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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.
Ossi Reijo Juhani Väänänen is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenceman. He was the captain of Jokerit of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), with whom he has previously won two silver medals as runner-up for the Kanada-malja in 2000 and 2005 in the Finnish Liiga. He was originally drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes and has additionally played for the Colorado Avalanche, Philadelphia Flyers and Vancouver Canucks in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Jani Markus Rita is a Finnish former professional ice hockey winger who last played with Jokerit of the Russian KHL, for whom he played most of his career.
Sami "Helge" Helenius is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenceman who played predominantly in the SM-liiga and National Hockey League. He most recently was in a coaching role with Haukat of the Suomi-sarja.
Tomasz Valtonen is a Polish-born Finnish former professional ice hockey forward. He is currently the head coach for HK Dukla Ingema Michalovce. He coached the Poland men's national ice hockey team from 2018-2020. Valtonen was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings as their second-round draft pick in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.
Mika Juhani Strömberg is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman. He was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques as their eleventh-round pick, #211 overall, in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft.
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.
Antti-Jussi Jormanpoika Niemi is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player. Niemi played for Jokerit of the SM-liiga, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the National Hockey League, HC Lada Togliatti in the Kontinental Hockey League and Västra Frölunda HC and Leksands IF of the Swedish Elitserien.
Niko Hovinen is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender. He is currently playing for HIFK of The SM-Liiga in Finland.
Esa Pirnes is a Finnish former professional ice hockey centre. He played most of his career, which lasted from 1995 to 2016, in the Finnish Liiga. He also played 57 games in the National Hockey League with the Los Angeles Kings during the 2003–04 season, after the Kings selected him in the 6th round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Internationally Pirnes played for the Finnish national team at four World Championships, winning two bronze medals.
Martti Juhani Järventie is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenceman. He was selected in the fourth round, 109th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft and played one game for the Canadiens during the 2001–02 season. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1994 to 2016, was mainly spent in the Finnish SM-liiga.
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.
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.
Henri Ikonen is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward currently playing for Lukko in the Liiga. Ikonen was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 6th round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
Teuvo Henri Matias Teräväinen is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 18th overall, of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Blackhawks after playing several seasons with the Jokerit organization in Finland. Also being drafted by the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL)'s Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the 2011 KHL Junior Draft, he is known for his offensive abilities and play-making skills. In 2015, Teräväinen won a Stanley Cup as a member of the Blackhawks.
Michael Keränen is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing with Bietigheim Steelers in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).
Esa Lindell is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman and alternate captain for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Stars in the third round, 74th overall, of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
Mikko Lehtonen is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman for the ZSC Lions of the National League (NL). He has previously played with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Eetu Mäkiniemi is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for the San Jose Barracuda in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 104th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
References
- ↑ "2010-11 Scoring for Jokerit Helsinki (SM-liiga)". hockeydb.com. June 4, 2012. Retrieved June 4, 2012.
