Pitsiturnaus is an ice hockey tournament held in Rauma, Finland. It is held around the time of the Pitsiviikko. The tournament has been played since 1993. The tournament is held in the Kivikylän Areena, home arena of Lukko of the Liiga.[1]

Pitsiturnaus
Upcoming season or competition:
Current sports event 2023 Pitsiturnaus
SportIce hockey
Founded1993
FounderLukko
First season1993
DivisionsLohko 1
Lohko 2
No. of teams6
CountryFinland
Venue(s)Kivikylän Areena
Most recent
champion(s)
Lukko (11)
(2023)
Most titlesLukko (11)
Related
competitions
Liiga
Notes
Foreign teams may participate, the participating teams can change every year
Oulun Kärpät players celebrating a goal in the 2009 tournament

Participating teams edit

2023 edit

Teams in the 2023 Pitsiturnaus


History edit

The participants of the tournament have traditionally been Rauma Lukko, Porin Ässät and TPS. Rauman Lukko has the most titles in the tournament, having won it ten times. The first foreign team in the tournament was the Russian CSK VVS Samara in 1999. The only foreign winner is from 2002, when the Russian HC CSKA Moscow won the tournament.[1] The same team also took part in the tournament in 2003, when Lukko defeated them in the final. In both years, the Moscow team was coached by Vasily Tikhonov, the former coach of Ässät and Lukko.[citation needed]

In 2006, the tournament was not played due to renovations at the arena,[1] but at that time the opening tournament of Äijänsuo was played, where HC Pardubice won over Ässät in the final 7–3. Lukko came in third after defeating the Blues 5–4.[2]

Since 2010, the tournament has been held after Pitsiviikko, as the rules of the Finnish Champions League prohibit practice games in July, at the end of which Pitsiviikko is. Today, the Pitsiturnaus is played on the first Friday in August.[3]

Format edit

Six teams will take part in the tournament. Teams are drawn into divisions of three teams where they play once against each other. The top two from both divisions will advance to the semi-finals, with the winners going to the finals. The playing time in the first round and semi-finals is 2x15 min and in the final 2x20 min. Bronze games are not played.[4][5]

Ässät and Lukko are always placed into the same division.[citation needed]

Champions edit

List of champions:[citation needed]

Team No. wins Last win Years
Lukko 11 2023 1997, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2020, 2023
HC TPS 6 2017 1993, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2016, 2017
Ässät 5 2022 1994, 1995, 1999, 2004, 2022
Pelicans 3 2019 2011, 2018, 2019
Tappara 1 2007 2007
HC CSKA Moscow 1 2002 2002
Ilves 1 1996 1996
Kärpät 1 2000 2000
SaiPa 1 2021 2021

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Pitsiturnaus 2020: Perinneturnaus pitää pintansa − Katso tästä turnauksen edelliset voittajat". Jatkoaika.com - Kaikki jääkiekosta (in Finnish). Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Äijänsuon avausturnaus testaa uudistetun jäähallin Raumalla". Jatkoaika.com - Kaikki jääkiekosta (in Finnish). Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  3. ^ "Pitsiturnaus 2010". Rauma | Kaikki info Raumasta (in Finnish). 17 March 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  4. ^ "Pitsiturnaus XXVIII – Otteluohjelma, tulosseuranta, säännöt". Rauman Lukko (in Finnish). Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  5. ^ "Pitsiturnaus 2021: Jatkoajan turnausennakko, aikataulut ja otteluohjelma". Jatkoaika.com - Kaikki jääkiekosta (in Finnish). Retrieved 8 May 2022.