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".
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 is the most successful Finnish ice hockey team in the 21st century.
TPS or Turun Palloseura is an ice hockey team and 10-time champion of SM-liiga and 1-time champion of SM-sarja. They play in Turku, Finland, at Gatorade Center. In terms of championships, TPS is the second all-time most successful team in SM-Liiga, right behind Tappara.
Joni Pitkänen is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers, and Carolina Hurricanes.
Mestis is the second-highest men's ice hockey league in Finland. The league was established by the Finnish Ice Hockey Association in 2000 to replace the I-divisioona.
Lasse Juhani Kukkonen is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman. He last played for Oulun Kärpät of the Finnish Liiga. Earlier in his career, he had a four-year stint in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers. After his career in ice hockey, Kukkonen is working as a lecturer and trainer specialising in mental coaching and leadership.
Niko Hovinen is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender. He is currently playing with tappara tampere of sm-liiga
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.
Mika Jukka Petteri Lehto is a Finnish retired professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League and SM-liiga. He played for TPS, KalPa, and Pittsburgh Penguins. After his playing career, Lehto became an NHL agent. His brother Joni is a scout for the Colorado Avalanche. Lehto played for team Finland in the 1984 Sarajevo Olympics.
Joni Lius is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player.
KooKoo is a Finnish ice hockey team playing in the first level of Finnish ice hockey league Liiga. KooKoo plays in the Lumon arena, in Kouvola. The team was established in 1965 and the previous name of the club is Kouvolan Kiekko-65.
Joni Ortio is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing 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
Joni Haverinen is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for HPK of the SM-liiga.
Joni Yli-Torkko is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward who last played with SaiPa in the SM-liiga.
Joni Karjalainen is a Finnish ice hockey player who currently plays professionally in Finland for Tappara of the SM-liiga.
Joni Liljeblad is a Finnish professional ice hockey player who played with Kärpät in the SM-liiga during the 2010-11 season.
Joni Seinelä is a Finnish ice hockey player. His is currently playing with HC TPS in the Finnish SM-liiga.
Joni Isomäki is a Finnish former ice hockey player. He retired in 2014
Joni Nikko is a Finnish professional ice hockey player. He is currently playing for Boro/Vetlanda HC of the Swedish Hockeytvåan (Div.2)
Kai Ortio is a Finnish retired ice hockey player and the current head coach of Turun Palloseura (TPS) Akatemia U16, a junior ice hockey team in the U16 Mestis. During his playing career, he played two seasons in the SM-liiga, appearing with HC TPS in 45 games during the 1987–88 and 1988–89 seasons and registering three points and 22 penalty minutes.
