Espoo Blues

  • Finnish Vice- Champion 2008, 2011

The Espoo Blues are a Finnish professional ice hockey club that plays in Finland's top ice hockey league, the Liiga.

History

The Espoo Blues were founded in 1984 and called themselves at this time Kiekko - Espoo ( ' Kiekko means Puck ). As of 1988, called the club Espoo Blues, according to the color of the coat of arms. Also, the coat of arms was changed and the crown disappeared first from it.

In the first four years (1984-1988) the team played in Finland's third highest Hockey League. In the following four years (1988-1992) Kiekko - Espoo played in the second highest Finnish League, Mestis. In 1992, they managed to move up to the SM- liiga. In 1998, Kiekko - Espoo renamed in Espoo Blues, but were simply called blues. During the season 1998/99 they moved from their old arena, the Matinkylä icerink in the LänsiAuto Areena, where they still play today.

Logo 1998-2003

Logo 2003-2005

Logo 2005-2009

Logo since 2009

The Blues have won no season in the SM- liiga until now, but could be on 3 April 2008 and reached the finals at the end of the season in second place.

In the 2008 /09 season, the Blues broke into the newly formed Champions Hockey League prior to the semifinals before they were eliminated against the ZSC Lions from Switzerland, who defeated Espoo Blues 6:3 and 4:1.

Captains since 1992

  • January Långbacka: 1992-1994
  • Hannu Järvenpää: 1994
  • Peter Ahola: 1994-1995
  • Jarmo Muukkonen: 1995-1996
  • Teemu Sillanpää: 1996-1997
  • Juha icons: 1997-1999
  • Peter Ahola: 1999-2001
  • Valeri Krykov: 2001-2002
  • Juha Ylönen: 2002-2003
  • Rami Alanko: 2003-2005
  • Timo Hirvonen: 2005, entered in November 2005 returned as captain
  • Markku Hurme: 2005-2006
  • Joakim Eriksson: 2006
  • Markku Hurme, Ville Viitaluoma, Erkki Rajamäki, Kent Manderville: 2006-07 (rotating)
  • Rami Alanko: 2007-2009
  • Toni Kähkönen: since 2009

Trainer since 1992

  • Martti Merra (1992 - January 1994 )
  • Hannu Saintula (1994 )
  • Harri Rindell (1994-1996)
  • Håkan Nygren (1996 - February 1998)
  • Hannu Saintula ( February 1998 until end of season )
  • Pekka Rautakallio ( start of the season until November 1998)
  • Hannu Saintula ( November 1998 until end of season )
  • Jukka Holtari (1999- January 2000)
  • Jari Härkälä ( January 2000 to end of season)
  • Timo Tuomi (2000 - September 2001)
  • Hannu Kapanen ( September 2001-2003)
  • Ted Sator ( Season Start- October 2003)
  • Hannu Virta ( October 2003 - October 2004)
  • Pekka Rautakallio (2004-2005)
  • Kari Heikkilä (2005-2007)
  • Petri Matikainen (2007-2011)
  • Lauri Marjamäki ( since 2011 )
Barona Areena 2007–08 SM-liiga season HIFK Jokerit KalPa SaiPa
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