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 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".
Oulun Kärpät is a Finnish professional ice hockey team based in Oulu and playing in the top-tier Finnish Liiga. Kärpät have won the Finnish championship title eight times, and has been the most successful Finnish ice hockey team in the 2000s and 2010s.
Ville Juhani Nieminen is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward who played over 400 games in the National Hockey League.
Reijo Ruotsalainen is a Finnish former ice hockey defenceman. He was twice named Finland's top defenceman, and won two Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers, in 1987 and 1990.
Timo Juhani "Juti" Jutila is a retired Finnish ice hockey defenceman.
Janne Juhani Ojanen is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player who is the all-time leading scorer in Finland's SM-liiga with 799 points. He spent the majority of his career playing for SM-liiga team Tappara.
Jukka Peltola is a Finnish professional ice hockey Forward who is currently playing under contract with Tappara of the Liiga.
Henrik Haapala is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing for Ilves in the Liiga. He has previously played with the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Jan-Mikael Järvinen is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing with the Porin Ässät in the Liiga.
Jukka Tapio Rautakorpi is a Finnish ice hockey coach.
Niko Ojamäki is a Finnish professional ice hockey player for Tappara of the Liiga.
Patrik Laine is a Finnish professional ice hockey winger who currently plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League. Laine formerly played in his native Finland with Tappara in the Finnish Liiga before he was taken with the second overall pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by the Winnipeg Jets.
Patrik Virta is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing under contract with Tappara in the Finnish Liiga. Virta was selected by the New York Rangers in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
Sebastian Repo is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward. He is currently playing with Lukko in the Finnish Liiga. He was drafted by the Panthers, 184th overall, in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
Dominik Hrachovina is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender. He is currently playing for Motor České Budějovice of the Czech Extraliga (ELH)
The 2017–18 Liiga season was the 43rd season of the SM-liiga, the top level of ice hockey in Finland, since the league's formation in 1975. Tappara was the season as a defending champion. This season included a record number of matches played on Fridays and Saturdays. In autumn, there was a national team break from 5 November until 13 November.
Patrik Puistola is a Finnish ice hockey right winger who is currently under contract with Mikkelin Jukurit in the Finnish Liiga. Puistola was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the third round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
Joona Luoto is a Finnish professional ice hockey player who is currently playing with the Cleveland Monsters in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets in the National Hockey League (NHL).
The 2021–22 Liiga season was the 47th season of the Liiga, the top level of ice hockey in Finland, since the league's formation in 1975.
Anton Levtchi is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL).
