The SM-liiga, colloquially called the Finnish Elite League in English, is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. It is one of the six founding leagues of the Champions Hockey League and currently allocated five spots - the maximum number - based on success in previous editions. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-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 championship".
Mikko Ruutu is a retired Finnish ice hockey forward.
Kim Michael Hirschovits-Gerz is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward and current sports manager of Kiekko-Espoo in the Mestis. During his playing career, he skated in the Finnish Liiga with HIFK, Jokerit, the Espoo Blues, and Oulun Kärpät; in the Swedish Elitserien with Timrå IK and Luleå HF; and in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod and Dinamo Minsk. Hirschovits was drafted by the New York Rangers as their sixth-round pick, 194th overall, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
Robert Schnabel is a Czech former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played 22 games in the National Hockey League with the Nashville Predators between 2002 and 2004. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1996 to 2014, was mainly spent in various European leagues.
Juuso Riksman is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender.
Petteri Wirtanen is a Finnish professional ice hockey Forward currently playing with HC TPS in the Liiga. Wirtanen was selected 172nd overall in the 6th round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Anaheim Ducks.
Manu Juhani Tamminen is a Finnish retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga and World Hockey Association. He played for TPS, HJK, HIFK, Cleveland Crusaders, and Phoenix Roadrunners. He represented Finland at the 1976 Canada Cup. He was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991.
Jari Kaarela is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League and SM-liiga. He played five games with the Colorado Rockies during the 1980–81 season and then two seasons with for HIFK of the SM-liiga between 1984 and 1986.
Anssi Ilari Melametsä is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League and SM-liiga. He played for Jokerit, HIFK, and the Winnipeg Jets. Internationally he represented Finland at several World Championships and at the 1984 Winter Olympics.
Siim Liivik is an Estonian-Finnish professional ice hockey winger for EC KAC of the Austrian Hockey League (EBEL).
HIFK is a professional ice hockey team based in Helsinki, Finland that plays in the Liiga, the sport's top-level league in Finland. The team plays at Helsinki Ice Hall.
Teemu Eronen is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman. He is currently a player for the Lahti Pelicans in the Finnish Liiga. He was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the 7th round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
Joonas Rask is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward. He is currently playing with Luleå HF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He played 2 games in the National Hockey League with the Nashville Predators during the 2012–13 season. He is the younger brother of former goaltender Tuukka Rask.
Matti Kuparinen is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for HIFK of the Finnish SM-liiga.
Juha-Pekka Haataja is a Finnish professional ice hockey winger. He currently plays for KooKoo of the Finnish Liiga.
Lennart Petrell is a Finnish professional ice hockey player, currently playing for HIFK of the Finnish Liiga.
Juhani Tyrväinen is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for Luleå HF in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).
Iiro Pakarinen is a Finnish professional ice hockey player for HIFK of the Finnish elite league (SM-Liiga). Pakarinen previously played in the Finnish Liiga with KalPa and HIFK, Kontinental Hockey League with Jokerit, Metallurg Magnitogorsk and Barys Nur-Sultan. Pakarinen also played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Edmonton Oilers.
Robert Leino is a Finnish professional ice hockey player. He is currently playing with Örebro HK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).
Antti Suomela is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward currently playing for IK Oskarshamn in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).
Ali Tamouri
Mads Juul Andressen
