The SM-liiga, colloquially called the Finnish Elite League in English or FM-ligan in Swedish, is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. 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".
Helsingin Jokerit is a professional ice hockey team based in Helsinki, Finland, which competes in Mestis. For the 2023–24 season, Jokerit plays its home games at the Keravan jäähalli in Kerava and at the Helsinki Ice Hall in Helsinki.
Jarkko Samuli Ruutu ; born 23 August 1975) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators and Anaheim Ducks. He is currently serving as a European development coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Esa Tikkanen is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, New Jersey Devils, Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, and the Washington Capitals, and won the Stanley Cup five times in his career, including in 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990 with the Oilers, and 1994 with the Rangers.
Jere Juhani Karalahti is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenceman. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings as their sixth-round pick in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft and played a total of 166 games in the NHL. Karalahti won the 1998 Liiga championship in his native Finland. He is a three-time silver medalist at World Championships and also won one bronze with the Finnish national team. His playing career included stints in Finland, the US, Germany, Belarus and Sweden.
Ville Sakari Peltonen is a Finnish ice hockey coach and a former professional ice hockey forward. Peltonen was drafted by the San Jose Sharks as their third round pick, 58th overall, in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. During his professional career, he has played 382 NHL games for Sharks, Nashville Predators and Florida Panthers. Internationally, he represented the Finland men's national ice hockey team, and was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2016.
Sami Lepistö is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenceman. He is the son of former Jokerit captain and youth international defenceman Jussi Lepistö. Sami was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the third round, 66th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
Douglas Arthur Shedden is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former player. He played in the National Hockey League between 1981 and 1991. After his playing career he became a coach, and worked in the minor leagues for several years. He coached Team Finland to a bronze medal in 2008 World Championships. Shedden is currently coaching HC '05 Banská Bystrica in the Slovak Tipos extraliga.
Niko Hovinen is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender. He is currently playing for HIFK of The SM-Liiga in Finland.
Mikko Jokela is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenceman. Jokela played one game in the National Hockey League for the Vancouver Canucks in 2003.
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.
Jori Jonatan Lehterä is a Finnish professional ice hockey player currently playing for HIFK of the Liiga. A centreman, he was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the third round, 65th overall, of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. He won a bronze medal with Finland at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
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.
Ilkka Pikkarainen is a Finnish ice hockey right winger who last played for IPK in Mestis. Most of his career has been spent in the Finnish Liiga, though he also played 31 games in the National Hockey League with the New Jersey Devils during the 2009–10 season.
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.
Joni Ortio is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for HV71 of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He has previously played for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was a sixth round selection of the Flames, 171st overall, at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Prior to the NHL he played for TPS and HIFK Helsinki in the Sm-liiga. Internationally, Ortio has represented Finland on four occasions. He was a member of the bronze medal-winning team at the 2009 IIHF World U18 Championships and played in the 2013 World Championship
Jere Sallinen is a Finnish professional ice hockey winger who is currently playing with EHC Biel of the National League (NL). He was originally selected by the Minnesota Wild in the 6th round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. His older brother Tomi also plays professional hockey in Europe.
Iiro Pakarinen is a Finnish professional ice hockey player for HIFK of the Finnish Liiga. Pakarinen previously played in Liiga with KalPa, and has also played in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with Jokerit, Metallurg Magnitogorsk and Barys Nur-Sultan, and in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Edmonton Oilers.
Miro Karjalainen is a Finnish professional ice hockey player, currently playing for HIFK of the Liiga.
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