HC TPS

Lore & Background

TPS was established in 1922 as Turun Palloseura, from which the acronym derives. The club began ice hockey activities after 1929. Today, the full name of the company that owns the ice hockey team is HC TPS Turku Oy. TPS has won the Finnish Championship in ice hockey 11 times: 1956, 1976, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2010. Only Tampere teams Ilves and Tappara have won more titles when SM-sarja also counts. Coach Hannu Jortikka led the club to a total of six championships in 1989–91 and 1999–2001. TPS have also won two Finnish Cups, a European Cup in 1994, the European Hockey League in 1997, and a Super Cup in 1997. Vladimir Yurzinov used to be the coach of TPS in 1992–98. The team is currently coached by Tommi Miettinen.

Reader's Guide

TPS is notable as the second all-time most successful team in SM-Liiga, with 10 league titles and one SM-sarja championship. Their 11 Finnish championships place them behind only Ilves and Tappara when counting both SM-sarja and SM-liiga eras. The club's golden periods came under coach Hannu Jortikka, who led them to six titles across two separate three-peat runs (1989–91 and 1999–2001). Internationally, TPS won the European Cup in 1994 and the European Hockey League in 1997, plus a Super Cup in 1997. The team has produced numerous NHL players, including Saku Koivu, Mikko Koivu, Miikka Kiprusoff, Sami Salo, Mikko Rantanen, and others. Their honored numbers include Timo Nummelin, Juhani Wahlsten, and Saku Koivu (not officially retired but out of circulation). The current head coach is Toni Solderholm, with assistant coaches including former NHL player Sami Salo.

Did You Know?

• TPS was established in 1922 and began ice hockey activities after 1929.
• Coach Hannu Jortikka led TPS to six championships in two separate three-peat runs (1989–91 and 1999–2001).
• Saku Koivu's number 11 is not officially retired but is out of circulation.