Kärpät Naiset

Oulun Kärpät Naiset (lit. 'Oulu's Ermine Women') are an ice hockey team in the Naisten Liiga (NSML). They play in Oulu, a city on the northeastern coast of the Bothnian Bay in the Finnish north-central region of North Ostrobothnia, at the Raksilan harjoitusjäähalli ('Raksila training ice rink'), also called Raksila 2, of the Oulun Energia Areena. Ilves have won the Aurora Borealis Cup three times, in 2012, 2017, and 2018.

The team’s parent club, Oulun Kärpät 46 ry, is the junior affiliate of the Liiga team Oulun Kärpät and, through that association, the teams are loosely affiliated.

Season-by-season results
This is a partial list of the most recent seasons completed by Oulun Kärpät Naiset. Note: Finish = Rank at end of regular season; 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)

2024–25 roster

 * Coaching staff and team personnel
 * Head coach: Teemu Koivula
 * Assistant coach: Satu Kiipeli
 * Conditioning coach: Henri Keskikallio
 * Physical therapist: Jami Matikainen

Team captains

 * Katja Riipi, 1997–98
 * Päivi Salo, 2001–02
 * Eini Lehtinen, 2004–2008
 * Mira Jalosuo, 2008–09
 * Saija Tarkki, 2009–10
 * Anne Helin, 2010–2013
 * Niina Mäkinen, 2013–14
 * Isa Rahunen, 2014–2019
 * Saila Saari, 2019–20
 * Suvi Käyhkö, 2020–2022
 * Aino Kaijankoski, 2022–

Head coaches

 * Kari Ikonen & Pasi Sorvisto, 1994–1997
 * Kari Ikonen, Katri Niemelä & Pasi Sorvisto, 1997–98
 * Kari Ikonen & Pasi Sorvisto, 1998–99
 * Risto Liikka, 1999–2003
 * Lauri Merikivi, 2007–2010
 * Seppo Karjalainen, 2012–13
 * Mira Kuisma, 2015–2019
 * Janne Salmela, 2019–2021
 * Samuli Hassi, 2021–22
 * Sanna Lankosaari, 2022–13 October 2023
 * Saija Tarkki (interim), 13–31 October 2023
 * Satu Kiipeli, 31 October 2023–2024
 * Teemu Koivula, 2024 –

Finnish Champions
The winner of the Naisten Liiga playoffs receives the Aurora Borealis Cup and earns the Finnish Champion title, with gold medals awarded to each player. Prior to the 2010–11 season, the victorious team was awarded Finnish Championship title and medals only.
 * 🥇 Aurora Borealis Cup (3): 2012, 2017, 2018
 * 🥈 Runners-up (7): 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007
 * 🥉 Third Place (7): 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2019, 2022

IIHF European Women's Champions Cup

 * Bronze (1): 2013

Notable alumni
Years active with Kärpät listed alongside players' names.


 * Sanni Hakala, 2016–17
 * Anne Helin, 2008–2013
 * Mira Jalosuo, 2004–2009 & 2016–2018
 * Aino Karppinen, 2019–20
 * Satu Kiipeli, 1991–2000 & 2008–2015
 * Sanna Lankosaari, 1994–2001
 * Eini Lehtinen, 1995–2008
 * Mira Jalosuo, 2004–2009 & 2016–2018
 * Marjo Mäyrä, 1994–2002
 * Jenni Pitkänen, 2001–2010
 * Marja-Helena Pälvilä, 1995–2001, 2002–2006 & 2012–13
 * Katja Riipi, 1994–1999
 * Saila Saari, 2016–2020
 * Päivi Salo, 1994–2002
 * Satu Salonpää, 1990–2003
 * Henna Savikuja, 1995–2005 & 2006–2012
 * Saija Tarkki, 1997–2010 & 2011–2019
 * Niina Tikkinen, 2005–2007 & 2011–2015

International players

 * 🇸🇰 Michaela Matejová, 2008–09
 * 🇸🇪 Marianne Mattila, 1994–95
 * Josefine Quaade, 2000–01