1989–90 Porin Ässät season
One-season I-Divisioona stint ended with promotion back to SM-liiga.
The 1989–90 season marked Porin Ässät's sole campaign in the I-Divisioona, Finland's second-tier league, after the team was relegated from the SM-liiga. Despite the drop, local support surged, with attendance surpassing that of previous SM-liiga seasons. Key reinforcements arrived: Arto Javanainen returned from TPS, Arto Heiskanen from Lukko, and Aleksei Frolikov and Vladimir Durdin from Riga Dynamo. Matti "Mölli" Keinonen took over as coach. Ässät dominated the regular season, shattering multiple I-Divisioona records and finishing first. In the SM-liiga qualifiers, they swept JoKP 3–0 to secure promotion back to the top flight. The regular season opened with a 10–2 win over Kiekko-Espoo. After four more victories, a 3–3 tie with FoPS interrupted the streak. Ässät’s first loss came in January 1990, ending a 27-game unbeaten run. Over 44 games, they lost only four and tied three. Notable blowouts included 19–4 and 20–6 against Ketterä, 19–3 against Sport, and 13–0 against KooVee. Arto Heiskanen led the league in scoring with 110 points, a I-Divisioona record, and posted a +90 plus-minus rating. Ässät won the regular-season title and then defeated JoKP in the qualification series to return to the SM-liiga.
Quick Facts
- Season
- 1989–90
- League
- I-Divisioona
- Team
- Porin Ässät
- Leaguerank
- 1st
- Record
- 37–3–4
- Goalsfor
- 355
- Goalsagainst
- 144
- Coach
- Matti Keinonen
- Captain
- Tapio Levo
- Arena
- Pori Ice Hall
- Attendance
- 4 412
- Goalsleader
- Arto Javanainen (59)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Relegation to the I-Divisioona for the 1989–1990 season raised a hockey boom in Pori, as townspeople stood behind their team. Audience numbers increased from previous SM-liiga seasons. For the I-Divisioona season, Ässät got top reinforcements when Arto Javanainen returned from TPS and Arto Heiskanen from Lukko. Aleksei Frolikov and Vladimir Durdin came from Riga Dynamo. Matti "Mölli" Keinonen became the coach. The visit to the I-Divisioona only lasted a season. Ässät was superior in the regular season, breaking numerous I-Divisioona records and easily progressing to the series win and SM-liiga qualification.
Reader's Guide
The 1989–90 season is significant as a brief but dominant detour for Porin Ässät. After relegation, the club leveraged local support and key acquisitions to achieve an immediate return to the top tier. The season featured a 27-game unbeaten streak, only four losses in 44 games, and record-breaking offensive performances, including a 20–6 victory. Arto Heiskanen set a I-Divisioona record with 110 points and a +90 plus-minus. The team won the I-Divisioona championship and swept JoKP 3–0 in the SM-liiga qualifiers. This season remains the club's only campaign in the second division, underscoring its unique place in Ässät history as a one-year detour that ended in promotion.
Did You Know?
- Ässät's first loss came in January 1990 after a 27-game unbeaten streak.
- Ässät won the SM-liiga qualification series against JoKP 3–0.
- The season included victories of 20–6 and 19–3 against Ketterä and Sport respectively.
More in KHL and European Hockey Clubs, Part 2 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced