| Ässät–Sport rivalry | |
| Other Names: | Kasitien derby |
| Firstmeeting: | October 12, 1975 |
| Mostrecent: | March 13, 2024 |
| Nextmeeting: | TBD |
| Total: | 52 (Incl. postseason, exc. preseason) |
| Postseason: | 4–3 (ÄSS) |
| Largestvictory: | ÄSS 10–4 SPO December 11, 1975 |
| Currentstreak: | SPO W1 |
The Ässät–Sport rivalry, also known as the Kasitien derby,[1] [2] is an ice hockey rivalry between the HC Ässät Pori and Vaasan Sport, two professional ice hockey clubs in Finland. The rivalry has its roots in the 2009 SM-liiga qualifiers, where Ässät beat Sport in seven games to keep their SM-liiga spot. Sport was later promoted to the SM-liiga in 2014.[3] [4]
The first game between Ässät and Sport was played in the 1975–76 SM-liiga season, but it wasn't considered a rivalry yet. The first game between the clubs ended in Ässät's 10–5 victory. The clubs faced each other a total of four times in the season, Ässät winning all four of the games.[5] Sport was relegated after the season.[6]
Ässät and Sport met in the 2009 SM-liiga qualifiers. Sport played in the second tier Mestis, and Ässät played in the SM-liiga. Ässät beat sport in seven games, winning the last game 3–0.[7] After the series, Ässät fined Sport for €2,000 for broken benches in the arena.[8] The biggest scandal happened when Sport's coach Juhani Tamminen commented on the series and the whole league system in a press conference. Tamminen blamed the league for Sport's loss in the series, calling it unfair.[9] Tamminen had also threatened Ässät's assistant coach Pasi Kaukoranta by telling him that he will rip his head off after Kaukoranta had allegedly provoked him. Tamminen was fined €2,500 by the league.[10] [11]
In 2024, Sport played Ässät at home to decide the last spot in the playoffs. The winning team would go to the playoffs and the loser would just miss them.[12] [13] Sport won the game 3–2 and Ässät missed the playoffs by two points.[14] [15]