Template:Short description Template:About Template:Infobox ice hockey team Saimaan Pallo (SaiPa) is an ice hockey team in the Finnish Liiga. They play their home games at Kisapuisto in Lappeenranta, Finland. SaiPa has many nicknames, such as "The Sputniks", "Sputnik", "Miracle of the East" and "Eastern Giant."
SaiPa play home games in the yellow shirt, black pants, yellow socks, and a black helmet. SaiPa play away games in mostly the same uniform as the home games, but also have a black version of the jersey.
HistoryEdit
The team's best achievement is silver in the 2024–25 Liiga season. Previous best result was from the 1965–1966 season, when they won bronze medals for placing third. SaiPa also played in a bronze medal game in the 1998–1999 and 2013–14 seasons, but lost the games to HPK (7–2) and Lukko (3–2).
SaiPa has participated twice in the Champions Hockey League. During the 2014–2015 season, the team survived the quarterfinals, where they lost the return match against Oulun Kärpät. During the 2016–17 season, SaiPa won their initial games by 11 points. Eisbären Berlin and Luleå HF were the runners-up.
SaiPa has produced seven players who have played in the National Hockey League (NHL): Antti Aalto, Jussi Markkanen, Petteri Nokelainen, Petri Skriko, Jussi Timonen, Vesa Viitakoski, and Niklas Bäckström. Jussi Markkanen is also a part owner of the club.
HonoursEdit
DomesticEdit
- Template:Silver2 2nd place (1): 2024–25
- Template:Bronze3 3rd place (1): 1965–66
Pre-seasonEdit
- Template:Silver2 Runners-up (3): 1958, 1965, 1971
PlayersEdit
Current rosterEdit
Retired numbersEdit
No. | Player | Position | Career |
---|---|---|---|
3 | Lalli Partinen | D | 1959–1969 |
8 | Ville Koho | C | 2001–2020 |
9 | Petri Skriko | LW | 1979–1984 |
20 | Heikki Mälkiä | C | 1975–1986 1988–1992 |
NHL alumniEdit
- Template:Flagicon Antti Aalto
- Template:Flagicon Niklas Bäckström
- Template:Flagicon Frank Banham
- Template:Flagicon Richard Lintner
- Template:Flagicon Jussi Markkanen
- Template:Flagicon Dale McTavish
- Template:Flagicon Jarmo Myllys
- Template:Flagicon Petteri Nokelainen
- Template:Flagicon Antti Pihlström
- Template:Flagicon Martin Richter
- Template:Flagicon Petri Skriko
- Template:Flagicon Jussi Timonen
- Template:Flagicon Shayne Toporowski
- Template:Flagicon Vesa Viitakoski
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- SaiPa official website Template:In lang
- SaiPa Fan Club Template:In lang
- Idän Ihme fan site Template:In lang
Template:Finland-sport-team-stub Template:Europe-icehockey-team-stub