Mikkelin Jukurit
Seven-time Mestis champion now competing in Liiga.
Mikkelin Jukurit is a professional ice hockey club based in Mikkeli, Finland, and competes in Liiga, the country's top-flight league. Their home games are played at Kalevankankaan jäähalli, which is also known as Let's Go Areena due to a sponsorship deal. The team has won seven Mestis championships—the second-highest level—in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2013, 2015, and 2016.
The club was founded in 1970. During the 1970s, Jukurit played in the second tier, but the 1980s and 1990s saw them drop to lower divisions. A major shift came in the 1998–99 season, when Matti Turunen took over as executive director and Risto Dufva was hired as head coach from Jyväskylä. The following season, they won their first championship in the newly formed Suomi-sarja league, returning to Mestis after a 20-year absence. Jukurit then won the Mestis title in each of their first three seasons back and reached the semifinals in every one of their first eight seasons. After a fourth championship in early 2006, Dufva left. He was briefly replaced by Finnish hockey legend Reijo Ruotsalainen, but Ruotsalainen’s stint was short; long-time assistant Pekka Lipiäinen took over mid-season. The 2008–09 season was the only one in Mestis where Jukurit failed to make the playoffs. In 2009, the team incorporated as Jukurit HC Oy, having previously operated as an association.
When Jarno Pikkarainen became head coach for the 2010–11 season, Jukurit returned to the finals but lost to Sport. Under Pikkarainen, they won another championship in 2012–13, and then added two more in 2015 and 2016 under head coach Antti Pennanen. After that seventh Mestis title, the club was allowed to purchase a license to join Liiga. Over 16 seasons in Mestis, Jukurit collected seven gold medals, four silver medals, and one bronze medal.
Jukurit has played in Liiga since the 2016–17 season. In their first four seasons, they missed the playoffs, finishing 11th, 13th, 14th, and 13th in the regular season. Coached by former NHL player Olli Jokinen, the team placed second in the regular season in 2021–22, earning their first-ever playoff berth.
The club has retired four numbers: #12 (Antti Laakso), #22 (Martti Salminen), #24 (Lasse Kanerva), and #31 (Petri Lehtonen). Number 21 is also not in circulation; it belonged to Sami Lehmusmetsä, who died in a traffic accident.
Quick Facts
- Team
- Mikkelin Jukurit
- Text Colour
- #000000
- City
- Mikkeli
- League
- Liiga
- Arena
- Let's Go Areena
- Owner
- Jukurit HC Oy
- Coach
- Jonne Virtanen
- Captain
- Jesper Piitulainen
- Farmclub
- Jukurit U20
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Mikkelin Jukurit was founded in 1970. During the 1970s the team played in the second highest level, but the 1980s and 1990s were spent in lower levels. The 1998–99 season was a turning point, when Matti Turunen became executive director and Risto Dufva from Jyväskylä became head coach. In the 1999–2000 season they won their first championship in the newly established Suomi-sarja league and returned to Mestis after a 20-year break. Jukurit won the Mestis championship in their first three seasons and made the semifinals consecutively on their first eight seasons. After a fourth championship in early 2006, Risto Dufva left and was replaced by Finnish hockey legend Reijo Ruotsalainen, whose tenure was short-lived; he was replaced mid-season by long-time assistant coach Pekka Lipiäinen. 2008–09 was the only Mestis season Jukurit did not make the playoffs. In 2009 an incorporation Jukurit HC Oy was founded; until then the team had operated as an association. After hiring Jarno Pikkarainen as head coach for the 2010–11 season, Jukurit returned to the finals but lost to Sport. Under Pikkarainen, Jukurit won another championship in 2012–13 and two more in 2015 and 2016 with Antti Pennanen as head coach. After the seventh Mestis championship, Jukurit was granted permission to purchase a license to Liiga. During 16 seasons in Mestis, they achieved seven gold medals, four silver medals, and one bronze medal.
Reader's Guide
Mikkelin Jukurit's significance lies in its sustained success in the second-tier Mestis league, winning seven championships over 16 seasons, which earned them promotion to Liiga. The team's history shows a dramatic turnaround starting in 1998–99 under executive director Matti Turunen and head coach Risto Dufva, leading to a return to Mestis and immediate dominance. Their seven Mestis titles, including three consecutive championships at the start of their Mestis tenure and three more in four seasons under Jarno Pikkarainen and Antti Pennanen, mark them as one of the most successful teams in that league. Since joining Liiga in 2016–17, Jukurit struggled in their first four seasons, finishing 11th, 13th, 14th, and 13th in the regular season. However, coached by former NHL player Olli Jokinen, they finished second in the regular season of 2021–22, earning their first ever playoff spot. The team's legacy includes retired numbers for Antti Laakso, Martti Salminen, Lasse Kanerva, and Petri Lehtonen, and number 21 is not in circulation in honor of Sami Lehmusmetsä, who died in a traffic accident.
Did You Know?
- The team's only Mestis season without a playoff appearance was 2008–09.
- Jukurit was granted a license to Liiga after winning their seventh Mestis championship in 2016.
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