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Liiga

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Liiga
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2024–25 Liiga season
FormerlySM-sarja (1933–1975)
SM-liiga (1975–2013)
SportIce hockey
Founded1975; 49 years ago (1975)
First season1975–76
CEOMikko Pulkkinen
MottoSe on totta (It's for real)
No. of teams16
CountryFinland
Most recent
champion(s)		Tappara (13th title)
(2023–24)
Most titlesTappara (13 titles)
TV partner(s)Telia Company, TV5
Level on pyramidLevel 1
Relegation toMestis
International cup(s)Champions Hockey League
Related
competitions		Naisten Liiga
Official websiteLiiga.fi

The SM-liiga (marketed as just Liiga from 2013 on), colloquially called the Finnish Elite League in English or FM-ligan in Swedish,[1][2] is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. The league comprises 16 teams from all around Finland with relegation and promotion between the Mestis.[3][4] The winner of the Liiga playoffs is awarded the Kanada-malja at the end of each season.[5]

Teams from the Liiga participate in the IIHF's annual Champions Hockey League (CHL), competing for the European Trophy. Participation is based on the strength of the various leagues in Europe (excluding the European/Asian Kontinental Hockey League).

The Liiga was established in 1975 to replace the former SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur competition. The Liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice Hockey Association, but the league and association have an agreement of cooperation. SM is a common abbreviation for Suomen mestaruus, "Finnish Champion".

History

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The SM-liiga was established in 1975 to replace the amateur competition SM-sarja. Kalervo Kummola was elected to become the first chief executive officer of the SM-liiga, who served until 1987.[6] The SM-liiga wasn't established unter the Finnish ice Hockey Association that oversees all the other leagues and cups in the country. The playoffs are introduced in Finnish ice hockey for the first time during the inaugural SM-liiga season.[7]

At first there were 10 clubs in the SM-liiga. The league expanded to 12 teams in the 1988–89 season. In 2000, the SM-liiga was expanded by one team, after which the league was closed so that teams could not drop out of the league or move up from a lower league. For the 2005–2006 season, the Mestis winner KalPa was promoted to the series, which met the criteria required for a place in the league.[8] The league qualifiers were brought back for the 2008–09 season. However, as a condition for promotion, the Mestis team that cleared the qualifiers should have bought the shares of the losing Liiga team at the price determined by the league. Otherwise, the losing Liiga team would have continued playing in the league.[9][10] Starting from the 2013–2014 season, the Liiga qualifiers were replaced by a license system where the winner of Mestis can apply for a Liiga license. If granted, the club will be promoted to the league after a transition period of one season.[11][12]

SM-liiga clubs' former jerseys

The league changed its marketing name to just Liiga for the 2013–14 season, and introduced a new logo to match.[13][14][15] The 2019–20 Liiga season was terminated on March 13, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the decision, the final round of the regular season and the playoffs were not played, and the 2020 Finnish hockey championship was not awarded.[16]

For the 2024–25 season, Kiekko-Espoo were promoted to the Liiga as the league expanded to 16 teams.[17] The league was opened for relegation and promotion between the Mestis for the first time since 2013.[18]

According to a 2023 article by The Hockey Writers, the SM-liiga is considered one of the best leagues in Europe and the world along with the Swedish Hockey League and behind the Kontinental Hockey League.[19] Going into the 2024–25 CHL season, the Liiga was ranked the No. 3 league in Europe, allowing them to send their top four teams to compete in the CHL.[20]

Clubs

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List of clubs

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The team names are usually the traditional name of the club. All clubs are commonly known by the name of their team. Oy and Ab are the abbreviations for limited company in Finnish and Swedish respectively.

class=notpageimage|
Teams in the 2024–25 Liiga season
Team name Club's registered name Location Home venue Capacity 2023–24 season standing (playoffs) Titles SM-liiga Titles overall
HIFK Oy HIFK Hockey Ab Helsinki Helsinki Ice Hall 8,200 6th (7th) 4 7
HPK HPK Liiga Oy Hämeenlinna Patria-areena 5,360 14th (did not qualify) 2 2
Ilves Ilves-Hockey Oy Tampere Nokia Arena 12,700 2nd (5th) 1 16
Jukurit Jukurit HC Oy Mikkeli Ikioma Areena 4,200 5th (6th) 0 0
JYP JYP Jyväskylä Oy Jyväskylä Synergia-areena 4,437 13th (did not qualify) 2 2
KalPa KalPa Hockey Oy Kuopio Olvi Arena 5,300 7th (4th) 0 0
Kiekko-Espoo Kiekko-Espoo Oy Espoo Espoo Metro Areena 6,982 4th (3rd) in Mestis (promoted) 0 0
KooKoo KooKoo Hockey Oy Kouvola Lumon arena 5,950 12th (did not qualify) 0 0
Kärpät Oulun Kärpät Oy Oulu Oulun Energia Areena 6,300 4th (3rd) 8 8
Lukko Rauman Lukko Oy Rauma Kivikylän Areena 4,500 8th (9th) 1 2
Pelicans Lahden Pelicans Oy Lahti Isku Areena 4,403 3rd (2nd) 0 0
SaiPa Liiga-SaiPa Oy Lappeenranta Kisapuisto 4,820 15th (did not qualify) 0 0
Sport Hockey-Team Vaasan Sport Oy Vaasa Vaasa Arena 5,185 10th (10th) 0 0
Tappara Tamhockey Oy Tampere Nokia Arena 12,700 1st (1st) 13 20
TPS HC TPS Turku Oy Turku Gatorade Center 10,500 9th (8th) 10 11
Ässät HC Ässät Pori Oy Pori Isomäki Ice Hall 6,150 11th (did not qualify) 2 3

SM-liiga timeline

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1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
75
76		 76
77		 77
78		 78
79		 79
80		 80
81		 81
82		 82
83		 83
84		 84
85		 85
86		 86
87		 87
88		 88
89		 89
90		 90
91		 91
92		 92
93		 93
94		 94
95		 95
96		 96
97		 97
98		 98
99		 99
00		 00
01		 01
02		 02
03		 03
04		 04
05		 05
06		 06
07		 07
08		 08
09		 09
10		 10
11		 11
12		 12
13		 13
14		 14
15		 15
16		 16
17		 17
18		 18
19		 19
20		 20
21 		21
22 		22 23 24 25
HIFK
Ilves
Tappara
TPS
Ässät
Jokerit
Lukko
KOOVEE
Sport
FoPS
Kiekkoreipas Hockey-Reipas Reipas Lahti Pelicans
Kärpät
SaiPa
HPK
JyP HT JYP
KalPa
KooKoo
JoKP
Kiekko-Espoo Blues Kiekko-Espoo
TuTo
Jukurit

Format

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Opening match of Tampere Deck Arena: Tappara vs. Ilves in December 2021
SM-liiga studio in the semifinals in 2006

Regular season: All teams play 60 matches. Each match consists of 60 minutes regulation time, and in the event of a tie, the winner is decided by a three-on-three sudden death, 5-minute overtime. Ties after overtime are decided by a shootout, where each team has three shooters in the beginning. If the game is tied after three shooters, the shootout will be decided by individual shooters against one another until one scores and the other does not.

Scoring: A win in regulation time is worth three points, a win by sudden death overtime two points, a loss by sudden death overtime one point and a loss in regulation time zero points. Teams will be ranked by points, and teams tied by points are ranked by the greater number of wins in regulation.

Playoffs: The four best teams at the conclusion of regular season proceed directly to quarter-finals. Teams placing between fifth and twelfth (inclusive) will play preliminary play-offs best-out-of-five – the four winners take the last four slots to quarter-finals. All series since then are best-of-seven. Losers of the semi-finals play a bronze medal match. Teams are paired up for each round according to regular season results so that the highest-ranking team will play against the lowest-ranking, second highest against the second lowest, and so on. Higher-ranking teams get home advantage. Each playoff match consists of a 60-minute regulation time which in the event of a tie is followed by extra 20-minute periods of 5-on-5 sudden death overtime, in which the first team to score wins.[21]

Relegation: The 16th and 15th placed teams will play in the playout series to decide which team plays against the Mestis champion.

Scheduling: The regular season begins around mid-September. It takes a one-and-half-week break around the end of October to the beginning of November, when Team Finland competes in Karjala Tournament. There is a one-week Christmas break. During Winter Olympic years, a break is reserved for the Winter Olympic Games. The regular season is completed around mid-March and preliminary playoffs ensue almost immediately. The playoffs are completed by mid-April, so that all players are available for the World Championships.

Winner

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The Kanada-malja
Main article: Kanada-malja

The winners of the playoffs receive gold medals and the Kanada-malja, the championship trophy of the Liiga.[22] The winners of the regular season receive a trophy (Harry Lindbladin muistopalkinto) as well,[23] though it is considered less prestigious than the bronze medals of the playoffs.[according to whom?]

Previous winners

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Main article: List of Finnish ice hockey champions
See also: SM-sarja § Winners
  • 1976 – TPS
  • 1977 – Tappara
  • 1978 – Ässät
  • 1979 – Tappara
  • 1980 – HIFK
  • 1981 – Kärpät
  • 1982 – Tappara
  • 1983 – HIFK
  • 1984 – Tappara
  • 1985 – Ilves
  • 1986 – Tappara
  • 1987 – Tappara
  • 1988 – Tappara
  • 1989 – TPS
  • 1990 – TPS
  • 1991 – TPS
  • 1992 – Jokerit
  • 1993 – TPS
  • 1994 – Jokerit
  • 1995 – TPS
  • 1996 – Jokerit
  • 1997 – Jokerit
  • 1998 – HIFK
  • 1999 – TPS
  • 2000 – TPS
  • 2001 – TPS
  • 2002 – Jokerit
  • 2003 – Tappara
  • 2004 – Kärpät
  • 2005 – Kärpät
  • 2006 – HPK
  • 2007 – Kärpät
  • 2008 – Kärpät
  • 2009 – JYP
  • 2010 – TPS
  • 2011 – HIFK
  • 2012 – JYP
  • 2013 – Ässät
  • 2014 – Kärpät
  • 2015 – Kärpät
  • 2016 – Tappara
  • 2017 – Tappara
  • 2018 – Kärpät
  • 2019 – HPK
  • 2020 – (cancelled)
  • 2021 – Lukko
  • 2022 - Tappara
  • 2023 - Tappara
  • 2024 - Tappara

All time statistical leaders

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Top 10 regular-season scoring leaders

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These are the top-ten regular season point-scorers in SM-liiga history. Figures are updated after each completed SM-liiga regular season.

  •  *  – current player

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points

Points
Player Pos GP G A Pts
Janne Ojanen C 876 283 516 799
Arto Javanainen C 688 462 330 792
Ville Vahalahti LW 977 260 427 687
Kristian Kuusela LW 1107 280 458 738
Jari Lindroos C 649 230 432 662
Esa Keskinen C 478 215 443 658
Matti Hagman C 432 217 432 649
Risto Jalo C 594 275 409 646
Juha-Pekka Haataja RW 881 256 326 582
Raimo Helminen C 751 161 420 581

Top 10 regular-season scoring leaders (imports)

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These are the top-ten regular season point-scorers for import players in SM-liiga history. Figures are updated after each completed SM-liiga regular season.

  •  *  – current player

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points

Points
Player Pos GP G A Pts
Éric Perrin C 643 189 343 532
Otakar Janecký C 450 133 346 479
Aleksandr Barkov LW 518 135 281 416
Darren Boyko C 476 171 236 407
Jan Čaloun RW 298 145 230 375
Vjačeslavs Fanduļs C 476 148 211 359
Tomáš Záborský C 468 170 182 352
Allan Measures D 619 100 238 338
Shayne Toporowski RW 464 135 185 320
Stefan Öhman C 419 104 160 264

Top 10 regular-season games played (goaltender)

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These are the top-ten most regular season games played by a goaltender in SM-liiga history. Figures are updated after each completed SM-liiga regular season.

  •  *  – current player
Leaderboard
Player GP
Eero Kilpeläinen 518
Pasi Kuivalainen 517
Jukka Tammi 510
Sakari Lindfors 471
Jussi Markkanen 471
Hannu Kamppuri 460
Ari-Pekka Siekkinen 447
Mika Lehto 404
Petri Vehanen 399
Teemu Lassila 388


Trophies

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The following trophies are awarded by the SM-liiga:

In 1995, the trophies were named after Finnish hockey legends. Before that, trophies were named after sponsors.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Finnish ice hockey league prepares for break". News. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  2. ^ "Efterlängtade beskedet: FM-ligan i ishockey öppnas igen – kvalspel ordnas från och med våren 2025". svenska.yle.fi (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Liiga aukeaa – keväästä 2025 eteenpäin pelataan karsintoja, joukkuemääräksi maksimissaan 16 joukkuetta". Jatkoaika.com - Kaikki jääkiekosta (in Finnish). 12 October 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  4. ^ Mäkeläinen, Kimmo (12 October 2023). "SM-liiga aukeaa, karsinnat pelataan taas keväällä 2025 – "Tämä palauttaa vahvasti urheilullisuuden"". Satakunnan Kansa (in Finnish). Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  5. ^ "SM-liigan mestaruuspytyllä värikäs historia – tiesitkö tämän Kanada-maljasta?". mtvuutiset.fi (in Finnish). 26 April 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  6. ^ emiliarantanen (1 July 2021). "Rautakanslerin arvot menivät uusiksi". Uusi Tie -verkkolehti (in Finnish). Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Jääkiekon SM-sarja ja SM-liiga vuosi vuodelta". Suomi-kiekon ennätykset ja tilastot (in Finnish). Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  8. ^ "KalPa nousi jääkiekkoliigaan". Yle Urheilu (in Finnish). 13 April 2005. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  9. ^ "jääkiekkoilu | SM-liigaan karsinnat keväällä 2009". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). 20 June 2007. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Jääkiekon SM-liigakarsinnat pelataan keväällä 2009". Yle Urheilu (in Finnish). 19 June 2007. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Liigakarsinnat lopetetaan - Mestis-mestari anoo jatkossa nousua". Yle Urheilu (in Finnish). 19 December 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Kun urheilullisuus poljettiin lopullisesti – pakina surullisesta liigakaudesta 2013-2014". Yle Urheilu (in Finnish). 23 January 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  13. ^ "SM-liiga muuttaa nimeään". mtvuutiset.fi (in Finnish). 9 August 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  14. ^ "SM-liiga vaihtaa nimensä Liigaksi". Jatkoaika.com - Kaikki jääkiekosta (in Finnish). 9 August 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Tässä on SM-liigan uusi logo - Katso kuva". www.iltalehti.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  16. ^ Hoffrén, Sami (13 March 2020). "SM-liigakausi päättyy välittömästi – mestaruutta ei jaeta". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Kiekko-Espoo pääsee SM-liigaan!". www.iltalehti.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  18. ^ "SM-liigan pudotuspelit uudistuvat ja lajiväki kyseenalaistaa urheilulliset perusteet: "Tuntuu epäreilulta"". Yle Urheilu (in Finnish). 3 May 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  19. ^ Helfrick, Eugene (3 July 2023). "Top 10 Best Ice Hockey Leagues". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  20. ^ "Rankings". www.championshockeyleague.com. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  21. ^ "Liigan pudotuspelit romutetaan – Tässä ovat muutokset". www.iltalehti.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  22. ^ "SM-liigan mestaruuspytyllä värikäs historia – tiesitkö tämän Kanada-maljasta?". mtvuutiset.fi (in Finnish). 26 April 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  23. ^ Touru, Ville (10 March 2023). "SM-liigassa illalla huima taisto, rahapalkinto vedetty pois – molempien kapteenit sivuun!". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 8 September 2024.
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