What league does Ilves U18 play in?

Ilves U18 play in the U18 SM-sarja.

When was Ilves U18 founded?

Ilves U18 was founded in 1931 in Tampere, FIN, Finland.

Where is Ilves U18 based?

Ilves U18 is based in Tampere, FIN.

Who is the head coach of Ilves U18?

The head coach of Ilves U18 is Samuli Simula.

Who is the captain of Ilves U18?

The captain of Ilves U18 is Akseli Harju.

What are the team colors of Ilves U18?

The team colors of Ilves U18 are Green + Yellow + White.

Ilves U18

U18 SM-sarja

Show Updates

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2025-2026

2025-2026 Season

Ilves U18 were 10-10-2 in the 2025-26 U18 SM-sarja season with 32 points, 9th in the SM-sarja and 15th overall.

Embed Rosters

2025-2026 Ilves U18 Roster

	#	Player	A	Born	Birthplace	HT	WT	S
GOALTENDERS
	#34	Benedek Gyulai (G)	17	2009	Budapest, HUN	6'4"	198	L
	#35	Ohto Kuukka (G)	17	2008	Tampere, FIN	5'10"	152	L
	#1	Aaro Niemelä (G)	17	2009		-	-	-
DEFENSEMEN
		Onni Hautakoski (D)	16	2010		5'9"	196	L
	#26	Aapo Kauraniemi (D)"A"	18	2008	Tampere, FIN	5'9"	159	R
	#8	Roni Kuukasjärvi (D)	17	2009	Tampere, FIN	6'2"	172	R
	#27	Urho Kuukka (D)	16	2010	Tampere, FIN	5'9"	154	L
	#21	Joona Lahtinen (D)	17	2009	Tampere, FIN	5'5"	117	L
	#55	Leo Maunu (D)	18	2008	Tampere, FIN	5'10"	176	L
	#9	Botond Nagy (D)	17	2009	Budapest, HUN	6'2"	176	L
	#4	Oliver Rinne (D)	17	2009	Tampere, FIN	5'11"	190	R
	#16	Nikolas Salo (D)	18	2008	Singapore, SGP	5'10"	174	R
	#50	Topias Simula (D/F)	18	2008		-	-	-
	#6	Samuel Suoniemi (D)	17	2009	Forssa, FIN	6'0"	185	R
FORWARDS
	#51	Viljami Aalto (C/LW)	18	2008	Tampere, FIN	6'0"	190	L
	#36	William Ahlberg (F)"A"	18	2008		5'9"	132	L
	#32	Akseli Harju (C)"C"	18	2007	Valkeakoski, FIN	5'11"	176	L
	#37	Mikael Jokinen (RW)	17	2009		-	-	L
	#22	Eemeli Koivu (F)"A"	17	2009	Lempäälä, FIN	6'0"	172	L
	#49	Petro Kuokkanen (F)	18	2008		-	-	-
	#82	Luka Kuusiluoma (F)	17	2009		-	-	-
	#63	Valtteri Lahti (LW)	17	2008	Ylöjärvi, FIN	-	-	-
	#11	Jiko Laitinen (C)	18	2008	Tampere, FIN	6'0"	163	L
	#19	Miska Liljeberg (F)	17	2009	Tampere, FIN	6'0"	190	L
	#28	Antti Merikoski (LW)	17	2009	Lempäälä, FIN	5'11"	172	R
		Matias Myllyniemi (F)	18	2008	Pirkkala, FIN	5'10"	172	L
	#81	Rasmus Nahkiaisoja (F)	16	2009		-	-	-
	#29	Joosua Nippala (F)"A"	18	2008	Lempäälä, FIN	5'11"	161	R
	#12	Matias Nuuttinen (F)	18	2008		-	-	-
	#25	Juho Nyberg (LW)	15	2011	Orivesi, FIN	5'10"	157	R
		Elias Oksanen (RW)	16	2010	Espoo, FIN	6'2"	198	L
		Max Poikela (F)	17	2009	Vaasa, FIN	6'2"	185	L
	#10	Oliver Raimovaara (C)	17	2009	Kangasala, FIN	6'1"	176	L
	#33	Rasmus Rinne (F)	18	2008	Tampere, FIN	5'10"	196	L
	#18	Lari Roininen (C)	17	2009		-	-	-
	#52	Martti Syrjälä (F)	16	2009		-	-	-
	#58	Miro Takkunen (F)	18	2008		-	-	-
		Valtteri Talja (F)	16	2010	Tampere, FIN	5'9"	154	L

Position: G: 2, D: 9, F: 18Av Age: 17.24 yearsAv Ht: 5'11"Av Wt: 170 lbsCompare with other teams »

2025-2026 Ilves U18 Staff

Head CoachSamuli Simula
Asst. CoachTobiasz Bigos
Asst. CoachJarmo Törmänen
Asst. CoachAleksi Vainionpää
Goaltending CoachNiko Karttila
Equipment ManagerTeemu Lahti
Equipment ManagerMarkus Vuorenmaa
Physical TherapistVeera Mäkelä

Team Staff History

2025-2026 Ilves U18 Captains

"C"

Akseli Harju

"A"

Team Captaincy History

Stories

Insights and analysis from EP Editorial team

2026-06-18, 14:43

Elite Prospects 2026 Europe 2010-born final top 100 ranking

2023-02-24, 18:15

I can score goals and make good passes:" Emil Järventie trying to establish himself in 2023 NHL Draft

All Articles

2025-2026 Ilves U18 Demographics

Ilves U18 Facts

Plays in: U18 SM-sarja
Team Colors: Green + Yellow + White
Town: Tampere, FIN Map
Founded: 1931

2025-2026 Ilves U18 Roster Facts

Nationalities

36 players
2 players

Experience

Ilves U18: 1 291 GP
Liiga: 3 GP

Affiliated Team(s)

Ilves U16 (U16 SM-sarja)
KOOVEE U20 (U20 Mestis)

Ilves U18 Games

date	home	visiting	score	league
09/20/2026 12:15 PM UTC	Kärpät U18	Ilves U18	-	U18 SM-sarja
09/19/2026 10:15 AM UTC	KalPa U18	Ilves U18	-	U18 SM-sarja
09/13/2026 10:00 AM UTC	Ilves U18	SaiPa U18	2 - 6	U18 SM-sarja
09/10/2026 04:30 PM UTC	Ilves U18	HIFK U18	5 - 7	U18 SM-sarja
09/05/2026 01:30 PM UTC	Ilves U18	Lukko U18	4 - 5	U18 SM-sarja

RSS

Latest Transactions

07/16/2026

confirmed

Oliver Raimovaara (F)

Leaving forYoungstown Phantoms

Details

04/20/2026

confirmed

Akseli Harju (F)

Leaving forSport U20

Details

04/13/2026

extension

Elias Oksanen (F)

Details

08/27/2025

confirmed

Elias Koistinen (F)

Leaving forSC Bern Future U21

Details

04/11/2025

confirmed

Onni Kohvakka (D)

Leaving forSport U20

Details

05/29/2024

confirmed

Anton Hildén (D)

Leaving forTappara U20

Details

07/12/2023

confirmed

Topi Tikkanen (D)

Leaving forSport U20

Details

06/29/2022

confirmed

David Svozil (D)

Joining fromHC Přerov U17

Details

Show Complete Transfer Coverage

Ilves U18 History and Standings

season	league	GP	W	L	T	OTW	OTL	GF	GA	PTS	PPG	rank	postseason
2026-2027	U18 SM-sarja	4	0	4	-	0	0	12	24	0	0	12	-
2025-2026	U18 SM-sarja	22	10	10	-	0	2	100	98	32	1.45	9	Did not make playoffs
	U18 SM-sarja	22	7	10	-	3	2	79	88	29	1.32	9	-
2024-2025	U18 SM-sarja	22	8	12	-	2	0	85	82	28	1.27	9	Did not make playoffs
	U18 SM-sarja	22	11	6	-	2	3	85	70	40	1.82	4	-
2023-2024	U18 SM-sarja	22	7	13	-	1	1	58	88	24	1.09	10	Did not make playoffs
	U18 SM-sarja	22	7	10	-	1	4	62	89	27	1.23	9	-
2022-2023	U18 SM-sarja	10	6	3	-	0	1	40	29	19	1.9	2	Saved in relegation
	U18 SM-sarja	22	6	11	-	3	2	66	87	26	1.18	11	Relegation Play
	U18 SM-sarja	22	8	10	-	0	4	65	81	29	1.32	8	-
2021-2022	U18 SM-sarja	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
	U18 SM-sarja	26	19	3	-	1	3	125	63	62	2.38	1	Qualification
	U18 SM-sarja	17	4	11	-	0	2	47	85	14	0.82	15	Relegated
2020-2021	U18 SM-sarja	24	9	14	-	0	1	74	93	28	1.17	13	-
	U18 SM-sarja	0	0	0	-	0	0	0	0	0	-	7	Season Cancelled
2019-2020	U18 SM-sarja	47	21	18	-	4	4	166	165	75	1.6	6	Season Cancelled
	U18 SM-sarja	30	15	10	-	3	2	110	103	53	1.77	6	-
2018-2019	U18 SM-sarja	18	13	3	-	0	2	86	47	41	2.28	1	Quarterfinal loss
	U18 Mestis	24	23	0	-	1	0	200	31	71	2.96	1	Promoted
2017-2018	U18 SM-sarja	18	6	6	-	3	3	59	51	27	1.5	7	Relegated
	U18 SM-sarja	31	11	15	-	2	3	89	114	40	1.29	12	-
2016-2017	U18 SM-sarja	48	19	18	-	7	4	162	170	75	1.56	7	Quarterfinal loss
	U18 SM-sarja	30	12	11	-	5	2	97	95	48	1.6	9	-
2015-2016	U18 SM-sarja	48	18	17	-	18	17	183	174	71	1.48	7	Quarterfinal loss
	U18 SM-sarja	30	14	9	-	2	5	118	101	51	1.7	8	-
2014-2015	U18 SM-sarja	48	26	17	-	4	1	216	177	87	1.81	4	Quarterfinal loss
	U18 SM-sarja	30	18	8	-	4	0	153	106	62	2.07	4	-
2013-2014	U18 SM-sarja	48	22	15	-	7	4	192	151	84	1.75	4	Bronze game loss
	U18 SM-sarja	30	16	8	-	2	4	122	92	56	1.87	5	-
2012-2013	U18 SM-sarja	30	13	14	-	3	0	130	120	45	1.5	10	-

Where Are They Now?

Played in the team during season

#	player	season	team	league	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
1.	Onni Keltikangas (F)	2026-2027	JYP U20	U20 SM-sarja	4	1	7	8	0
2.	Eppu Varjamo (F)	2026-2027	Rockets	II-divisioona	3	2	5	7	0
3.	Miska Liljeberg (F)	2026-2027	Ilves U20	U20 SM-sarja	3	2	4	6	0
4.	Juho Nyberg (F)	2026-2027	Ilves U20	U20 SM-sarja	3	1	4	5	0
5.	Jalmari Melanen (F)	2026-2027	Ilves U20	U20 SM-sarja	3	1	4	5	10
6.	Valtteri Lahti (F)	2026-2027	EV Füssen U20	DNL U20 Div. I	6	3	1	4	2
7.	Max Poikela (F)	2026-2027	Ilves U20	U20 SM-sarja	3	2	2	4	2
8.	Rasmus Nahkiaisoja (F)	2026-2027	KOOVEE U18	U18 Mestis	4	2	2	4	0
9.	Benjamin Rautiainen (F)	2026-2027	Tappara	Champions HL	2	1	3	4	0
10.	Arttu Lausniemi (F)	2026-2027	IPK	Mestis	3	1	3	4	0

View Complete List

Average Height, Weight, Age Per Season

Season	Roster	Height	Weight	Age
2026-2027	View Roster	5'10"	165 lbs	16.23
2025-2026	View Roster	5'11"	170 lbs	17.24
2024-2025	View Roster	6'0"	174 lbs	17.26
2023-2024	View Roster	6'0"	176 lbs	17.23
2022-2023	View Roster	6'0"	176 lbs	17.41

View 20 Latest Seasons

Regular Season

Franchise All-Time Points

#	Player	GP	G	A	TP
1.	Joona Ikonen (F)	89	60	59	119
2.	Topias Haapanen (F)	94	34	77	111
3.	Aleksi Niemi (F)	94	30	64	94
4.	Joni Virtanen (F)	62	38	54	92
5.	Juha Hautamaa (F)	55	52	39	91

Franchise All-Time Goals

#	Player	GP	G	A	TP
1.	Joona Ikonen (F)	89	60	59	119
2.	Juha Hautamaa (F)	55	52	39	91
3.	Lassi Korpela (F)	96	46	26	72
4.	Joosua Nippala (F)	78	45	31	76
5.	Ville Nieminen (F)	82	43	30	73

Franchise All-Time Assists

#	Player	GP	G	A	TP
1.	Topias Haapanen (F)	94	34	77	111
2.	Aleksi Niemi (F)	94	30	64	94
3.	Joona Ikonen (F)	89	60	59	119
4.	Joni Virtanen (F)	62	38	54	92
5.	Jere Lavonen (F)	114	23	54	77

Franchise All-Time Penalty Min.

#	Player	GP	G	TP	PIM
1.	Teemu Kesä (D)	46	10	16	212
2.	Ville Koistinen (D)	52	8	24	171
3.	Joni Virtanen (F)	62	38	92	159
4.	Miikka Luodes (F)	37	8	19	156
5.	Topi Helenius (D)	57	0	8	137

Franchise All-Time Games Played

#	Player	GP	G	A	TP
1.	Paavo Kilponen (F)	128	34	42	76
2.	Jere Lavonen (F)	114	23	54	77
3.	Marko Huhtanen (D)	97	31	28	59
4.	Perttu Aho (F)	97	16	36	52
5.	Lassi Korpela (F)	96	46	26	72

Franchise All-Time Points Per Game

#	Player	GP	G	TP	PPG
1.	Jarkko Varvio (F)	20	32	59	2.95
2.	Roby Järventie (F)	18	23	43	2.39
3.	Otto Koivula (F)	26	26	60	2.31
4.	Emil Järventie (F)	6	8	12	2.00
5.	Mika Puhakka (F)	14	13	26	1.86

Franchise All-Time Points Per Season

#	Player	Season	GP	G	TP
1.	Aleksi Niemi (F)	2013-2014	48	24	70
2.	Joosua Nippala (F)	2025-2026	38	38	65
3.	Aleksi Heponiemi (F)	2015-2016	39	25	65
4.	Joona Ikonen (F)	2015-2016	47	39	62
5.	Jarkko Varvio (F)	1988-1989	20	32	59

Franchise All-Time Goals Per Season

#	Player	Season	GP	G	TP
1.	Joona Ikonen (F)	2015-2016	47	39	62
2.	Joosua Nippala (F)	2025-2026	38	38	65
3.	Lassi Korpela (F)	2016-2017	47	33	48
4.	Jarkko Varvio (F)	1988-1989	20	32	59
5.	Juha Hautamaa (F)	1990-1991	32	31	51

Franchise All-Time Assists Per Season

#	Player	Season	GP	A	TP
1.	Aleksi Niemi (F)	2013-2014	48	46	70
2.	Topias Haapanen (F)	2015-2016	47	43	59
3.	Aleksi Heponiemi (F)	2015-2016	39	40	65
4.	Ville Meskanen (F)	2012-2013	47	36	58
5.	Joona Ikonen (F)	2014-2015	42	36	57

Franchise All-Time Penalty Min. Per Season

#	Player	Season	GP	TP	PIM
1.	Teemu Kesä (D)	1998-1999	26	9	146
2.	Joni Virtanen (F)	1992-1993	34	50	113
3.	Henri Koort (D)	2006-2007	27	10	112
4.	Juuso Koskinen (F)	2001-2002	22	13	110
5.	Miikka Luodes (F)	2002-2003	23	17	101