the Auroraliiga, where they hold the most championships of any club.
The history of the Porin Ässät starts in 1925, when Porin Palloilijat was established, even though PoPa is often considered as a separate club from Ässät.