SaPKo

Savonlinnan Pallokerho (SaPKo) is an ice hockey team from Savonlinna, Finland, they currently play in the Suomi-sarja. It plays its home matches at the Talvisalo ice rink.

The sports club Savonlinnan Pallokerho was founded in 1929. First it consisted football and bandy sections, but since the 1960s ice hockey has been the main sport.

In 1960s SaPKo played four seasons in the highest tier of Finnish ice hockey SM-sarja but was relegated to Suomi-sarja in 1971. In 1974 the new First Division was formed and SaPKo was one of the teams participating. SaPKo soon established itself as the team of I-divisioona expect few visits to Second Division. In 1968 SaPKo worked its way to the final of Finnish Cup, but lost the final to KooVee 10–2.

Later bigger success came in the season 1994/1995 when SaPKo had very good regular season with players like Team Canada captain Brian Tutt and was close to promotion to the SM-liiga. It played tight promotion playoffs against Ilves but failed to promote. After the success started downtrend which culminated to relegation to Suomi-sarja. At the end of the 2005/2006 season SaPKo finally gained promotion back to the second tier, Mestis.

In 2022, the club filed for bankruptcy after acquiring a debt of 227,000 euros. However, fifteen entrepreneurs helped fund and re-establish the club for the 2023-24 season and they were approved to play in the Suomi-sarja, where they placed fourth that season.

SaPKo is a professional ice hockey team based in Savonlinna, Finland. The team competes in the Mestis league, which is the second highest level of ice hockey in Finland. SaPKo has a rich history and a strong fan base, with a reputation for producing talented players and competitive teams.

The team's colors are blue and white, and their logo features a fierce wolf head, symbolizing their strength and determination on the ice. SaPKo's home games are played at the Savonlinna Ice Arena, where fans gather to cheer on their favorite players and show their support for the team.

SaPKo is known for their fast-paced, aggressive style of play, with a focus on strong defense and quick transitions to offense. The team has a tradition of developing young talent and giving players the opportunity to showcase their skills at a high level of competition.

Overall, SaPKo is a respected and competitive team in the Finnish ice hockey community, with a dedicated fan base and a commitment to excellence on and off the ice.