When was SaiPa founded?

SaiPa was founded in 1948 in Lappeenranta, FIN, Finland.

Where is SaiPa based?

SaiPa is based in Lappeenranta, FIN.

Who is the head coach of SaiPa?

The head coach of SaiPa is Heikki Mälkiä.

Who is the captain of SaiPa?

The captain of SaiPa is Antti Tuomenoksa.

What arena does SaiPa play in?

SaiPa play their home games at Lappeenrannan jäähalli in Lappeenranta, FIN.

Who is the general manager of SaiPa?

The general manager of SaiPa is Ilkka Kaarna.

What are the team colors of SaiPa?

The team colors of SaiPa are Yellow + Black + White.

SaiPa

1996-1997

1996-1997 Season

SaiPa were 13-29-8 in the 1996-97 SM-liiga season with 34 points, 11th overall.

Embed Rosters

1996-1997 SaiPa Roster

	#	Player	A	Born	Birthplace	HT	WT	S
GOALTENDERS
		Pasi Häkkinen (G)	49	1977	Lappeenranta, FIN	5'10"	181	L
		Jussi Markkanen (G)	51	1975	Imatra, FIN	6'0"	185	L
		Matti Viitakoski (G)	53	1972	Lappeenranta, FIN	5'9"	159	L
DEFENSEMEN
		Patrik Aronsson (D)	56	1970	Kungsbacka, SWE	6'1"	192	L
		Riku Kallioniemi (D)	55	1970	Uusikaupunki, FIN	5'10"	183	L
	#26	Timo Lohko (D)	57	1969	Lappeenranta, FIN	5'9"	176	L
		Mikko Myllykoski (D)"A"	54	1972	Lappeenranta, FIN	5'10"	176	R
		Jukka Ollila (D)	53	1973	Oulu, FIN	6'2"	198	L
		Jussi Pekkala (D)	52	1974	Uusikaupunki, FIN	6'1"	201	L
		Vesa Ruotsalainen (D)	60	1966	Imatra, FIN	5'11"	194	L
		Marko Saarinen (D)	55	1971	Imatra, FIN	6'1"	194	L
		Sami Segerman (D)	51	1975	Lappeenranta, FIN	6'0"	185	R
		Antti Tuomenoksa (D)"C"	59	1967	Lappeenranta, FIN	6'0"	185	L
FORWARDS
		Jeff Bes (C)	53	1973	Tillsonburg, ON, CAN	6'0"	190	L
		Jonas Hemming (C)	56	1970	Vaasa, FIN	6'2"	192	L
		Tero Hämäläinen (C)	54	1972	Turku, FIN	6'1"	190	R
		Ville Immonen (C)	50	1976	Helsinki, FIN	6'5"	227	L
		Michael Johansson (C)	52	1974	Ängelholm, SWE	5'9"	181	L
		Mika Karapuu (C)	52	1974	Kaarina, FIN	5'11"	209	L
		Mika Kauppinen (C)	55	1971	Imatra, FIN	6'0"	187	L
		Teemu Kohvakka (LW)	52	1974	Säynätsalo, FIN	6'0"	185	L
		Timo Mäkinen (RW)	57	1969	Turku, FIN	5'10"	198	R
		Matti Nevalainen (RW)	63	1963	Espoo, FIN	5'11"	187	L
		Jukka Penttinen (LW)	55	1971	Kuopio, FIN	6'0"	190	R
		Juha-Pekka Rinkinen (RW)	50	1975	Imatra, FIN	5'10"	185	L
		Joel Salonen (F)	52	1974	Hämeenlinna, FIN	5'10"	183	L
		Ari Santanen (RW)"A"	57	1969	Pori, FIN	5'10"	183	R
		Aki Sinkkonen (RW)	49	1977	Lappeenranta, FIN	6'2"	209	L
		Mika Skyttä (LW)	53	1973	Varkaus, FIN	6'1"	198	R
		Tommi Sova (C)	51	1975	Oulu, FIN	5'11"	187	L

Position: G: 2, D: 9, F: 16Av Age: 25.33 yearsAv Ht: 5'11"Av Wt: 187 lbsCompare with other teams »

1996-1997 SaiPa Staff

Head CoachHeikki Mälkiä
Goaltending CoachMarkku Innanen
General ManagerIlkka Kaarna
Team ManagerJukka Tuovinen
Equipment ManagerMarko Puroharju
Head Equipment ManagerMarkku Puroharju

Team Staff History

1996-1997 SaiPa Captains

"C"

Antti Tuomenoksa

"A"

Team Captaincy History

Stories

Insights and analysis from EP Editorial team

2023-02-24, 18:15

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

2023-02-01, 21:15

Finland Stock Watch: Patrik Puistola finally seizing on his offensive potential

2019-08-12, 16:30

EP Rinkside Prospect Pool Rankings: No. 7 Ranked New York Islanders

2019-07-22, 17:27

EP Rinkside Prospect Pool Rankings: No. 25 Ranked Winnipeg Jets

All Articles

1996-1997 SaiPa Demographics

SaiPa Facts

Plays in: Liiga
Team Colors: Yellow + Black + White
Town: Lappeenranta, FIN Map
Founded: 1948

1996-1997 SaiPa Roster Facts

Nationalities

27 players
2 players
1 player

Experience

SaiPa: 3 335 GP
SHL: 73 GP
Liiga: 2 750 GP
AHL: 57 GP

Affiliated Team(s)

Ketterä (Mestis)
Ketterä U20 (U20 Mestis)
SaiPa U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

Arena Information

Arena Name: Lappeenrannan jäähalli
Location: Lappeenranta, FIN
Capacity: 4 820
Construction Year: 1972

SaiPa Games

date	home	visiting	score	league
09/30/2026 03:30 PM UTC	Kärpät	SaiPa	-	Liiga
09/26/2026 02:00 PM UTC	Tappara	SaiPa	-	Liiga
09/25/2026 03:30 PM UTC	Ässät	SaiPa	0 - 5	Liiga
09/23/2026 03:30 PM UTC	SaiPa	Ässät	1 - 2 (SO)	Liiga
09/19/2026 02:00 PM UTC	SaiPa	KooKoo	2 - 1 (OT 64:21)	Liiga

RSS

Latest Transactions

09/18/2026

confirmed

Tomi Karhunen (G)

Leaving forJokerit

Details

08/27/2026

confirmed

Richard Zemlicka (F)

Leaving forHC Plzeň

Details

07/29/2026

confirmed

Richard Zemlicka (F)

Joining fromYoungstown Phantoms

Details

07/03/2026

confirmed

Teemu Kivihalme (D)

Leaving forHC Bolzano

Details

06/04/2026

confirmed

Lenni Tiihonen (F)

Leaving forKetterä

Details

05/20/2026

confirmed

Emil Kuusla (F)

Leaving forJokerit

Details

05/19/2026

extension

Ville-Veikko Hiltunen (G)

Details

05/18/2026

confirmed

Henri Nikkanen (F)

Leaving forJokerit

Details

Show Complete Transfer Coverage

SaiPa History and Standings

season	league	GP	W	L	T	OTW	OTL	GF	GA	PTS	PPG	rank	postseason
2026-2027	Liiga	6	3	0	-	2	1	18	6	14	2.33	5	-
2025-2026	Liiga	60	31	16	-	6	7	204	162	112	1.87	3	Bronze game win
2024-2025	Liiga	60	30	20	-	6	4	178	170	106	1.77	5	Final loss
2023-2024	Liiga	60	5	35	-	10	10	125	231	45	0.75	15	Did not make playoffs
2022-2023	Liiga	60	8	35	-	7	10	124	222	48	0.8	15	Did not make playoffs
2021-2022	Liiga	60	15	35	-	3	7	128	193	58	0.97	14	Did not make playoffs
2020-2021	Liiga	53	13	31	-	3	6	95	147	51	0.96	13	Did not make playoffs
2019-2020	Liiga	59	22	37	-	4	4	123	185	66	1.12	12	Did not make playoffs
2018-2019	Liiga	60	21	24	-	10	5	156	162	88	1.47	9	Playoffs Qualifier loss
2017-2018	Liiga	60	21	20	-	11	8	153	163	93	1.55	7	Quarterfinal loss
2016-2017	Liiga	60	14	33	-	5	8	116	181	60	1	15	Did not make playoffs
2015-2016	Liiga	60	27	20	-	5	8	178	146	99	1.65	5	Quarterfinal loss
2014-2015	Liiga	60	23	21	-	9	7	151	146	94	1.57	8	Quarterfinal loss
2013-2014	Liiga	60	26	21	-	9	4	160	134	100	1.67	4	Bronze game loss
2012-2013	SM-liiga	60	23	24	-	7	6	162	173	89	1.48	9	Playoffs Qualifier loss
2011-2012	SM-liiga	60	18	24	-	5	13	155	176	77	1.28	11	Did not make playoffs
2010-2011	SM-liiga	60	16	31	-	4	9	137	186	65	1.08	12	Did not make playoffs
2009-2010	SM-liiga	58	20	27	-	6	5	154	176	77	1.33	11	Did not make playoffs
2008-2009	SM-liiga	58	17	34	-	4	3	136	174	62	1.07	14	Saved in play-out
2007-2008	SM-liiga	56	15	29	-	5	7	115	155	62	1.11	11	Did not make playoffs
2006-2007	SM-liiga	56	20	28	-	4	4	150	181	72	1.29	11	Did not make playoffs
2005-2006	SM-liiga	56	23	21	-	6	6	149	130	87	1.55	7	Quarterfinal loss
2004-2005	SM-liiga	56	11	33	-	7	5	145	195	52	0.93	12	Did not make playoffs
2003-2004	SM-liiga	56	11	33	12	-	-	127	194	36	0.64	12	Did not make playoffs
2002-2003	SM-liiga	56	19	31	6	-	-	134	172	48	0.86	11	Did not make playoffs
2001-2002	SM-liiga	56	13	39	4	-	-	124	202	31	0.55	13	Did not make playoffs
2000-2001	SM-liiga	56	24	29	3	-	-	152	154	51	0.91	10	Did not make playoffs
1999-2000	SM-liiga	54	16	25	13	-	-	154	185	45	0.83	9	Did not make playoffs
1998-1999	SM-liiga	54	25	24	4	-	-	141	153	54	1	6	Bronze game loss
1997-1998	SM-liiga	48	21	20	7	-	-	135	142	49	1.02	6	Quarterfinal loss

SaiPa Tournament Statistics

season	tournament	GP	W	L	T	OTW	OTL	GF	GA	PTS	PPG	rank	postseason
2026-2027	Champions HL	4	2	1	-	0	1	13	13	7	1.75	9	-
2016-2017	Champions HL	4	3	0	-	1	0	17	9	11	2.75	1	Eighth Final Loss
2014-2015	Champions HL	6	4	1	-	1	0	18	11	14	2.33	1	Quarterfinal loss
1970-1971	Suomen Cup	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-
1969-1970	Suomen Cup	1	0	1	-	-	-	3	4	-	-	-	First round loss
1964-1965	Suomen Cup	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-
1957-1958	Suomen Cup	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-

SaiPa Retired Numbers

Where Are They Now?

Played in the team during season

#	player	season	team	league	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
1.	Yegor Chizhikov (F)	2026-2027	Shakhter Soligorsk	Belarus	4	3	7	10	0
2.	David Goodwin (F)	2026-2027	Belfast Giants	-	4	1	9	10	0
3.	Emil Järventie (F)	2026-2027	Tappara U20	U20 SM-sarja	5	8	1	9	4
4.	Valtteri Ojantakanen (F)	2026-2027	JYP	Liiga	6	3	4	7	0
5.	Henry Karjalainen (F)	2026-2027	JoKP	Mestis	5	3	3	6	4
6.	Juha Koivisto (F)	2026-2027	HC Ludwig	III-divisioona	3	2	4	6	2
7.	Joona Jääskeläinen (F)	2026-2027	HK Spisska Nova Ves	Extraliga	4	2	4	6	4
8.	Oliver Kjær (F)	2026-2027	Esbjerg Energy	Metal Ligaen	5	1	5	6	2
9.	Emil Kuusla (F)	2026-2027	Jokerit	Liiga	6	1	5	6	6
10.	Roberts Jekimovs (F)	2026-2027	Prizma Riga	Latvia	5	4	1	5	38

View Complete List

Average Height, Weight, Age Per Season

Season	Roster	Height	Weight	Age
2026-2027	View Roster	6'0"	187 lbs	24.37
2025-2026	View Roster	6'0"	185 lbs	25.85
2024-2025	View Roster	6'0"	190 lbs	26.03
2023-2024	View Roster	6'0"	190 lbs	24.44
2022-2023	View Roster	6'1"	192 lbs	24.74

View 20 Latest Seasons

Regular Season

Franchise All-Time Points

#	Player	GP	G	A	TP
1.	Heikki Mälkiä (F)	475	201	242	443
2.	Martti Sinkkonen (F)	328	191	159	350
3.	Ari Santanen (F)	447	147	189	336
4.	Matti Nevalainen (F)	379	112	184	296
5.	Pekka Nieminen (F)	280	152	112	264

Franchise All-Time Goals

#	Player	GP	G	A	TP
1.	Heikki Mälkiä (F)	475	201	242	443
2.	Martti Sinkkonen (F)	328	191	159	350
3.	Esko Heikkeri (F)	296	155	77	232
4.	Pekka Nieminen (F)	280	152	112	264
5.	Ari Santanen (F)	447	147	189	336

Franchise All-Time Assists

#	Player	GP	G	A	TP
1.	Heikki Mälkiä (F)	475	201	242	443
2.	Ari Santanen (F)	447	147	189	336
3.	Matti Nevalainen (F)	379	112	184	296
4.	Martti Sinkkonen (F)	328	191	159	350
5.	Ville Koho (F)	853	102	158	260

Franchise All-Time Penalty Min.

#	Player	GP	G	TP	PIM
1.	Pauli Levokari (D)	256	17	50	606
2.	Vesa Ruotsalainen (D)	429	53	133	567
3.	Riku Kallioniemi (D)	422	23	101	535
4.	Ari Suutari (D)	349	34	137	480
5.	Petri Peronmaa (D)	391	69	160	468

Franchise All-Time Games Played

#	Player	GP	G	A	TP
1.	Ville Koho (F)	853	102	158	260
2.	Heikki Mälkiä (F)	475	201	242	443
3.	Mika Skyttä (F)	464	63	69	132
4.	Ari Santanen (F)	447	147	189	336
5.	Simon Backman (D)	444	24	63	87

Franchise All-Time Points Per Game

#	Player	GP	G	TP	PPG
1.	Jussi Piuhola (F)	59	63	90	1.53
2.	Roman Bozek (F)	31	28	44	1.42
3.	Otakar Janecký (F)	44	21	60	1.36
4.	Ralph Cox (F)	99	70	126	1.27
5.	Harri Asikainen ()	102	65	125	1.23

Franchise All-Time Points Per Season

#	Player	Season	GP	G	TP
1.	Ari Santanen (F)	1994-1995	46	29	73
2.	Reijo Mansikka (F)	1987-1988	44	31	66
3.	Maxime Fortier (F)	2025-2026	58	29	66
4.	Tero Hämäläinen (F)	1994-1995	46	37	63
5.	Tommi Takanen (F)	1986-1987	44	29	62

Franchise All-Time Goals Per Season

#	Player	Season	GP	G	TP
1.	Tero Hämäläinen (F)	1994-1995	46	37	63
2.	Esko Heikkeri (F)	1979-1980	36	37	51
3.	Tero Hämäläinen (F)	1993-1994	46	34	51
4.	Reijo Mansikka (F)	1987-1988	44	31	66
5.	Jussi Piuhola (F)	1971-1972	13	31	39

Franchise All-Time Assists Per Season

#	Player	Season	GP	A	TP
1.	Otto Kivenmäki (F)	2025-2026	60	46	57
2.	Ari Santanen (F)	1994-1995	46	44	73
3.	David McIntyre (F)	2015-2016	58	40	56
4.	Otakar Janecký (F)	1990-1991	44	39	60
5.	Maxime Fortier (F)	2025-2026	58	37	66

Franchise All-Time Penalty Min. Per Season

#	Player	Season	GP	TP	PIM
1.	Kristian Kudroc (D)	2005-2006	48	22	227
2.	Pasi Nielikäinen (F)	2003-2004	48	9	151
3.	Marko Ek (F)	1995-1996	36	24	146
4.	Jeff Bes (F)	1996-1997	40	22	146
5.	Kai Tervonen (D)	1995-1996	39	44	141

SaiPa

1996-1997 Season

1996-1997 SaiPa Roster

1996-1997 SaiPa Staff

1996-1997 SaiPa Captains

Stories

1996-1997 SaiPa Demographics

SaiPa Facts

1996-1997 SaiPa Roster Facts

Arena Information

SaiPa Games

Latest Transactions

SaiPa History and Standings

SaiPa Tournament Statistics

SaiPa Retired Numbers

SaiPa Stars And Cult Players

Where Are They Now?

Average Height, Weight, Age Per Season

Franchise All-Time Points

Franchise All-Time Goals

Franchise All-Time Assists

Franchise All-Time Penalty Min.

Franchise All-Time Games Played

Franchise All-Time Points Per Game

Franchise All-Time Points Per Season

Franchise All-Time Goals Per Season

Franchise All-Time Assists Per Season

Franchise All-Time Penalty Min. Per Season

Player Nationalities Throughout History