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KeuPa HT

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Save the Bialys (talk | contribs) at 22:54, 6 January 2017 (corrections of typos, grammar, and incorrectly translated names). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The KeuPa HT are a semi-professional ice hockey team based in Keuruu, Finland. They are members of the second highest league in Finland, Mestis. The club was founded in 1995 in the Finnish fourth division II-Divisioona after the ice hockey club decided to part company with the Keuruun ball association. They play their home games in the Keuruu Ice Hall, which holds 1200 spectators.

KeuPa HT
City Keuruu, Finland
LeagueMestis
Founded1995
Operated1995–present
Home arenaKeuruun Ice Rink
1200 Capacity
ColoursBlue, Red, White and Black
       
Owner(s)Anders Pekkanen
General managerOlli Raaska
Head coachKari Rautakorpi
CaptainTaneli Maasalo
WebsiteKeuPa HT Home
Championships
Suomi-sarja Gold
Suomi-sarja Bronze
2 (2012, 2014)
1 (2013)
Current season

History

KeuPa HT was born in 1995 after the ice hockey branch of the Keuruun ball association split from the football and ice skating branches. KeuPa kept their traditional name but added ice hockey to the end to differentiate themselves hence the abbreviation HT appears at the end of the name.[1]

The club was promoted to the third division, Suomi-sarja in 2011–2012 and went on to claim the gold medal and win the 3rd division championship. By winning they entered the playoffs with LeKi, KooVee and HCK that year for the right to be promoted to the second division, Mestis. KeuPa finished third in the playoffs and remained in Suomi-sarja while the other two clubs were promoted to Mestis. HCK, who came second in the playoffs was only promoted because Wafer-Laser went bankrupt and had to pull out of Mestis.[2]

In 2012–2013 season the club sought to defend their title however could only manage a third placing finish at the conclusion of the season, winning the bronze medal. Roki won the championship title and qualified for Mestis. KeuPa HT had to settle for another season in the third division after coming close to promotion again. The head coach quit at the end of the season.[2]

For the 2013–2014 season started off badly for the club. They had not been able to find a replacement for their head coach and the club has in a precarious financial situation and staring at bankruptcy or folding the club up and ceasing operations, wherein they would not compete in the Suomi-sarja season. The KeuPa HT players started a fundraising campaign to raise the money needed to keep the club afloat and allow them to compete in the league that year. By seasons' start they had managed to raise the needed money and they began the season on schedule. The club went through a rocky patchy start to the season but managed to gain momentum at the back end of the regular season and just reach the playoff finals. In the playoffs KeuPa dispatched with Roki and Bewe Tuuskin to meet FPS (formally FOPS of Forssa) in the final. KeuPa HT beat FPS in the final and qualified for Mestis for the first time. Ending what became a Cinderella season from a very bleak start.[2]

KeuPa HT went through two head coaches in their first season in the second division in 2014–2015, firstly Jussi Tupamäki then Kari Rautakorpi from 23 February 2015.[3] The team finished the regular season in 8th position, just missing out on the relegation positions of 9 and 10. Their record for the season was 13 wins, 30 losses with 8 overtime victories and 5 overtime losses for a total of 60 points from 56 matches.[4][5]

Players

Current roster as of 1 March 2015[2][6]

Current roster

2014–2015 KeuPa HT Roster
# Nat Name Pos Age Agreement Birthplace
41 Tomi Ahonen W 30 2015 Keuruu, Finland
3 Micah Huhtanen D 21 Loan ( SAIPA 2016 + 1 ) Lappeenranta, Finland
9 Teemu Huttunen W 23 2015 Kiiminki, Finland
18 Panu Hyyppä D 27 2015 Jyväskylä, Finland
15 Kaarlo Jormakka W 26 2015 Jyväskylän maalaiskunta, Finland
35 Antti Karjalainen G 19 Loan ( Lock A ) Sotkamo, Finland
42 Antti Kauppila (A) D 25 2015 Tornio, Finland
4 Sebastian Kauppila D 20 2015 Kemi, Finland
22 Matias Kiiskinen F 26 2015 ( 2016 ) Kuopio, Finland
14 Pasi Kouvalainen W 23 2015 Pyhajarvi, Finland
7 Janne Kumpulainen W 23 2015 ( 2016 ) Jyväskylä, Finland
35 Oscar Käyhkö G 25 2015 Jyväskylä, Finland
25 Taneli Lappalainen W 21 2015 Jyväskylä, Finland
33 Jesse Lindsten W 22 2015 Salo, Finland
21 Taneli Maasalo (C) F 26 2015 ( 2016 ) Keuruu, Finland
12 Tomi Mustonen W 31 2015 Oulu, Finland
10 Svante Myllylahti W 22 2015 Tornio, Finland
63 Janne Myllymäki D 25 2015 Kalajoki, Finland
12 Joni Mäkelä W 21 2015 Keuruu, Finland
77 Juuso Mörsky W 25 2015 ( 2016 ) Lapua, Finland
11 Jani Olli Tervo D 23 2015 Tornio, Finland
55 Samuli Paananen D 22 2015 Jyväskylä, Finland
6 Vili Palola D 22 2015 Keuruu, Finland
16 Jonah Peränen F 24 2015 ( 2016 ) Jyväskylä, Finland
54 Petri Pitkänen G 23 2015 Jyväskylä, Finland
19 Emppu Pulliainen W 25 2015 Jyväskylä, Finland
5 Henry Roihu D 21 2015 Järvenpää, Finland
61 Markus Rämä (A) W 28 2015 ( 2016 ) Taipalsaari, Finland
29 Aleksi Saarinen D 18 Loan ( Lock A ) Rauma, Finland
26 Roni Sevänen D 20 Loan ( Lock A ) Eura, Finland
43 Rasmus Smedberg W 18 Loan ( Lock A ) Rauma, Finland
32 Erno Suomalainen G 24 2015 Espoo, Finland
27 Onni Toivanen W 21 Loan ( SAIPA 2016 + 1 ) Lappeenranta, Finland
77 Jussi Viitanen W 22 2015 Tikkakoski, Finland

Well Known Former Players

A list of players that have played for KeuPa HT and gone onto play at the top professional level of hockey in Finland or abroad.

Technical staff

Current as of 1 March 2015[6]

2014–15 KeuPa HT Staff
Position Name
Head coach Kari Rautakorpi
Assistant Coach Tero Leinonen
Assistant Coach Juha Kantanen

References

  1. ^ Keuruun Pallo (Keuruun ball), Retrieved 2015-04-27 [better source needed]
  2. ^ a b c d KeuPa HT, Retrieved 2015-04-27 [better source needed]
  3. ^ Ikonen, Petteri (23 February 2015). "KeuPa HT vapautti päävalmentaja Jussi Tupamäen tehtävistään". Mestis.fi. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  4. ^ Mestis season 2014–2015, Retrieved 2015-04-27 [better source needed]
  5. ^ "Sarjataulukko". Suomen Jääkiekkoliitto. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  6. ^ a b "KeuPa HT Team Roster". KeuPa HT official website. Retrieved 27 April 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)