When was Pelicans founded?

Pelicans was founded in 1996 in Lahti, FIN, Finland.

Where is Pelicans based?

Pelicans is based in Lahti, FIN.

Who is the head coach of Pelicans?

The head coach of Pelicans is Kari Eloranta.

Who is the captain of Pelicans?

The captain of Pelicans is Tony Grönroos.

What arena does Pelicans play in?

Pelicans play their home games at Wemasto Areena in Lahti, FIN.

What are the team colors of Pelicans?

The team colors of Pelicans are Teal + Black + White.

Pelicans

Liiga

Show Updates

930 538

1997-1998

1997-1998 Season

Pelicans were 23-17-4 in the 1997-98 I-divisioona season with 50 points, 4th overall.

Embed Rosters

1997-1998 Pelicans Roster

Pelicans — 1997-1998 Roster
	#	Player	A	Born	Birthplace	HT	WT	S
GOALTENDERS
		Sami Lehtinen (G)	56	1970	Rauma, FIN	6'0"	181	L
		Pasi Nurminen (G)	50	1975	Lahti, FIN	5'10"	190	L
		Jani Pekkarinen (G)	47	1978		-	-	-
DEFENSEMEN
		Marko Ahonen (D)	47	1979	Hollola, FIN	6'0"	172	L
		Mikko Eerola (D)	51	1975	Lahti, FIN	6'2"	194	L
		Tony Grönroos (D)"C"	53	1973	Espoo, FIN	6'2"	192	L
		Mikko Huokonen (D)	47	1979	Lahti, FIN	5'11"	174	L
		Tommi Kovanen (D)	51	1975	Pieksämäki, FIN	5'10"	176	L
		Tomi Källarsson (D)Loan	47	1979	Lempäälä, FIN	6'3"	205	L
		Vesa Lahtinen (D)	58	1968	Rauma, FIN	6'1"	203	L
		Niko Marttila (D)	55	1971	Lahti, FIN	5'10"	179	R
		Kimmo Peltonen (D)	51	1975	Lahti, FIN	5'11"	201	R
		Jari Raattama (D)	52	1974	Kempele, FIN	5'10"	176	R
		Jussi-Antti Reimari (D)"A"	51	1975	Hollola, FIN	6'1"	196	L
	#27	Jussi Salminen (D)	49	1977	Valtimo, FIN	6'0"	198	R
		Antti Tikkanen (D)	61	1965	Lahti, FIN	5'11"	190	-
		Antti Tirkkonen (D)	55	1971	Savonlinna, FIN	6'1"	231	L
FORWARDS
		Tero Helminen (F)	52	1974	Lahti, FIN	5'11"	176	L
		Aki Kaskinen (RW)	50	1976	Lahti, FIN	5'10"	196	L
		Juha Kemppainen (F)	50	1976	Tampere, FIN	5'9"	181	L
		Ville Kiiskinen (C)	48	1977	Mikkeli, FIN	6'5"	220	L
		Tomi-Pekka Kolu (F)	51	1975	Lahti, FIN	5'10"	187	L
		Toni Kovanen (F)	47	1979	Göteborg, SWE	6'2"	176	L
		Kari Laitinen (RW)	62	1964	Helsingin mlk, FIN	5'10"	181	L
		Kevin McKinnon (C)	55	1971	Winnipeg, MB, CAN	5'9"	183	L
		Jason Melong (RW)	55	1971	Kirkland Lake, ON, CAN	5'9"	174	R
		Jarno Mensonen (LW)	55	1971	Imatra, FIN	6'1"	187	L
		Jarkko Ollikainen (RW)	51	1975	Lahti, FIN	5'8"	170	L
		Nick Poole (C)	53	1973	Calgary, AB, CAN	6'0"	174	R
		Toni Saarinen (LW)		1976	Hämeenlinna, FIN	5'11"	183	L
		Jyri Simpanen (F)	51	1974	Kotka, FIN	5'8"	165	L
		Janne Sinkkonen (RW)	48	1978	Oulu, FIN	5'10"	181	L
		Tero Särkiniemi (F)	51	1975	Heinola, FIN	6'3"	214	L
		Henri Toivanen (F)	47	1979	Lahti, FIN	5'11"	194	L
		Jani Uski (F)"A"	53	1973	Lahti, FIN	6'1"	212	L
		Tommi Varjonen (RW)	55	1971	Hämeenlinna, FIN	6'2"	207	L
		Mika Viljanen (F)	59	1967	Rauma, FIN	5'11"	185	L
Position: G: 3, D: 11, F: 17Av Age: 24.45 yearsAv Ht: 5'11"Av Wt: 187 lbsCompare with other teams »

1997-1998 Pelicans Staff

Head CoachKari Eloranta
Asst. CoachPetteri Hirvonen

Team Staff History

1997-1998 Pelicans Captains

"C"

Tony Grönroos

"A"

Team Captaincy History

Stories

Insights and analysis from EP Editorial team

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2025-03-23, 12:46

Film Room: Daniel Nieminen making a case as one of the top over-agers in the 2025 draft

2025-03-02, 09:36

Finland Stock Watch: 2025 NHL Draft prospect Lasse Boelius bouncing back

2024-12-09, 15:12

Finland Stock Watch: Topias Hynninen emerging as a top re-entry for 2025 Draft

All Articles

1997-1998 Pelicans Demographics

Pelicans Facts

Plays in: Liiga
Team Colors: Teal + Black + White
Town: Lahti, FIN Map
Founded: 1996

1997-1998 Pelicans Roster Facts

Nationalities

34 players
3 players

Experience

Pelicans: 2 831 GP
OG: 7 GP
Liiga: 1 463 GP

Affiliated Team(s)

Pelicans U16 (U16 Mestis)
Pelicans U17 (U17 Ylempi)
Pelicans U18 (U18 SM-sarja)
Pelicans U20 (U20 SM-sarja)
Peliitat (II-divisioona)

Arena Information

Arena Name: Wemasto Areena
Location: Lahti, FIN
Capacity: 5 534
Construction Year: 1973

Pelicans Games

Pelicans — 1997-1998 Games
date	home	visiting	score	league
11/14/2026 03:00 PM GMT	JYP	Pelicans	-	Liiga
11/13/2026 05:30 PM GMT	Pelicans	Ässät	-	Liiga
11/11/2026 04:30 PM GMT	Ilves	Pelicans	4 - 1	Liiga
10/31/2026 03:00 PM GMT	Pelicans	Kiekko-Espoo	0 - 3	Liiga
10/30/2026 04:30 PM GMT	TPS	Pelicans	2 - 1	Liiga

RSS

Latest Transactions

Pelicans — Latest Transactions
Date	Status		Player	Team	Source
11/10/2026	Extension		Hannes Häkkilä (D)		Details
11/06/2026	Confirmed	leaving	Konsta Hirvonen (F)	Ketterä	Details
10/22/2026	Confirmed	joining	Antti Tyrväinen (F)	JYP	Details
10/07/2026	Confirmed	leaving	Onni Käyhkö (D)	BIK Karlskoga	Details
10/02/2026	Loan	leaving	Eelis Teutari (F)	Pyry Hockey	Details
09/28/2026	Confirmed	leaving	Niklas Virtanen (F)	RoKi	Details
09/16/2026	Confirmed	leaving	Samuel Huzevka (D)	Unknown	Details
09/08/2026	Confirmed	leaving	Lukas Zetterberg (F)	Västerås IK	Details

Show Complete Transfer Coverage

Pelicans History and Standings

Pelicans — Season History
season	league	GP	W	OTW	T	OTL	L	TP	GF	GA	P/GP	rank	postseason
2026-2027	Liiga	18	7	1	-	1	9	24	41	42	1.33	13	-
2025-2026	Liiga	60	20	9	-	7	24	85	137	156	1.42	11	Quarterfinal loss
2024-2025	Liiga	60	20	4	-	7	29	75	171	179	1.25	15	Saved in relegation
2023-2024	Liiga	60	31	4	-	8	17	109	177	147	1.82	3	Final loss
2022-2023	Liiga	60	30	4	-	5	21	103	166	136	1.72	4	Final loss
2021-2022	Liiga	60	25	4	-	10	21	93	142	142	1.55	9	Playoffs Qualifier loss
2020-2021	Liiga	58	25	10	-	2	21	97	169	147	1.67	6	Quarterfinal loss
2019-2020	Liiga	59	19	7	-	4	40	54	120	201	0.92	14	Did not make playoffs
2018-2019	Liiga	60	30	3	-	8	19	104	199	154	1.73	3	Quarterfinal loss
2017-2018	Liiga	60	20	7	-	9	24	83	165	175	1.38	10	Playoffs Qualifier loss
2016-2017	Liiga	60	23	8	-	8	21	93	157	150	1.55	6	Quarterfinal loss
2015-2016	Liiga	60	24	4	-	7	25	87	145	171	1.45	9	Quarterfinal loss
2014-2015	Liiga	60	16	6	-	8	30	68	125	166	1.13	12	Did not make playoffs
2013-2014	Liiga	60	25	6	-	5	24	92	156	155	1.53	8	Quarterfinal loss
2012-2013	SM-liiga	60	22	7	-	3	28	83	163	180	1.38	11	Did not make playoffs
2011-2012	SM-liiga	60	30	9	-	3	18	111	213	155	1.85	2	Final loss
2010-2011	SM-liiga	60	17	2	-	4	37	59	133	180	0.98	14	Saved in relegation
2009-2010	SM-liiga	58	18	6	-	7	27	73	166	197	1.26	12	Did not make playoffs
2008-2009	SM-liiga	58	22	5	-	4	27	80	149	145	1.38	9	Quarterfinal loss
2007-2008	SM-liiga	56	28	5	-	4	19	98	176	142	1.75	6	Quarterfinal loss
2006-2007	SM-liiga	56	19	7	-	6	24	77	147	151	1.38	10	Quarterfinal loss
2005-2006	SM-liiga	56	18	4	-	5	29	67	125	171	1.2	12	Did not make playoffs
2004-2005	SM-liiga	56	7	3	-	10	36	37	100	230	0.66	13	Did not make playoffs
2003-2004	SM-liiga	56	7	-	12	-	37	27	110	227	0.48	13	Did not make playoffs
2002-2003	SM-liiga	56	15	-	2	-	39	36	120	182	0.64	12	Did not make playoffs
2001-2002	SM-liiga	56	27	-	10	-	19	68	157	152	1.21	5	Quarterfinal loss
2000-2001	SM-liiga	56	22	-	11	-	23	55	170	164	0.98	7	Quarterfinal loss
1999-2000	SM-liiga	54	8	-	8	-	38	24	108	197	0.44	12	Saved in relegation
1998-1999	I-divisioona	48	30	-	7	-	11	67	178	109	1.4	2	Promoted
1997-1998	I-divisioona	44	23	-	4	-	17	50	155	147	1.14	4	Qualification loss

Pelicans Tournament Statistics

Pelicans — Tournament Statistics
season	tournament	GP	W	OTW	OTL	L	TP	GF	GA	P/GP	rank	postseason
Pelicans
2024-2025	Champions HL	6	3	1	0	2	11	24	18	1.83	9	Eighth Final Loss
2023-2024	Champions HL	6	3	1	0	2	11	23	15	1.83	8	Eighth Final Loss
2019-2020	Champions HL	6	2	1	2	4	7	16	20	1.17	4	Did not make playoffs
Lahden Reipas
1970-1971	Suomen Cup	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1965-1966	Suomen Cup	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-

Pelicans Retired Numbers

Where Are They Now?

Played in the team during season

Pelicans — Where Are They Now
#	player	season	team	league	GP	G	A	TP	PIM
1.	Tyler Kelleher (F)	2026-2027	Leksands IF	HockeyAllsvenskan	17	14	20	34	8
2.	Tomi Purmola (F)	2026-2027	Shakers	II-divisioona	10	15	16	31	10
3.	Joshua Lawrence (F)	2026-2027	HK Olimpija Ljubljana	ICEHL	18	14	9	23	4
4.	Nate Schnarr (F)	2026-2027	HC Ambrì-Piotta	NL	19	7	16	23	4
5.	Filip Chlapík (F)	2026-2027	HC Sparta Praha	Extraliga	17	4	18	22	19
6.	Morten Poulsen (F)	2026-2027	Herning Blue Fox	Metal Ligaen	17	11	10	21	2
7.	Sami Blomqvist (F)	2026-2027	ESV Kaufbeuren	Oberliga	13	8	11	19	2
8.	Roope Elimäki (F)	2026-2027	KHT	II-divisioona	10	7	12	19	2
9.	Joonas Alanne (F)	2026-2027	Kaltern/Caldaro	IHL	8	5	14	19	6
10.	Jiri Smejkal (F)	2026-2027	HC Dynamo Pardubice	Extraliga	17	11	7	18	15

View Complete List

Average Height, Weight, Age Per Season

Pelicans — Roster Demographics
Season	Roster	Height	Weight	Age
2026-2027	View Roster	6'0"	187 lbs	26.45
2025-2026	View Roster	6'0"	190 lbs	26.06
2024-2025	View Roster	6'0"	187 lbs	26.22
2023-2024	View Roster	6'0"	187 lbs	27.27
2022-2023	View Roster	6'0"	185 lbs	24.59

View 20 Latest Seasons

Regular Season

Franchise All-Time Points

Pelicans — Franchise All-Time Points
#	Player	GP	G	A	TP
1.	Erkki Laine (F)	401	260	151	411
2.	Hannu Koskinen (F)	422	144	245	389
3.	Harri Toivanen (F)	378	204	146	350
4.	Erkki Mäkelä (F)	391	197	112	309
5.	Vili Sopanen (F)	429	123	172	295

Franchise All-Time Goals

Pelicans — Franchise All-Time Goals
#	Player	GP	G	A	TP
1.	Erkki Laine (F)	401	260	151	411
2.	Harri Toivanen (F)	378	204	146	350
3.	Erkki Mäkelä (F)	391	197	112	309
4.	Hannu Koskinen (F)	422	144	245	389
5.	Sami Wikström (F)	401	127	155	282

Franchise All-Time Assists

Pelicans — Franchise All-Time Assists
#	Player	GP	G	A	TP
1.	Hannu Koskinen (F)	422	144	245	389
2.	Jan Latvala (D)	725	72	215	287
3.	Marko Jantunen (F)	367	95	174	269
4.	Vili Sopanen (F)	429	123	172	295
5.	Sami Wikström (F)	401	127	155	282

Franchise All-Time Penalty Min.

Pelicans — Franchise All-Time Penalty Min.
#	Player	GP	G	TP	PIM
1.	Kari Sihvonen (F)	366	34	85	759
2.	Antti Tyrväinen (F)	447	80	173	702
3.	Sami Helenius (D)	177	4	12	495
4.	Taavi Vartiainen (F)	271	20	53	448
5.	Jari Parviainen (D)	346	33	86	389

Franchise All-Time Games Played

Pelicans — Franchise All-Time Games Played
#	Player	GP	G	A	TP
1.	Jan Latvala (D)	725	72	215	287
2.	Toni Koivunen (F)	477	45	149	194
3.	Antti Tyrväinen (F)	447	80	93	173
4.	Jussi-Antti Reimari (D)	433	43	79	122
5.	Marko Pöyhönen (D)	433	34	84	118

Franchise All-Time Points Per Game

Pelicans — Franchise All-Time Points Per Game
#	Player	GP	G	TP	P/GP
1.	Craig Hamelin (F)	40	34	61	1.53
2.	Pertti Arvaja (F)	55	36	83	1.51
3.	Sean Avery (F)	2	3	3	1.50
4.	Mika Nieminen (F)	87	66	125	1.44
5.	Oldrich Valek (F)	86	77	122	1.42

Franchise All-Time Points Per Season

Pelicans — Franchise All-Time Points Per Season
#	Player	Season	League	GP	G	A	TP	P/GP	PIM
1.	Matti Hagman (F)	1989-1990	I-divisioona	44	18	47	65	1.48	4
2.	Oldrich Valek (F)	1989-1990	I-divisioona	28	47	16	63	2.25	58
3.	Mika Nieminen (F)	1986-1987	I-divisioona	44	31	32	63	1.43	34
4.	Mika Nieminen (F)	1985-1986	I-divisioona	43	35	27	62	1.44	67
5.	Ryan Lasch (F)	2011-2012	SM-liiga	59	24	38	62	1.05	26

Franchise All-Time Goals Per Season

Pelicans — Franchise All-Time Goals Per Season
#	Player	Season	League	GP	G	A	TP	P/GP	PIM
1.	Oldrich Valek (F)	1989-1990	I-divisioona	28	47	16	63	2.25	58
2.	Erkki Laine (F)	1982-1983	SM-liiga	36	41	15	56	1.56	27
3.	Erkki Laine (F)	1975-1976	I-divisioona	36	40	7	47	1.31	29
4.	Mika Nieminen (F)	1985-1986	I-divisioona	43	35	27	62	1.44	67
5.	Erkki Mäkelä (F)	1988-1989	I-divisioona	44	35	11	46	1.05	34

Franchise All-Time Assists Per Season

Pelicans — Franchise All-Time Assists Per Season
#	Player	Season	League	GP	G	A	TP	P/GP	PIM
1.	Matti Hagman (F)	1989-1990	I-divisioona	44	18	47	65	1.48	4
2.	Ryan Lasch (F)	2023-2024	Liiga	55	9	45	54	0.98	14
3.	Matias Loppi (F)	2007-2008	SM-liiga	55	18	40	58	1.05	20
4.	Jari Multanen (F)	1994-1995	I-divisioona	39	16	39	55	1.41	54
5.	Justin Hodgman (F)	2011-2012	SM-liiga	59	14	39	53	0.90	123

Franchise All-Time Penalty Min. Per Season

Pelicans — Franchise All-Time Penalty Min. Per Season
#	Player	Season	League	GP	G	A	TP	P/GP	PIM
1.	Antti Tyrväinen (F)	2010-2011	SM-liiga	52	14	9	23	0.44	186
2.	Sami Helenius (D)	2009-2010	SM-liiga	34	0	2	2	0.06	172
3.	Ben Blood (D)	2015-2016	Liiga	32	1	7	8	0.25	160
4.	Tuukka Mäkelä (D)	2007-2008	SM-liiga	53	1	3	4	0.08	158
5.	Kari Sihvonen (F)	2007-2008	SM-liiga	41	2	8	10	0.24	152

Player Nationalities Throughout History

Elite Prospects Notes and Trivia

Team names:

- Viipurin Reipas (1891 - 1964)
- Lahden Reipas (1964 - 1975)
- Kiekkoreipas (1975 - 1989)
- Hockey Reipas (1989 - 1992)
- Reipas Lahti (1992 - 1996)
- Pelicans (1996 -)

Club Reipas was originally found in year 1891 Vyborg which was part of Finland that time. First club was for gymnastics but later it had also teams in football, bandy and ice hockey. Vyborg's Reipas won the first ever Finnish Ice Hockey Championship title in 1928 After second world war the city of Vyborg was ceded to Soviet Union. Team Vyborg's Reipas relocated with finnish refugees to city of Lahti 1944. Even though the team was located in Lahti it was still called Vyborg's Reipas until it was renamed Lahti's Reipas 1964. After couple "Reipas" name changes the team was renamed to Lahti Pelicans before the 1996-97 season.