KeuPa HT

KeuPa HT are a semi-professional ice hockey team based in Keuruu, Finland. They are members of the second highest league in Finland, Mestis. The club was founded in 1995 in the Finnish fourth division II-Divisioona after the ice hockey club decided to part company with the Keuruu sports club. They play their home games in the Keuruu Ice Hall, which holds 1200 spectators. KeuPa are two time Suomi-sarja champions and one time Mestis champions.

KeuPa HT
2021–22 Mestis season
City Keuruu, Finland
LeagueMestis
Founded1995 (1995)
Operated1995–present
Home arenaKeuruu Ice Hall
1200 Capacity
ColoursBlue, Red, White and Black
       
General manager Juuso Mörsky
Head coach Tomas Westerlund
Captain Juho Koivusaari
AffiliatesJYP Jyväskylä,
Vaajakosken Pelikaanit
WebsiteKeuPa HT Home
Franchise history
1995–presentKeuPa HT
Championships
Mestis1 (2018)
Suomi-sarja2 (2012, 2014)

History

KeuPa HT was born in 1995 after the ice hockey branch of the Keuruu sports club split from the football and ice skating branches. KeuPa kept their traditional name but added "Hockey Team" to the end to differentiate themselves; hence, the abbreviation HT appears at the end of the name.[1]

The club was promoted to the third division, Suomi-sarja, in 2011–2012 and went on to claim the gold medal and win the third-division championship. By winning, they entered the playoffs with LeKi, KooVee and HCK that year for the right to be promoted to the second division, Mestis. KeuPa finished third in the playoffs and remained in Suomi-sarja, while the other two clubs were promoted to Mestis. HCK, who came second in the playoffs, were promoted only because Wafer-Laser went bankrupt and had to pull out of Mestis.[2]

In the 2012–2013 season, the club sought to defend their title but could manage only a third-place finish at the conclusion of the season, winning the bronze medal. RoKi won the championship title and qualified for Mestis. KeuPa HT had to settle for another season in the third division after coming close to promotion again. The head coach quit at the end of the season.[2]

The 2013–2014 season started off badly for the club. They had not been able to find a replacement for their head coach, and the club was in a precarious financial situation, staring at bankruptcy or folding the club up and ceasing operations, which would mean that they would not be able to compete in the Suomi-sarja season. The KeuPa HT players started a fundraising campaign to raise the money needed to keep the club afloat and allow them to compete in the league that year. By season's start, they had managed to raise the needed money, and they began the season on schedule. The club went through a rocky, patchy start to the season but managed to gain momentum at the end of the regular season and just reach the playoff finals. In the playoffs, KeuPa dispatched with RoKi and Bewe Tuuskin to meet FPS (formerly FoPS) of Forssa in the final. KeuPa HT beat FPS in the final and qualified for Mestis for the first time, ending what became a Cinderella season from a very bleak start.[2]

KeuPa HT went through two head coaches in their first season in the second division in 2014–2015, firstly Jussi Tupamäki then Kari Rautakorpi from 23 February 2015.[3] The team finished the regular season in 8th position, just missing out on the relegation positions of 9 and 10. Their record for the season was 13 wins and 30 losses with 8 overtime victories and 5 overtime losses for a total of 60 points from 56 matches.[4][5]

Season-by-season-results
Champions Runners-up Third Place Promoted Relegated
KeuPa HT
Season League P W OW OL L GF GA GD Pts Finish Post season Cup Pro/Rel
2008–09II-divisioona201321415190+61443rd---
2009–10II-divisioona181800019147+144541stChampion--
2010–11II-divisioona211512315884+74492ndRunner-up-Promoted
2011–12Suomi-sarja221620413968+71521stQualification loss--
2012–13Suomi-sarja221312610063+37433rdQualification loss--
2013–14Suomi-sarja38200315165141+24637thChampion-Promoted
2014–15Mestis56138530143217-74608thQuarterfinal loss--
2015–16Mestis50197519140126+14765thBronze game loss--
2016–17Mestis50196322144156-12728thQuarterfinal loss--
2017–18Mestis50302315182132+50971stChampionQuarterfinal loss-
2018–19Mestis50185522151139+12698thRunner-upRunner-up-
2019–20Mestis50255825189182+7786thCancelled3rd Round-
2020–21Mestis31172210112102+10574thQuarterfinal loss--
2021–22Mestis52224620165170-5805th-Qualification loss-

Source: [6]

Honours

Championships
Champions (1): 2017–18
Runners-Up (1): 2018–19
Champions (2): 2011–12, 2013–14

Players

Current roster

Team roster for the 2021–22 Mestis season [7][8]

KeuPa HT roster - 2021–22 Mestis season
Active RosterCoaching staff
Goaltenders
  • 35 Juho Ahopelto
  • 35 Sami Suni
  • 70 Samuli Tervo

Defencemen

  • 60 Olli Aitola (A)
  • 63 Aleksi Ek
  • 28 Jani Kluuskeri
  •  4 Kimi Kuusela (Loan)
  •  6 Mikko Lahtinen (A)
  • 37 Atro Leppänen
  •  8 Tomi Niku (Loan)
  • 26 Ville Ottavainen (Loan)
  •  4 Eetu Pylkkänen
  • 22 Elias Ruusu (Loan)
  • 26 Santeri Suistio
  • 44 Sakari Turtiainen
 Forwards
  • 11 Joni Airo (Loan)
  • 42 Atte Antinaho
  •  8 Niko Himmanen (Loan)
  • 25 Konsta Keteli
  • 90 Juho Koivusaari
  •  7 Janne Kumpulainen
  • 12 Oula Kuure
  • 91 Joonas Larinmaa (A)
  • 47 Niklas Lehikoinen
  •  9 Miro Lehtimäki
  • 88 Justus Mikkonen
  • 85 Tomi Mäntynen (Loan)
  • 20 Tommi Niskanen
  • 73 Valtteri Pihlajamäki (Loan)
  • 94 Joni Piipponen (C)
  • 22 Samuel Salonen
  • 14 Jani Siekkinen
  • 75 Samuel Valkeejärvi (Loan)
  • 17 Veeti Vuorio
 Head Coach
  • Tomas Westerlund

Coaches

  • Max Walther
  • Tuomo Riikonen
  • Antti Leskinen


Legend
(C) Captain
(A) Alternate Captain
(Loan) Player on loan with club

Statistics
Average age: 23.4
Average hight: 181.2 cm
Average weight: 82.7 kg

Last updated on: 13 April 2022
Elite Prospects

Well-known former players

A list of players that have played for KeuPa HT and gone onto play at the top professional level of hockey in Finland or abroad.

NameLeague(s)
Joni LiusSM-liiga; Elitserien; Austria
Olli PalolaSM-liiga; KHL; SHL
Sinuhe WallinheimoSM-liiga
Waltteri LehtonenSM-liiga; AlpsHL
Taneli MaasaloALIH
Petri PitkänenAIHL

References: [9][10][11][12][13][14]

Team staff

Current as of 2021–22 Mestis season [15]

KeuPa Staff
RoleStaff
Head coach Tomas Westerlund
Assistant coach Max Walther
Assistant coach Tuomo Riikonen
Goalkeeping coach Antti Leskinen
Team manager Tuomo Riikonen
Equipment manager Johannes Manni
Physical therapist Kari Rautakorpi

Leaders

Team captains

All team captains of the club since 2005-06: [16]

NameTerm
Janne Väliaho2005–2006
Heikki Virkajärvi2006–2009
Toni Rautakorpi2009–2011
Jani Lyytinen2011–2012
Matias Kiiskinen2012–2013
Taneli Maasalo2013–2017
Samuel Salonen2016–2017
Jani Ollitervo2016–2017
Markus Jokinen2017–2018
Waltteri Lehtonen2017–2019
Joni Piipponen2019–2021
Juho Koivusaari2021–Present


Further information on team captains in ice hockey: Captain (ice hockey)

Head coaches

All head coaches of the club since 2007-08: [17]

NameTerm
Kari Rautakorpi2007–2015
Jussi Tupamäki2014–2015
Ville Nieminen2015–2016
Mikko Heiskanen2016–2018
Niko Härkönen2018–2019
Niko Eronen2019–2020
Tomas Westerlund2020–Present


Further information on head coaches in ice hockey: Coach (ice hockey)

References
  1. Keuruun Pallo (Keuruun ball), Retrieved 2015-04-27
  2. KeuPa HT, Retrieved 2015-04-27
  3. Ikonen, Petteri (23 February 2015). "KeuPa HT vapautti päävalmentaja Jussi Tupamäen tehtävistään". Mestis.fi. Archived from the original on 20 March 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  4. Mestis season 2014–2015, Retrieved 2015-04-27
  5. "Sarjataulukko". Suomen Jääkiekkoliitto. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  6. "KeuPa HT Team History and Standings". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  7. "KeuPa HT 2020-2021 Roster". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  8. "Joukkue" [Team] (in Finnish). keupaht.fi. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  9. "Joni Lius". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  10. "Olli Palola". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  11. "Sinuhe Wallinheimo". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  12. "Waltteri Lehtonen". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  13. "Taneli Maasalo". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  14. "Petri Pitkanen". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  15. "KeuPa HT Team Staff". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  16. "KeuPa HT - Team Captaincy History". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  17. "KeuPa HT - Team Staff History". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
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