With 16 national championships, Ilves Tampere are the second-most successful hockey club in Finland behind local rivals Tappara Tampere. The club was founded in the spring of 1931 and played its first game against Tampereen Palloilijat the next winter. In the late 1930s, Ilves won their first three titles and the team continued to dominate through the 40s, 50s and 60s. Their most recent title came in 1985. 

In Finnish, Ilves means "lynx" and the animal is depicted in the team's logo which was designed by Rauno Broms in 1963. In 1965 Ilves moved into the new Hakametsä arena alongside local rivals Tappara and KooVee, where they played until recently. Now they play in the newly constructed Nokia Arena again alongside Tappara.

The club, one of the most popular in Finland, has steadily been on the rise over the last few seasons, finishing third in the Liiga regular season in 2022, followed by second place in 2023. Internationally, Ilves' biggest success was reaching the final of the European Cup in 1966/67 where they faced ZKL Brno.

Ilves made their debut in the Champions Hockey League in 2022/23 when together with local rivals Tappara, they became the first two teams to play in the CHL from the same city. They returned again in 2023/24 making the Round of 16 and again in 2024/25 where they failed to make the Playoffs.

Quick Facts

• Founded in 1931
• Have won 16 Finnish titles, most recently in 1985
• Reached European Cup final in 1966/67