Riikka Nieminen Award

The Riikka Nieminen Award (Finnish: Riikka Nieminen -palkinto) is an ice hockey trophy, seasonally awarded by the Finnish Ice Hockey Association to the Naisten Liiga Player of the Year. It is named after Riikka Sallinen (née Nieminen), now retired, who is widely considered the best European women’s ice hockey player to ever compete internationally.[1][2]

Riikka Nieminen Award
Riikka Nieminen -palkinto  (Finnish)
SportIce hockey
LeagueNaisten Liiga
Awarded forPlayer of the Year
Presented byFinnish Ice Hockey Association
History
First award2008
First winnerMichelle Karvinen
Most winsJenni Hiirikoski (5)
Most recentElisa Holopainen, 2021

The trophy was first awarded for the 2008–09 season and Michelle Karvinen of the Espoo Blues was the first recipient. Jenni Hiirikoski is the only defenceman to ever win the trophy and holds the record for most wins, with five. Elisa Holopainen is the current award holder after winning the trophy for the 2020–21 season. She is the second player to ever win the award more than once, having previously received the Riikka Nieminen Award for the 2018–19 season.

Award winners


Season Winner Team
2008–09 Michelle Karvinen Espoo Blues
2009–10 Jenni Hiirikoski Ilves Tampere
2010–11 Anne Helin Kärpät Oulu
2011–12 Nina Tikkinen Kärpät Oulu
2012–13 Jenni Hiirikoski JYP Jyväskylä
2013–14 Jenni Hiirikoski JYP Jyväskylä
2014–15 Jenni Hiirikoski JYP Jyväskylä
2015–16 Jenni Hiirikoski JYP Jyväskylä
2016–17 Isa Rahunen Kärpät Oulu
2017–18 Linda Välimäki Ilves Tampere [3]
2018–19 Elisa Holopainen KalPa Kuopio [4]
2019–20 Tanja Niskanen KalPa Kuopio [5]
2020–21 Elisa Holopainen KalPa Kuopio [6]

Source: Elite Prospects[7]

All time award recipients
Player Wins Year(s) won
Jenni Hiirikoski52010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Elisa Holopainen22019, 2021
Anne Helin12011
Michelle Karvinen12009
Tanja Niskanen12020
Isa Rahunen12017
Nina Tikkinen12012
Linda Välimäki12018

References
  1. Foster, Meredith (15 June 2019). "Team Finland legend Riikka Sallinen retires". The Ice Garden. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  2. "Legends of Hockey: Profiles of Notable Women in Hockey". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 27 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. Seppänen, Antti, ed. (2 May 2018). "Liiga palkitsi kauden 2017–18 parhaat – tässä palkittujen lista". liiga.fi (in Finnish). Liiga. Retrieved 27 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. Mennander, Pasi (12 June 2019). "Leijonat - Tupu, Hupu ja Lupu jälleen yhdessä! Palkitsivat parhaat hyökkääjät Jääkiekkogaalassa". www.leijonat.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 27 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. Mennander, Pasi (23 March 2020). "Naisten Liigan kauden 2019–20 palkitut pelaajat ja tähtikentät". leijonat.fi (in Finnish). Finnish Ice Hockey Association. Retrieved 27 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. Mennander, Pasi (15 March 2021). "Naisten Liigan kauden 2020–21 palkitut pelaajat ja tähtikentät". leijonat.fi (in Finnish). Finnish Ice Hockey Association. Retrieved 16 March 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. "Naisten Liiga (W) Best Player (Riikka Nieminen Award)". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 16 March 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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