HELSINKI, Finland - HIFK is one of the most traditional teams on the Finnish hockey scene. Founded in 1897 as an athletics club that covered sports from football, bandy, handball, floorball, athletics and bowling and started participating in ice hockey competitions from 1928. One must note that other teams under the HIFK banner are normally called Helsinki IFK or just IFK.

Distinguished style and Local rivals

If the Philadelphia Flyers are known for its Broadstreet Bullies, then HIFK is Finland’s own Flyers organisation. The team is known for its North American style of play, which was first introduced by Stanley Cup winning player-coach Carl Brewer in 1968. Brewer was inducted posthumously to the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003. Many teams tried to emulate the example set by Brewer's HIFK, which led to a change in the direction Finnish hockey was headed.

HIFK is one of two teams based in the Helsinki area, the other being Jokerit (loose translation: Jokers), who we will cover later on in the round up. Up until 1997, HIFK and Jokerit would share the same arena and ice facilities of Nordenskold street. This would always lead to tense local derby matches between the two teams and were always followed with special interest around Finland and are some of the fiercest in the Nordic countries.

HIFK and Jokerit will follow the NHL’s example and will host an out-door match at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium on the 5th of February. The last time the Olympic Stadium was used for ice hockey purposes was in 1941.

Pedigree of success

HIFK is one of the most successful teams in Finland, having won the championship six times (1969, 1970, 1974, 1980, 1983 and 1998). As with the Championships, HIFK has been known for developing young Finnish hockey talent as well as providing a launch pad for prominent NHL players.

For example the 1998 Championship winning team had players who currently play in the NHL such as: Tim Thomas (Boston Bruins), Brian Rafalski (Detroit Redwings), Olli Jokinen (New York Rangers), Jarkko Ruutu (Ottawa Senators), Kimmo Timonen (Philadelphia Flyers).

Another hot young talent currently plying his trade in HIFK sweater is Mikael Granlund, who was picked 9^th overall by the Minnesota Wild in the NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles.

Added to the young talent, HIFK received welcome news when the veteran forward, Ville Peltonen signed for the team. Peltonen has been regarded as the face for Finnish hockey because of his determination and sacrifices he makes for his team. Peltonen’s career is turning into its twilight and he will be satisfied with nothing less than lifting the top trophy at the end of the season.

It has been over a decade since HIFK drank champagne from the Kanada Malja and year after year the expectations and the quality of the roster has suggested that ‘this is the year’, but so far the team has suffered early exits in the play-offs after strong regular seasons.

City: Helsinki, Finland

Founded: Introduction of ice hockey 1927, HIFK organisation has been active since 1897  

Home Arena and Capacity: Helsinki Ice Arena, A.K.A    Nordenskold streetarena

Colours: Red, White, Blue  

Championships:  6 (4 times Silver, 9 times Bronze)

Notable Players:  Ville Peltonen, Mikael Granlund, Tuomo Ruutu, Jarkko Ruutu, Niklas Hagman, Olli Jokinen, Jere Karalahti, Toni Lydman, Brian Rafalski, Tim Thomas, Kimmo Timonen, Christian Ruuttu, Cory Murphy

Contact Janne.Virtanen@prohockeynews.com