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

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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.

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2025-2026 Ilves U18 Player Stats

All Positions

Ilves U18 — 2025-2026 Skater Stats
#	N	Skater	Regular Season						Postseason
#	N	Skater	GP	G	A	TP	PIM	+/-	GP	G	A	TP	PIM	+/-
U18 SM-sarja
1.		Joosua Nippala (F)	38	38	27	65	14	-
2.		Akseli Harju (C)	42	21	29	50	32	-
3.		Matias Myllyniemi (F)	30	17	30	47	38	-
4.		Oliver Rinne (D)	37	9	36	45	24	-
5.		Juho Nyberg (LW)	41	24	16	40	56	-
6.		Samuel Suoniemi (D)	41	5	18	23	32	-
7.		Oliver Raimovaara (C)	33	8	14	22	12	-
8.		Nikolas Salo (D)	42	3	15	18	42	-
9.		William Ahlberg (F)	26	10	6	16	6	-
10.		Elias Oksanen (RW)	22	5	11	16	22	-
11.		Botond Nagy (D)	44	1	15	16	16	-
12.		Antti Merikoski (LW)	31	10	5	15	46	-
13.		Rasmus Rinne (F)	9	4	11	15	6	-
14.		Max Poikela (F)	13	4	9	13	12	-
15.		Jiko Laitinen (C)	3	4	6	10	0	-
16.		Urho Kuukka (D)	31	2	7	9	44	-
17.		Mikael Jokinen (RW)	41	2	4	6	2	-
18.		Valtteri Lahti (LW)	30	2	3	5	8	-
19.		Roni Kuukasjärvi (D)	4	1	4	5	0	-
20.		Lari Roininen (C)	36	1	4	5	28	-
21.		Leo Maunu (D)	32	1	3	4	10	-
22.		Eemeli Koivu (F)	24	2	1	3	8	-
23.		Miro Takkunen (F)	35	2	1	3	0	-
24.		Matias Nuuttinen (F)	15	1	2	3	2	-
25.		Aapo Kauraniemi (D)	13	0	3	3	10	-
26.		Joona Lahtinen (D)	31	0	2	2	8	-
27.		Miska Liljeberg (F)	3	1	0	1	0	-
28.		Topias Simula (D/F)	25	1	0	1	2	-
29.		Onni Hautakoski (D)	3	0	1	1	0	-
30.		Viljami Aalto (C/LW)	15	0	1	1	8	-
31.		Martti Syrjälä (F)	28	0	1	1	6	-
32.		Luka Kuusiluoma (F)	1	0	0	0	0	-
33.		Rasmus Nahkiaisoja (F)	1	0	0	0	0	-
34.		Valtteri Talja (F)	3	0	0	0	0	-
35.		Petro Kuokkanen (F)	5	0	0	0	0	-

Ilves U18 — 2025-2026 Goalie Stats
#	N	Goalie	Regular Season									Postseason
#	N	Goalie	GP	GAA	SV%	W	L	T	SO	TOI	SVS	GP	GAA	SV%
U18 SM-sarja
1.		Aaro Niemelä (G)	4	3.02	.909	2	2	-	0	238:34	120
2.		Ohto Kuukka (G)	28	4.20	.888	1	5	-	0	385:36	213
3.		Benedek Gyulai (G)	32	4.06	.880	15	14	-	0	1803:59	891

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

Ilves U18 — 2025-2026 Games
date	home	visiting	score	league
10/25/2026 12:15 PM UTC	Ilves U18	KalPa U18	-	U18 SM-sarja
10/24/2026 11:00 AM UTC	Ilves U18	Kärpät U18	-	U18 SM-sarja
10/16/2026 03:50 PM UTC	TPS U18	Ilves U18	7 - 4	U18 SM-sarja
10/14/2026 03:00 PM UTC	Ilves U18	Kiekko-Espoo U18	5 - 4 (SO)	U18 SM-sarja
10/10/2026 01:00 PM UTC	Pelicans U18	Ilves U18	4 - 6	U18 SM-sarja

RSS

Latest Transactions

Ilves U18 — Latest Transactions
Date	Status		Player	Team	Source
07/16/2026	Confirmed	leaving	Oliver Raimovaara (F)	Youngstown Phantoms	Details
04/20/2026	Confirmed	leaving	Akseli Harju (F)	Sport U20	Details
04/13/2026	Extension		Elias Oksanen (F)		Details
08/27/2025	Confirmed	leaving	Elias Koistinen (F)	SC Bern Future U21	Details
04/11/2025	Confirmed	leaving	Onni Kohvakka (D)	Sport U20	Details
05/29/2024	Confirmed	leaving	Anton Hildén (D)	Tappara U20	Details
07/12/2023	Confirmed	leaving	Topi Tikkanen (D)	Sport U20	Details
06/29/2022	Confirmed	joining	David Svozil (D)	HC Přerov U17	Details

Show Complete Transfer Coverage

Ilves U18 History and Standings

Ilves U18 — Season History
season	league	GP	W	L	T	OTW	OTL	GF	GA	PTS	PPG	rank	postseason
2026-2027	U18 SM-sarja	14	3	9	-	1	1	48	65	12	0.86	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

Ilves U18 — Where Are They Now
#	player	season	team	league	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
1.	Roope Niskanen (F)	2026-2027	HYC Herentals	Belgium	5	13	7	20	0
2.	Emil Järventie (F)	2026-2027	Tappara U20	U20 SM-sarja	13	15	3	18	10
3.	Roby Järventie (F)	2026-2027	HC Ambrì-Piotta	NL	12	8	10	18	6
4.	Perttu Aho (F)	2026-2027	Hiki-Hockey	II-divisioona	8	6	10	16	2
5.	Miska Liljeberg (F)	2026-2027	Ilves U20	U20 SM-sarja	10	7	8	15	4
6.	Eppu Varjamo (F)	2026-2027	Rockets	II-divisioona	6	3	12	15	2
7.	Juuso Rajala (F)	2026-2027	EHC Neuwied	Oberliga	9	3	12	15	6
8.	Aleksi Luhtalampi (F)	2026-2027	KOOVEE II	II-divisioona	7	5	9	14	0
9.	Teemu Lepaus (F)	2026-2027	HK Spisska Nova Ves	Extraliga	10	3	11	14	2
10.	Michael Keränen (F)	2026-2027	Tölzer Löwen	Oberliga	10	3	11	14	4

View Complete List

Average Height, Weight, Age Per Season

Ilves U18 — Roster Demographics
Season	Roster	Height	Weight	Age
2026-2027	View Roster	5'11"	168 lbs	16.28
2025-2026	View Roster	5'11"	170 lbs	17.28
2024-2025	View Roster	6'0"	174 lbs	17.35
2023-2024	View Roster	6'0"	176 lbs	17.26
2022-2023	View Roster	6'0"	176 lbs	17.47

View 20 Latest Seasons

Regular Season

Franchise All-Time Points

Ilves U18 — 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

Ilves U18 — 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

Ilves U18 — 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.

Ilves U18 — 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

Ilves U18 — 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

Ilves U18 — 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

Ilves U18 — Franchise All-Time Points Per Season
#	Player	Season	League	GP	G	A	TP	PPG	PIM
1.	Aleksi Niemi (F)	2013-2014	U18 SM-sarja	48	24	46	70	1.46	44
2.	Joosua Nippala (F)	2025-2026	U18 SM-sarja	38	38	27	65	1.71	14
3.	Aleksi Heponiemi (F)	2015-2016	U18 SM-sarja	39	25	40	65	1.67	24
4.	Joona Ikonen (F)	2015-2016	U18 SM-sarja	47	39	23	62	1.32	38
5.	Jarkko Varvio (F)	1988-1989	U18 SM-sarja	20	32	27	59	2.95	44

Franchise All-Time Goals Per Season

Ilves U18 — Franchise All-Time Goals Per Season
#	Player	Season	League	GP	G	A	TP	PPG	PIM
1.	Joona Ikonen (F)	2015-2016	U18 SM-sarja	47	39	23	62	1.32	38
2.	Joosua Nippala (F)	2025-2026	U18 SM-sarja	38	38	27	65	1.71	14
3.	Lassi Korpela (F)	2016-2017	U18 SM-sarja	47	33	15	48	1.02	24
4.	Jarkko Varvio (F)	1988-1989	U18 SM-sarja	20	32	27	59	2.95	44
5.	Juha Hautamaa (F)	1990-1991	U18 SM-sarja	32	31	20	51	1.59	57

Franchise All-Time Assists Per Season

Ilves U18 — Franchise All-Time Assists Per Season
#	Player	Season	League	GP	G	A	TP	PPG	PIM
1.	Aleksi Niemi (F)	2013-2014	U18 SM-sarja	48	24	46	70	1.46	44
2.	Topias Haapanen (F)	2015-2016	U18 SM-sarja	47	16	43	59	1.26	51
3.	Aleksi Heponiemi (F)	2015-2016	U18 SM-sarja	39	25	40	65	1.67	24
4.	Ville Meskanen (F)	2012-2013	U18 SM-sarja	47	22	36	58	1.23	50
5.	Joona Ikonen (F)	2014-2015	U18 SM-sarja	42	21	36	57	1.36	2

Franchise All-Time Penalty Min. Per Season

Ilves U18 — Franchise All-Time Penalty Min. Per Season
#	Player	Season	League	GP	G	A	TP	PPG	PIM
1.	Teemu Kesä (D)	1998-1999	U18 SM-sarja	26	4	5	9	0.35	146
2.	Joni Virtanen (F)	1992-1993	U18 SM-sarja	34	19	31	50	1.47	113
3.	Henri Koort (D)	2006-2007	U18 SM-sarja	27	1	9	10	0.37	112
4.	Juuso Koskinen (F)	2001-2002	U18 SM-sarja	22	8	5	13	0.59	110
5.	Miikka Luodes (F)	2002-2003	U18 SM-sarja	23	8	9	17	0.74	101