Lukko Naiset

Lukko Naiset
CityRauma, Finland
LeagueNaisten Mestis
Founded2011 (2011)
Operated2011–2023
2024–present
Home arenaEurajoen jäähalli
ColoursBlue, yellow
   
Head coachTuomas Liitola (2026–27)
CaptainJasmin Laaksonen (2025–26)
MediaSatakunnan Kansa
AffiliatesPanelian Raikas
Parent clubRauman Lukko ry
WebsiteOfficial website
Franchise history
2011–2023Lukko
2024–2025Lukko/PaRa
2025–Lukko
Current uniform

Rauman Lukko Naiset (lit. 'Rauma's Lock Women') is an ice hockey team in the Naisten Mestis. The team is based in Rauma, a port city on the southwestern coast of Finland, and its home arena is the Eurajoen jäähalli in the neighboring town of Eurajoki. Lukko Naiset was founded in 2011 as the representative women's ice hockey team of Rauman Lukko ry, an association for ice hockey and ringette that serves as a recreational and minor ice hockey affiliate to the professional men's ice hockey club Lukko.

History

Original team, 2011–2023

Lukko made their team debut in the pre-qualifiers Finnish: alkusarja) of the third-tier national league, the Naisten Suomi-sarja, at the start of the 2011–12 season. After winning all eight of their matches in the qualifiers, they earned promotion to the I-divisioona (renamed Naisten Mestis in 2012) and went on to play the remainder of the season in the second-tier league.

promotion to the Naisten Liiga (NSML; renamed Auroraliiga in 2024) for the 2016–17 season and remained in the Liiga until being relegated at the conclusion of the 2020–21 season.[1] They achieved promotion in the 2021–22 NSML qualification series and returned to the league after one season in the Naisten Mestis.

The team faced relegation four times in their first five seasons in the Naisten Liiga but were able to save themselves in the qualification series each time, until finally being relegated in the 2020–21 season.[2]

After starting the 2021–22 season in the Naisten Mestis, Lukko earned placement in the Alempi jatkosarja ('Lower division') of the 2021–22 Naisten Liiga season. In the 2022 post-season qualification series, they successfully saved themselves from relegation and maintained their place in the Naisten Liiga in the following season.[3]

In April 2023, Lukko Naiset unexpectedly withdrew from the Naisten Liiga and the team was dissolved. Rauman Lukko ry cited difficulties in recruiting and retaining players as the principal reasons behind the decision.[4] Team captain Maija Koski was shocked both by the disolution of the team and that no players had been consulted prior to the announcement. She felt that the team could have been saved if avenues of communication had been opened between the association and the players.[5] Some observers raised questions about the club's commitment to and willingness to invest in women's ice hockey and noted the conspicuous absence of support from the men's Liiga team and organization.[6][7]

Reestablishment, since 2024

In May 2024, Lukko announced it had entered a cooperative agreement with Panelian Raikas (PaRa), an ice hockey club in neighboring Panelia, which would serve as the basis of a new strategy for supporting and developing girls' and women's ice hockey in Satakunta. The strategy included the immediate re-establishment of the Lukko women's team and the team's participation in the 2024–25 Naisten Mestis season through the acquisition of PaRa's league license. A core element of the strategy was the goal of having a Satakunta-based team at every level of national women's ice hockey competition within three season, i.e. Lukko gaining promotion to Auroraliiga, PaRa gaining promotion to Naisten Mestis, and an umbrella club participating in the Naisten Suomi-sarja. Lukko was also known as Lukko/PaRa during the 2024–25 season and, in a corresponding move, PaRa's women's team in the Naisten Suomi-sarja was renamed PaRa/Lukko for the 2024–25 Naisten Suomi-sarja season.[8][9]

Under head coach Jere Auvinen, Lukko/PaRa placed fourth of eight teams in the 2024–25 Naisten Mestis regular season, winning sixteen of 28 games and earning a goal difference of +26.[10] The team was propelled by offensive production from both the top line of Pinja Koskinen (17 goals+13 assists), Charlotta Lundström (17+11), and Jenna Pelkonen (9+12) and the top defensive pair of Ada Ukkola (4+11) and Janica Laine (8+6), as well as excellent goaltending from the tandem of Netta-Sisko Lahtinen (.962 S%) and Katriina Saarenmaa (.908 S%).

In the 2025 Naisten Mestis playoffs, Lukko/PaRa swept KeuPa HT in the quarterfinals and beat Kiekko-Espoo Akatemia in the semifinals on their way to claiming the Naisten Mestis championship in a finals sweep over APV.[11] By winning the Naisten Mestis championship title, Lukko earned the chance to vie for promotion to the Auroraliiga in a best-of-five qualification series against RoKi, the lowest ranked team in the Auroraliiga regular season. The series was pushed to overtime in game five but, ultimately, RoKi secured the victory and retained their place in Auroraliiga, leaving Lukko/PaRa to return to the Naisten Mestis.[12]

Lukko improved to a second place finish in the 2025–26 Naisten Mestis regular season, earning twenty wins across 28 games and amassing a goal difference of +46.[13] For the second consecutive season, Pinja Koskinen was the team leader in points and goals, with 35 points and 29 goals in 28 games. Three other players exceeded the twenty-point mark on the season: Roosa-Maria Kangasniemi (6+23), Charlotta Lundström (18+10), and Jenna Pelkonen (6+15). Netta-Sisko Lahtinen continued to post excellent goaltending statistics, ranking second in the league for save percentage with .945 S% in 1,570 minutes on ice.

Rauman Lukko ry published an updated women's ice hockey strategy in April 2026. The strategy outlined milestones and announced the hiring of a full-time coach.[14] The club also committed to covering all expenses for Lukko Naiset players.[15]

Season-by-season results

This is a partial list of the most recent seasons completed by Lukko, called Lukko/PaRa during the 2024–25 season.
Note: Finish = Rank at end of series; GP = Games played, W = Wins (3 points), OTW = Overtime wins (2 points), OTL = Overtime losses (1 point), L = Losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, Pts = Points, Top scorer: Points (Goals+Assists)

Season League Regular season Postseason results
FinishGPWOTWOTLLGFGAPtsTop scorer
2018–19 Naisten Liiga 9th 30820207614928 Finland E. Ylitalo 26 (12+14) Saved in relegation
2019–20 Naisten Liiga 9th 30521225712820 Finland E. Varpula 21 (12+9) Relegation series cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21 Naisten Liiga 10th 27400234714512 Finland M. Koski 20 (13+7) Relegated to Naisten Mestis
2021–22 Naisten Mestis Q 2nd[a] 1211001841833 Finland M. Koski 36 (18+18) Promoted to Naisten Liiga lower division series
Naisten Liiga 10th 104006193212 Finland R-M. Kangasniemi 7 (2+5) Saved in relegation
2022–23 Naisten Liiga 9th 36141305922712 Finland A. Toivonen 24 (12+12) Saved in relegation
2023–24 N/a
2024–25 Naisten Mestis 4th 2814239936749 Finland P. Koskinen 30 (17+13) Won N. Mestis championship versus APV, 2–0
Lost Auroraliiga qualification series to RoKi, 3–2
2025–26 Naisten Mestis 2nd 28191171005460 Finland P. Koskinen 35 (29+6) N. Mestis championship runner-up versus Pelicans, 1–2
  1. ↑ 1st in Lohko 2 (2.75 points per game)[16]

Players and personnel

Notable alumni

Years active with Lukko listed alongside player name.[22]

References

  1. ↑ Biller, Philippe. "Championnat de Finlande de hockey sur glace féminin 2016/17" [Finnish Women's Ice Hockey Championship 2016-17]. HockeyArchives.info (in French). Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  2. ↑ Foster, Meredith (11 February 2019). "The Naisten Liiga playoffs are set". The Ice Garden. Archived from the original on 14 August 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  3. ↑ Seppä, Lassi (2 April 2023). "Aliisa Toivosen hattutemppu toi Lukon liigataipaleelle jatkoa" [Aliisa Toivonen's hat-trick secured Lukko's continuation in the Liiga]. Jatkoaika (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  4. ↑ "Lukko luopuu Naisten liigapaikasta" [Lukko gives up its place in Naisten Liiga]. Rauman Lukko ry (Press release) (in Finnish). 27 April 2023. Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  5. ↑ Seppä, Lassi (29 April 2023). "Kapteeni Maija Kosken Lukko-sydän murtui joukkueen lopetusuutisesta − "Aikuisten, maksavien pelaajien mielipidettä ei kysytty"" [Captain Maija Koski's Lukko-heart was broken by the news of the team's dissolution − "The opinion of the adult, paying players was not asked"]. Jatkoaika (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 15 May 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  6. ↑ Hirvonen, Hinni (30 April 2023). "Lukon seuralegenda järkyttyi seurajohdon toiminnasta – liigapaikasta luovuttiin kysymättä pelaajien mielipidettä" [Lukko club legend was shocked by the club management's actions – a place in the Liiga was relinquished without asking the players' opinion]. Yle Urheilu (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  7. ↑ Savela, Timo (29 April 2023). "Raumalla kaikki pelaa, paitsi naiset" [Everyone plays in Rauma, except the women]. Jatkoaika (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  8. 1 2 Pukkila, Tapio (20 May 2024). "Rauman Lukko tekee paluun naisten jääkiekkoon – tavoitteena liigapaikka Panelian Raikkaan kanssa" [Rauman Lukko returns to women's hockey – aiming for a Liiga place with Panelian Raikas]. Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  9. ↑ Seppä, Lassi (20 May 2024). "Paluun tekevä Lukko laati strategian naisten ja tyttöjen jääkiekolle − liiganousu tavoitteena kolmen vuoden sisällä" [Reestablished Lukko created a strategy for women's and girls' hockey – aiming for promotion to the Liiga within three seasons]. Jatkoaika (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  10. ↑ "2024-2025, Naisten Mestis, Naisten Mestis > Sarjataulukko". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). 16 February 2025. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  11. ↑ Seppä, Lassi (8 March 2025). "Lukko/PaRa voitti naisten Mestiksen mestaruuden − pääsarjakarsintojen aikataulu on selvillä" [Lukko/PaRa won the women's Mestis championship – the schedule for the [Auroraliiga] qualifiers is set]. Jatkoaika (in Finnish). Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  12. ↑ Hyötylä, Ville (29 March 2025). "Rovaniemellä pelataan liigakiekkoa jatkossakin – RoKin tshekkitähti runnoi helpottavan maalin jatkoerässä" [Rovaniemi will continue to play Liiga hockey – RoKi's Czech star scores an easy goal in overtime]. Lapin Kansa (in Finnish). Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  13. 1 2 3 Seppä, Lassi (8 March 2026). "Pettyneessä Lukossa valettiin uskoa tulevaan − kesken kauden kapteeniksi hypännyt Jasmin Laaksonen kiitteli saamastaan tuesta" [A disappointed Lukko was instilled with faith in the future – appointed captain mid-season, Jasmin Laaksonen was grateful for the support she received]. Jatkoaika (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 11 June 2026. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  14. ↑ "Päivitetty naiskiekkoilun strategia vuosille 2026–2030 rakentaa Raumalle huippupelaajapolkua" [Updated women's hockey strategy for 2026–2030 builds a party for top players in Rauma]. Rauman Lukko ry (Press release) (in Finnish). 8 April 2026. Archived from the original on 10 June 2026. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  15. ↑ Mäkeläinen, Kimmo (8 April 2026). "Lukko tekee uuden panostuksen – Hintalappu on kuusinumeroinen" [Lukko makes a new investment – the price tag is six figures]. Satakunnan Kansa (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 9 April 2026. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  16. ↑ "2021–2022 Naisten Mestis karsinta, lohko 2: Sarjataulukko" (in Finnish). Finnish Ice Hockey Association. 11 December 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  17. ↑ Laakso, Mika (3 September 2020). "Lukon kapteeni Maija Koski on jäällä suorapuheinen ja räiskyvä, mutta kentän ulkopuolella rauhallinen viilipytty" [Lukko captain Maija Koski is outspoken and fiery on the ice, but a calm person outside of the rink]. Jatkoaika (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 17 December 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  18. ↑ Anteroinen, Ari (29 November 2014). "Lukon naiskiekkoilijat järjestävät junnudiscon" [Lukko's women's hockey players organize a youth disco]. Länsi-Suomi (in Finnish). Retrieved 3 September 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ↑ Tanhuanpää, Asko (January 2019). "Marko Toivonen tyytyväinen Lukon naisten alkukauteen" [Marko Toivonen is pleased with the start of the Lukko women's season]. SatakunnanViikko (in Finnish). Retrieved 3 September 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ↑ Viljanen, Markus (20 August 2020). "Naisten Liiga: Sami Piilikangas otti vetovastuun Lukossa: "Minimitavoitteemme on sarjapaikan säilyttäminen"" [Naisten Liiga: Sami Piilikangas took charge of the Lukko team: "Our minimum goal is to maintain a place in the league"]. Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Retrieved 16 March 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ↑ Mäkeläinen, Kimmo (8 April 2026). "Maanviljelijä, mylläri, automyyjä, Pekka Virran apuri – Nyt valmentaja Lukossa" [Farmer, miller, car salesman, Pekka Virta's assistant – now a Lukko coach]. Satakunnan Kansa (in Finnish). Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  22. ↑ "Lukko All Time Regular Season Stats". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  23. ↑ Rämänen, Antti (7 September 2018). "TPS nappasi kovan vahvistuksen: Susanna Tapani liiganousijan riveihin" [Strong addition for TPS: Susanna Tapani joins the ranks of the [Naisten] Liiga's rising star]. MTV Uutiset (in Finnish). Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  24. ↑ Kleinberger, Mario (13 October 2020). "Eishockey: Kahlhammer hat in Finnland einiges vor" [Ice Hockey: Kahlhammer has big plans in Finland]. Kleine Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 10 June 2026.
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