Tampereen Ilves Naiset (lit. 'Tampere Lynx Women') are an ice hockey team in the Auroraliiga. They are the representative women's team of the multi-sport club Ilves, based in Tampere, and their home arena is Tesoman jäähalli in Tampere's Tesoma district.
Ilves is the only team that has played in every season since the establishment of the Naisten SM-sarja in 1982 (called the Naisten Liiga in 2017–2024 and rebranded as Auroraliiga in 2024). The team ranks second on the list of most Aurora Borealis Cup wins, with ten, and has claimed the most Finnish Championship medals in league history, with ten gold, twelve silver, and eight bronze for 30 total medals.
Contents
Season-by-season results
This is a partial list of the most recent seasons completed by Tampereen Ilves Naiset. Note: Finish = Rank at end of regular season; GP = Games played, W = Wins (3 points), OTW = Overtime wins (2 points), OTL = Overtime losses (1 point), L = Losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, Pts = Points, Top scorer: Points (Goals+Assists)
Players and personnel
2025–26 roster
As of 28 March 2026
Coaching staff and team personnel
Head coach: Marjo Voutilainen
Assistant coach: Nuutti Ylitalo
Goaltending coach: Atte Ojala
Conditioning coach: Elise Heikkilä
Equipment managers: Marko Lahtinen & Nina Tuomaala
Team captaincy history
Marianne Ihalainen, 1990–1998
Mari Östring, 1999–2000
Marianne Ihalainen, 2000–01
Evelina Similä, 2001–02
Mari Saarinen, 2007–2011
Johanna Koivula, 2011–2014
Anna Kilponen, 2014–15
Satu-Annika Parkusjärvi, 2015–16
Anne Tuomanen, 2016–17
Linda Välimäki, 2017–18
Anne Tuomanen, 2018–19
Johanna Juutilainen, 2019–20
Anna Kilponen, 2020–January 2022
Jenna Lehtiniemi, January 2022–April 2022
Helen Puputti, 2022–23
Jenna Lehtiniemi, 2023–
Head coaches
Markku Hannunkivi, 1992–93
Petteri Linna & Jarmo Nurmi, 1994–1996
Janne Hakala & Markku Hannunkivi, 1996–97
Antti Kallioinen & Ville Tolvanen, 1997–1999
Tapio Koho, 1999–2002
Marianne Ihalainen, 2002–2006
Samuli Marjeta, 2009–13 January 2012
Severi Lehtonen, 13 January 2012–March 2012
Timo Lindqvist, August 2012–28 October 2012
Jouko Urvikko, 28 October 2012 – 2013
Osmo Lindström, 2014–2016
Mari Saarinen, 2016–2018
Jarmo Jamalainen, 2018–19
Ville Tolvanen, 2019–20
Linda Leppänen, 2020–2022
Marjo Voutilainen, 2022–
Retired numbers
#10 Anne Haanpää
#15 Johanna Koivula
#16 Marianne Ihalainen
Honours and awards
Finnish Championship
Aurora Borealis Cup (10): 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2006, 2010
Runners-up (12): 1983, 1989, 1994, 1995, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019
Third Place (8): 1984, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2015, 2025, 2026
European Women's Champions Cup
Ilves represented the Naisten SM-sarja as reigning Finnish Champion at the IIHF European Women's Champions Cup in 2011.
Gold (1): 2011
Individual awards
Finnish Ice Hockey Association trophies recognizing individual Auroraliiga players won by Ilves team members. Former Ilves head coach Linda Leppänen (née Välimäki) is the most prolific award-winning player in team history, having won both the highest number of trophies, with seven, and the broadest variety of trophies, with five different awards.
Riikka Nieminen Award (Player of the Year)
2009–10: Jenni Hiirikoski
2017–18: Linda Välimäki
Päivi Halonen Award (Best defenseman)
2005–06: Heidi Pelttari
Tuula Puputti Award (Best goaltender)
2005–06: Maija Hassinen
2007–08: Maija Hassinen
2020–21: Anni Keisala
Katja Riipi Award (Best forward)
2005–06: Saara Tuominen
2009–10: Linda Välimäki
Noora Räty Award (Best rookie)
2010–11: Venla Kotkaslahti
Marianne Ihalainen Award (Top point scorer)
1984–85: Anne Haanpää
1989–90: Marianne Ihalainen
1991–92: Anne Nurmi
1994–95: Sari Fisk
2009–10: Linda Välimäki
Team records and leaders
As of 23 June 2024
Regular season
Career records
Most points: Marianne Ihalainen, 602 points (323 games; 1982–2001)
Most points, defenseman: Anna Aaltomaa, 203 points (279 games; 1992–2006)
Most goals: Marianne Ihalainen, 320 goals (323 games; 1982–2001)
Most assists: Johanna Koivula, 302 assists (495 games; 1997–2018)
Highest points per game (P/G), over 30 games played: Linda Leppänen (née Välimäki), 2.11 P/G (157 games; 2005–2019)
Most penalty minutes (PIM): Johanna Koivula, 323 PIM (495 games; 1997–2018)
Most games played, skater: Johanna Koivula, 495 games (1997–2018)
Most games played, goaltender: Viivi Vartia-Koivisto, 98 games (2008–2021)
Best save percentage, over 25 games played: Anni Keisala, .937 Sv% (74 games; 2018–2022)
Best goals against average (GAA), over 25 games played: Camilla Kortesniemi, 2.12 GAA (28 games; 2016–2019)
Most shutouts:
Anni Keisala, 9 shutouts (74 games; 2018–2022)
Viivi Vartia-Koivisto, 9 shutouts (98 games; 2008–2021)
Single-season records
Most points: Tiia Reima, 85 points (24 games; 1993–94)
Playoffs
Career records
Most points: Johanna Koivula, 74 points (128 games; 1997–2018)
Most points, defenseman: Jenni Hiirikoski, 32 points (52 games; 2001–2010)
Most goals: Marianne Ihalainen, 36 goals (53 games; 1983–2001)
Most assists: Johanna Koivula, 41 assists (128 games; 1997–2018)
Highest points per game, over ten games played: Päivi Halonen, 1.38 P/G (13 games; 1982–1990)
Most penalty minutes: Johanna Koivula, 104 PIM (128 games; 1997–2018)
Most games played, skater: Johanna Koivula, 128 games (1997–2018)
Most games played, goaltender:
Maija Hassinen-Sullanmaa, 26 games (2003–2008)
Viivi Vartia-Koivisto, 26 games (2008–2015)
Best save percentage, over five games played: Anni Keisala, .939 Sv% (20 games; 2018–2022)
Best goals against average (GAA), over five games played: Anni Keisala, 2.21 GAA (20 games; 2018–2022)
Most shutouts: Anni Keisala, 3 shutouts (20 games; 2018–2022)
Notable alumni
Seasons active with Ilves listed alongside player name.
International players
Nina Linde, 2004–2006 & 2009–10
Tawni Jaakola (née Mattila), 2010–11
Tuva Schall Mikkelsen, 2021–2023
Nadina Niciu, 2020–21
Patricia Zum Hingst, 1996–1999