A relative newcomer to Finland's top hockey league, JYP Jyvaskyla have made themselves a top contender over the past decade, and have proven themselves on the European stage as well.
by Miro Perhe
JYP haven't been a part of Finland’s top domestic league so long, especially when you compare them to many of the Liiga’s other teams. It wasn't until 1985 that JYP were promoted to the Liiga, but since then have never faced the threat of relegation. On the other hand, it took until the late 2000s before they had any kind of prosperity.
The club was founded in 1923 as Jyväskylän Palloilijat (Ball players of Jyväskylä), JyP for short, and back then there was no hockey team – only football, Finnish baseball and bandy. Ice hockey became part of the club's portfolio in 1947.
The ice hockey and football sections were separated in 1977, and JyP HT was established. Back then they were often referred to as the “no smoking team”, which was part of team's branding. The late '90s was a time for a big change that was also made in other top level clubs in Finland when JyP was converted into a limited company and the team's name changed to JYP Jyväskylä.
As previously mentioned, 1985 was the year that JyP HT was promoted to the top Finnish league. They won two silver and one bronze medal between 1989 and 1993. After that, the people of Jyväskylä had to wait 16 years their next medal and it finally came in 2009 when they were crowned as champions of Finland. The second championship was brought to the traditionally student city three years later, in 2012. So far in the second decade of the 21st century, JYP have also won three bronze medals in 2010, 2013 and 2015.
It can be said that during the past 10 years, JYP has grown into a big club that can challenge any team in Finland. And in Europe.
Success in Europe
Before the CHL was founded, European teams competed in an international tournament called the European Trophy. JYP won the European Trophy in 2013, beating Swedish side Färjestad Karlstad by a 2–1 score in the Final played in Berlin.
So far in the CHL, the club hasn't been able to duplicate that success. In 2014–15 they reached the Round of 16 and were knocked out by Skellefteå AIK from Sweden and in 2015–16 their journey ended in the Round of 32 at the hands of TPS Turku.
This season it will challenge Linköping HC from Sweden and Les Rapaces de Gap from France in Group K.
Team facts
| Founded | 1923 | Domestic titles | 2 (2009, 2012) | |
| Seasons in top league | 31 | Retired numbers | 1 – Ari-Pekka Siekkinen, 10 – Pertti Rastela, 19 – Pentti Mikkilä, 30 – Risto Kurkinen | |
| 2015–16 domestic finish | 4th | Home rink | Synergia Areena (capacity 4618) |
CHL seasons
2015–16: 2nd in Group N, Round of 32
2014–15: 1st in Group F, Quarter-Finals