The Riikka Nieminen Award () is an ice hockey trophy, seasonally awarded by the Finnish Ice Hockey Association to the

Naisten Liiga The Kansallinen Liiga ('National League') is the premier division of women's football in Finland. It was previously called the Jalkapallon naisten SM-sarja ('Women's Football Finnish Championship Series') during 1974 to 2006 and the Naisten Lii ...

Player of the Year. It is named after Riikka Sallinen (

née A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth re ...

Nieminen), now retired, who is widely considered the best European women’s ice hockey player to ever compete internationally. The trophy was first awarded for the 2008–09 season and Michelle Karvinen of the Espoo Blues was the first recipient.

Jenni Hiirikoski Jenni Hiirikoski (born 30 March 1987) is a Finnish ice hockey player and captain of Luleå HF/MSSK in the Swedish Women's Hockey League (; SDHL) and the Finnish national team. She is widely considered one of the best active ice hockey defence ...

is the only defenceman to ever win the trophy and holds the record for most wins, with five. Elisa Holopainen is the only other player to have claimed the trophy more than once, winning it in the 2018–19 season, 2020–21 season, 2022–23 season, and 2023–24 season. The only goaltender to have won the award is

Anni Keisala Anni Keisala (born 5 April 1997) is a Finnish ice hockey goaltender and member of the Finland women's national ice hockey team, Finnish national team, currently signed with HV71 Dam of the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL) for the 2022–23 SD ...

in the 2021–22 season.

Award winners

Source: Elite Prospects

All time award recipients

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Riikka Nieminen Award Ice hockey player of the year awards Naisten Liiga (ice hockey) trophies and awards