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
CityLappeenranta, Finland
LeagueLiiga
Founded1948 (1948)
Home arenaKisapuisto
(capacity: 4,820)
ColoursYellow, black
   
General managerJussi Markkanen
Head coachRaimo Helminen
CaptainJarno Koskiranta
AffiliateImatran Ketterä (Mestis)
Websitesaipa.fi

SaiPa play home games in the yellow shirt, black pants, yellow socks, and a black helmet. SaiPa play away games in mostly the same costumes as the home games, but also have a black version of the jersey.

History

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The team's best achievement is 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.

Honours

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Domestic

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SM-sarja

Pre-season

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Finnish Cup

  •   Runners-up (3): 1958, 1965, 1971

Players

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Current roster

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As of March 10, 2022.[1]

No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
60   Jaakko Haarti D R 25 2022 Helsinki, Finland
2   Miika Herrala F L 23 2021 Kotka, Finland
77   Henri Hietala D L 23 2019 Hamina, Finland
57   Otto Hokkanen C L 20 2021 Lappeenranta, Finland
4   Joona Huttula D L 27 2021 Tampere, Finland
63   Mikko Juusola LW L 26 2021 Kuusamo, Finland
11   Roni Karvinen F L 22 2020 Vantaa, Finland
59   Niko Kautiainen F R 23 2020 Helsinki, Finland
40   Jarno Koskiranta (C) C L 37 2020 Paimio, Finland
21   Elmeri Laakso D L 20 2021 Joensuu, Finland
90   Valtteri Lipiäinen RW R 27 2021 Lappeenranta, Finland
29   Veikko Loimaranta C L 23 2019 Vantaa, Finland
18   Kalle Maalahti (A) D L 33 2021 Lappeenranta, Finland
25   Tino Metsävainio LW L 28 2021 Haukipudas, Finland
74   Sergei Monakhov LW L 33 2021 St. Petersburg, Russia
70   Janne Naukkarinen C L 20 2021 Lappeenranta, Finland
39   Valtteri Ojantakanen LW R 24 2019 Helsinki, Finland
6   Joel Olkkonen D R 31 2019 Hyvinkää, Finland
23   Ville Petman C L 24 2020 Lappeenranta, Finland
31   Cody Porter G L 27 2022 North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
13   Mark Pysyk D R 32 2024 Sherwood Park, Alberta
38   Simo-Pekka Riikola D R 32 2019 Joensuu, Finland
61   Hugo Rikkilä D L 23 2019 Espoo, Finland
86   Aapo Sarell D L 21 2020 Lappeenranta, Finland
82   Aleksi Sinkkonen F L 22 2021 Imatra, Finland
80   Ville Vainikainen RW L 30 2019 Kuopio, Finland
34   Nuutti Viitasalo D R 25 2021 Raisio, Finland
53   Niclas Westerholm G L 27 2017 Helsinki, Finland
 
SaiPa's bronze medal team 1965–1966
 
Jarno Koskiranta playing for SaiPa in 2010

Retired numbers

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SaiPa retired numbers
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 alumni

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References

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  1. ^ "Team Roster / SaiPa". eliteprospects.com. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
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Note 1