Lukko Rauma come from the smallest market in the Finnish Liiga, and yet they remain competitive in one of Europe's top leagues through smart business dealings. As we've seen in the first two seasons of the CHL, they can hold their own on the international stage too.

by Miro Perhe

Lukko Rauma was founded in 1936, but ice hockey came along many years later. In 1936 people in Rauma didn’t even know about the sport, and the first rink didn't come until 1947. In effect, that’s the moment when hockey really began in the town.

Lukko received its name from the Finnish town called Valkeakoski. In Valkeakoski was a team called Haka (Clasp) and the founders in Rauma thought that they needed an even better door-closer. Therefore, they gave the team the name Lukko (Lock).

Lukko won their first medal in 1961 when they came second and won silver. Two years later they won the Finnish championship for first and only time so far. Since then there have been occasional medal celebrations – two more silvers (1966 and 1988) and bronze six times (1965, 1969, 1994, 1996, 2011 and 2014). Lukko have also won two Finnish Cups in 1964 and 1969.

Half a century of waiting

As mentioned, Lukko won their first national championship in 1963 and the people of Rauma have been waiting for their turn to celebrate again ever since. They've gotten their hopes up a few times, but the ultimate prize has just escaped them on a few occasions.

Rauma is a rather small city; the smallest in the Finnish Liiga. That means that Lukko can't generate the kind of revenues that other clubs in larger cities can. Fortunately for Lukko’s fans, RTK-Palvelu was founded. It offers cleaning and property management services and is a sister company of Lukko. Raumalaiskiekkoilun Tuki (Support of Rauma hockey) handles both of these companies and can arrange money transfers between Lukko and RTK-palvelu. That ensures Lukko’s ability to compete in the Liiga without operating at a substantial loss.

Back in Europe

Lukko has played in European international competitions before. Back In the 1996–97 season the club played in the European Hockey League in the same group with CHL rivals Frolunda Gothenburg, French club Rouen Dragons and HC Litvinov from the Czech Republic. They lost 3 games, won 2 and tied 1 game, which wasn't enough to get them beyond the group stage.

Lukko qualified for the Champions Hockey League in 2014–15 and managed to get past the group stage, advancing to the Quarter-Finals where they lost to eventual champions Lulea Hockey, a team that they played four times during the season and then two more times during the group stage in 2015–16. That season, Lulea finished 1st in Group K, but Lukko went farther in the Playoff Stage, getting to the Semi-Finals this time before going out to perennial Finnish powers Karpat Oulu thanks to the goaltending of Ryan Zapolski and the scoring of Toni Koivisto.

Team facts

CHL seasons

2015–16: 2nd in Group K, Semi-Finals
2014–15: 1st in Group K, Quarter-Finals

Click here for current information about the club.

NOTE: This article has been updated since its original publication.