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Regular season and playoffs

Kiekko-Espoo

Finishing thirteen points ahead of the competition, Kiekko-Espoo claimed the first seed for the second consecutive season.

HIFK

Defending Aurora Borealis Cup champions IFK Helsinki saw an unusually high number of players leave the team following the 2024 Finnish Championship, with nine significant players not returning for the 2024–25 season. Departures ahead of the 2024–25 season included Michaela Pejzlová, Sanni Vanhanen, Julia Liikala, and Clara Rozier, four of the top-five point scorers in the league during the previous season; Kiia Lahtinen, the league's 2023–24 best goaltender by save percentage; Siiri Yrjölä, the team's 2023–24 top-scoring defenseman; and team captain Karoliina Rantamäki. HIFK's slide from second in the standings in 2023–24 to fourth in 2024–25 can be broadly attributed to the changes in roster composition.

Notable off-season signings included forwards Emma Lappalainen and Iida Lappalainen from RoKi and goaltender Tea Koljonen from Kiekko-Espoo, however, HIFK opted to fill most of the vacancies with young players from its own development system. The influx of youth players pushed the team's average age from 21 years, which had held steady across both of the previous seasons, to 19.7 years in 2024–25.

Across the 32 game season, HIFK recorded twenty wins and nine losses in regulation time and an additional win and two losses in overtime for 64 totals points. They scored 113 goals on the season, a total of 62 fewer goals than in 2023–24. Twenty year old center Pauliina Salonen narrowly led HIFK's scoring and placed ninth on the league scoring chart, with sixteen goals and eighteen assists for 34 points. Her linemates both notched 33 points, with Anni Pere (16 goals + 17 assists) ranking tenth in league scoring and Emmi Juusela (7+26) ranking thirteenth. Twelve players recorded ten or more points for HIFK on the season, with notable contributions from veteran forward Johanna Kemppainen (9+11=20) and the team's top-scoring defensemen, eighteen year old Heidi Holmberg (7+13=20) and newly-appointed captain Athéna Locatelli (4+13=17).

Netminder Miia Vainio was promoted from backup to starter in 2024–25 and the twenty year old struggled with the increased workload. She recorded a decent but unremarkable save percentage of 90.1 and similarly middling goals against average of 2.51 across 23 appearances, which ranked eighth and seventh of all goaltenders playing at least one-third of their team's minutes, respectively. Eighteen year old backup Nelli Nieminen was the league's top netminder of those playing less than one-third of their team's minutes, achieving a solid 91.5 save percentage and respectable 1.67 goals against average across six outings.

HPK

HPK Hämeenlinna finished the season in third place after amassing 66 points and earning a goal difference of +52. The team achieved their best end-of-season rank in eight seasons as the result of excellent goaltending and quality depth scoring. Alternate captain Kiti Seikkula led HPK in points and goals, with 22 goals and 45 points in 31 games. Her point total was followed by Slovak forward Júlia Matejková's 16 goals and 22 points in 29 games and Czech left winger Tereza Pištěková's 24 assists and 35 points in 32 games. The three linemates ranked tenth, twelfth, and thirteenth on the league scoring table, respectively, and Seikkula was eighth in the league for goals scored. An additional three HPK players – right winger Ines Lukkarila, center Ella Välikangas, and defenseman Heta Seikkula – exceeded the twenty-point mark and another two players – Czech winger Barbora Juříčková and defenseman Oona Koukkula – earned 19 points on the season.

Both parts of HPK's goaltender tandem, Eline Gabriele and Janika Järvikari, ranked in the league's top-five of net minders playing at least one-third of their team's minutes for both save percentage and goals against average. Gabriele played half of HPK's games and recorded a very good 91.3 save percentage and solid 1.94 GAA, while Järvikari recorded a sublime 93.1 save percentage and league-leading 1.42 GAA.^[19] Canadian goaltender Kassidy Sauvé, who had masterfully backstopped the team during the 2022 Aurora Borealis Cup playoffs, signed with HPK in December 2023 and played in six regular season games during January and February, amassing a shaky 88.0 save percentage during that time.

KalPa

KalPa Kuopio finished the regular season ranked fourth in the league, with 60 points and a goal difference of +38. Star left winger Elisa Holopainen tallied 57 points despite missing all of September and most of October while rehabilitating from a major leg injury. Her 32 goals and 25 assists in nineteen games led all KalPa players in points and goals. Captain Johanna Juutilainen led the team in assists (26) and she ended the season with 46 points in 32 games. Other notable contributors to KalPa’s scoring were defenseman Sanni Rantala, who notched 34 points (13+21) in 30 games, and forward Tilli Keränen, who recorded a career-best 30 points (14+16) in 28 games.

Goaltender Tiina Ranne led the league in time on ice, with nearly 1,235 minutes in net, and her 21 games played tied Olivia Last of TPS for most played. Her 90.2 save percentage ranked ninth of all goaltenders playing at least one-third of their team's minutes and her 2.53 goals against average ranked seventh. Backup net-minders Aino Laitinen and Jenna Juutilainen recorded save percentages of 91.2 in eight games and 89.9 in four games, respectively.

Ilves

– Varpula missed about three months (Nov/Dec–Feb)^[20]

For the second consecutive season, Ilves Tampere amassed 59 points and were seeded fifth at the conclusion of the regular season. The team's +8 goal difference was one goal higher than their +7 for the 2022–23 season. Alternate captain Anniina Kaitala led the team in both goals (21) and points (34), and her eight power play goals ranked first in the league.^[21] First line centre Emilia Varpula was Ilves' assist leader, recording 27 assists and 33 points in 31 games, and alternate captain Helen Puputti notched 32 points (13+19) in 31 games. Elli Suoranta was the top scoring defender for Ilves, tallying 28 points (13+15) in 27 games.

Team Kuortane

Team Kuortane achieved their best regular season finish after overtaking HIFK and clinching the third seed on the last day of the regular season. The team was buoyed by aggressive offense, one of the stongest blue lines in the league, and goaltending with potential for brilliance.^[17]

For the third consecutive season, Team Kuortane placed sixth in the league. The team struggled to score throughout the season and were shutout in ten games during the 32-game season, ultimately recording a –34 goal difference. Raili Mustonen led the team in points, scoring 7 goals and 15 points in 30 games, and ranked 51st on the league scoring table. Sofia Kari was Kuortane's leading goal scorer, with 9 goals and 14 points in 31 games, and Aino Krook led the team in assists, with 11 assists and 14 points in 32 games.

Emilia Kyrkkö, the 2022–23 Naisten Liiga Goaltender of the Year, was limited to six games of the 2023–24 season due to injury, leaving the starting net-minder position vacant. Early in the season, goalie Venla Varis suffered a season-ending injury and Kuortane's other two backup goaltenders – Lilia Huovinen and Kerttu Kuja-Halkola – scrambled to perform on a consistent basis. As the season progressed, Kuja-Halkola steadily improved from an 88.7 save percentage at the end of September to a team-leading 91.2 save percentage by season's end – for which she was recognized with selection to the Naisten Liiga All-Star second team.

Kärpät

TPS

Rosters

Ice hockey at the 2025 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival

(A)

More information Team, Roster ...

Team	Roster
Austria[22][23]	Goaltenders: Martin Haim, Kilian Streußnig Defensemen: Dominik Ferner, Benedikt Hengelmüller, Gabriel Holzer, Marc Hudritsch, Lennart Leitner, Robin Stöckl, Paul Vaschauner Forwards: Simon Cseh, Luca Fischer, Lucas Hartl, Ferdinand Humer, Nico Koschek, Ben Öfner, Jonathan Oschgan, Paul Schuster, Paul Sintschnig, Rafael Wagnsonner, Quentin Wallner Head coach: Peter Schweda Assistant coach: Johnnes Leitner, Maximilian Wehrhan (goaltender)
Czechia[24][25]	Goaltenders: Václav Osvald, Simon Pešout Defensemen: Tadeáš Chalupa, Daniel Filip, Adam Hynek, Robin Kavan, Denis Korhoň, Dominik Novák, Tomáš Zikmund Forwards: Dominik Drábek, Michal Hartl, Daniel Helis, Matěj Kučera, Adam Němec, Antonín Riedl, Štěpán Stejskal, Jaroslav Šedivý, Šimon Šejc, Denis Viedemann, Kryštof Vrbata Head coach: Marek Melenovský Assistant coaches: Tomáš Andrys, Marek Schwartz (goaltender)
Latvia[26][27]	Goaltenders: Patriks Plūmiņš, Tomass Rutulis Defensemen: Reinholds Circenis, Leonards Grundmanis, Kristaps Katkovskis, Herberts Laugalis, Oskars Lūks, Artūrs Masaļskis Forwards: Rainers Belovs, Rūdolfs Bērzkalns, Jānis Jukāms, Martins Klaucāns, Timurs Mališevs, Makss Mihailovs, Kristers Obuks, Daniels Reidzāns, Stefans Rots, Ričards Rutkis, Dāvids Tarvids, Henrijs Upenieks Head coach: Lauris Dārziņš Assistant coach: Jānis Sprukts, Raimonds Vilkoits
Slovakia[28][29]	Goaltenders: Denis Čelko, Jakub Husár Defensemen: Matej Bereš, Oliver Botka, Roderik Černák, Filip Kovalčík, Marko Požgay, Jakub Syrný, Denis Tóth Forwards: Ján Čurlej, Juraj Jonas Ďurčo, Samuel Hybský, Kristián Macák, Ivan Matta, Adam Obušek, Kristián Rezničák, Maxim Šimko, Tomáš Šromovský, Matej Stankoven, Matúš Válek Head coach: Peter Kúdelka Assistant coach: Peter Čížek, Rastislav Staňa (goaltender)
Switzerland[30][31]	Goaltenders: Nico Keller, Yannis Zambelli Defensemen: Niccolò Castiglioni, Loïc Mukuna, Roméo Pralong, Wsewolod Schwanemann, Vito Thoma, Dennis van Gessel Forwards: Raphaël Achermann, Ryan Bizzozero, Jan Daron, Liam Dubé, Sol Fueter, Sven Kriesi, Elia Liniger, Tim Münger, Tadeo Prosser, Moritz Rüegsegger, Maxime Sauthier, Pascal Schürmann Head coach: Patrick Schob Assistant coach: Sven Dick, Daniel Manzato (goaltender)
Ukraine[32]	Goaltenders: Illia Bobrov, Fedir Kolpovskyi Defensemen: Arkhyp Holin, Mykhailo Korobkin, Yehor Ostapenko, Yaroslav Panasenko, Daniel Skyba, Mykhailo Stupnitskyi Forwards: Arsenii Denysenko, Platon Isaiev, Mykola Kasatkin, Oleksii Kryvonos, Klym Luchkin, Danylo Olifirchuk, Yehor Polishchuk, Yefym Sokhanevych, Myroslav Spaskin, Sviatoslav Vasiak, Arsienii Voroteliak, Oleksandr Zhdanov Head coach: Oleksandr Bobkin Assistant coach: Ruslan Borysenko, Oleksandr Fedorov
Albania	Goaltenders: Defensemen: Forwards: Head coach: Assistant coach:

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Friesen/Crum @ HC Slavia

League

The Naisten Liiga is an amateur sports league in which no player is paid by their club to compete. Nine of ten Naisten Liiga teams share their names with men's professional teams in the Liiga or Mestis – HIFK, HPK, Ilves, KalPa, Kiekko-Espoo, Kärpät, Lukko, RoKi, TPS – but most women's teams belong to the youth organizations affiliated with the men's teams, rather than belonging to the parent clubs themselves. This limits the financial resources made available to the women's teams and negatively impacts their ability to advertise or share in off-ice resources with their men's counterparts.^[51] Naisten Liiga teams have historically received few resources and limited promotion from affiliated men's clubs.^[52][53][54]

In addition to business partnerships, most Naisten Liiga teams depend on player fees as a significant source of income, with players paying around 585 euros to 2,900 euros for the 2022–23 season. HIFK Naiset and HPK Kiekkonaiset belong to the parent clubs of their affiliated Liiga teams and their operating budgets enable players to play without frees, i.e. they are the only teams for which it is free to play.

are the only teams for which it is free for players to play, as they boast the largest budgets in the league, at 150,000 euros and 146,500 euros, respectively.

In contrast, for example, eight of ten teams in the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL) are operated by Swedish Hockey League (SHL) or HockeyAllsvenskan clubs, making it possible for SDHL players play for free – some are even paid small salaries – and for teams to benefit from shared facilities and promotion.

As of , only clubs belonging to

NSML playoff blurbs

HIFK

^[84]

Kärpät

– Mira Kuisma established the Kärpät girls' ice hockey club in 2011^[85]

– club has since produced Anna-Kaisa Antti-Roiko and Oona Havana

Lukko

Lukko’s Tuulli Ollikainen^[86]

Team Kuortane

– "Finland’s development program: Team Kuortane targets women’s hockey for U18" article from 2016 Worlds U18^[87]

– 2018 Olympics: Petra Nieminen, Sara Säkkinen, Saila Saari ^[88]

Players

Players

HC Tornado

Though the impact was not immediately felt, the 2015–16 season marked the beginning of a new era for the team. Twelve players from the 2014–15 roster, many of them veterans of the Russian national team including three players from the 2014 Russian Olympic team, did not return to Tornado in the following season. Seven of the twelve signed with other ZhHL teams, four to Dynamo St. Petersburg and three to three different teams; captain Olga Permyakova and goaltenderValentina Ostrovlyanchik retired, Svetlana Tkacheva and goaltender Tatyana Shchukina did not play in the 2015–16 season, and Liudmila Belyakova signed with the Metropolitan Riveters of the NWHL, becoming one of the first Russian players to ever play in the league and the only Russian player in Riveters history. The change plunged the average age of the team from 23–24 years, which had been the average range since the 2009–10 season, to 20.7 years.

After the 2017–18 season, many

North American players before 2010:^[141]

• Caitlin Barnes, ????–??
• Grace Hutchins, ????–??

North American players after 2010:

• Cherie Hendrickson, 2013–14
• Melissa Jaques, 2011–12
• Brittany Simpson, 2013–14

claiming the title in more than half of the seasons played since the club’s founding.

Global Girls’ Game, Feb 2017^[142]