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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".
Helsingin Jokerit is a professional ice hockey team based in Helsinki, Finland. They are members of the Bobrov Division of the Western Conference of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). The team won six league championships as a member of the Finnish SM-liiga. Jokerit plays its home games at the Hartwall Arena. They joined the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) as of the 2014–15 KHL season, making Finland the first Nordic country to have a team in the league.
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 predominately 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 the Ravensburg Towerstars of the German DEL2 and the Poland men's national ice hockey team. Valtonen was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings as their second-round draft pick in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.
Tom Koivisto is a Finnish ice hockey defenceman for Jokerit in the SM-liiga. He was drafted by the St. Louis Blues as their eighth-round pick, 253rd overall, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He played parts of ten seasons in the SM-liiga before coming to North America in 2002. Koivisto spent most of two seasons in the American Hockey League but appeared in 22 National Hockey League games with the Blues in 2002–03. He returned to Europe in 2004, spending two seasons with Frölunda HC in the Swedish Elitserien and then two more with the Rapperswil-Jona Lakers of the Swiss National League A before returning to Finland and Jokerit in 2008.
Tomi Mäki is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for Jokerit in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).
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.
Erik Vesa Hämäläinen is a left-handed retired Finnish ice hockey defenceman. Hämäläinen currently is an Ice hockey coach, employed by SM-liiga team Lukko
Markus Jari Ketterer is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga and also the Swedish Elitserien as a goalkeeper. He played for Jokerit, TPS as Färjestads BK, the latter with which he became champion in 1997. He was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 2005.
Waltteri Immonen is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman and former coach of SM-liiga team Jokerit.
Julius Junttila is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward. He currently plays for Jokerit in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).
The 1993-94 SM-liiga season was the 19th season of the SM-liiga, the top level of ice hockey in Finland. 12 teams participated in the league, and Jokerit Helsinki won the championship.
The 1994-95 SM-liiga season was the 20th season of the SM-liiga, the top level of ice hockey in Finland. 12 teams participated in the league, and TPS Turku won the championship.
The 1995-96 SM-liiga season was the 21st season of the SM-liiga, the top level of ice hockey in Finland. 12 teams participated in the league, and Jokerit Helsinki won the championship.
The 1996–97 SM-liiga season was the 22nd season of the SM-liiga, the top level of ice hockey in Finland. 12 teams participated in the league, and Jokerit Helsinki won the championship.
The 1997-98 SM-liiga season was the 23rd season of the SM-liiga, the top level of ice hockey in Finland. 12 teams participated in the league, and HIFK Helsinki won the championship.
The 2001-02 SM-liiga season was the 27th season of the SM-liiga, the top level of ice hockey in Finland. 13 teams participated in the league, and Jokerit Helsinki won the championship.
Aleksi Mustonen is a Finnish ice hockey player. He currently plays with Ilves of the Finnish Liiga.
References
http://www.sm-liiga.fi/pelaajat/09-10/jokerit/manelius-nico.html
