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.
Tampereen Tappara is a Finnish professional ice hockey team playing in the SM-liiga. They play at Nokia Arena in Tampere, Finland. The team has won 19 Finnish league championships, which makes them the most successful club in Finland. The team continued the traditions of the Tammerfors Bollklub.
Porin Ässät, officially named Hockey Club Ässät Pori and colloquially known as Pata, is a professional ice hockey club based in Pori, Finland. It competes in the SM-liiga, the highest-ranking league of ice hockey in Finland. Since 1971, Ässät has played its games in the Isomäki Ice Hall.
Kiekko-Espoo Naiset are an ice hockey team in the Naisten Liiga. They play in the Tapiola district of Espoo, Finland at the harjoitusareena of the Tapiolan urheilupuisto. The team was founded as Espoon Kiekkoseura or EKS in 1989 and has also been known as Espoo Blues Naiset and Espoo United Naiset during its tenure in the Naisten Liiga. Kiekko-Espoo have won the Aurora Borealis Cup as the Finnish Champions in women's ice hockey sixteen times, six more wins than any other team in league history; at least one Finnish Championship medal was won under each of the four names.
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 professional ice hockey defenceman. He was twice named Finland's top defenceman, and won two Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers in 1987 and 1990.
Toni Petteri Lydman is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenceman. He first played competitively in his native Finland with Tappara, and HIFK of the SM-liiga before enjoying a lengthy career in the National Hockey League with the Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres and the Anaheim Ducks.
Timo Juhani "Juti" Jutila is a retired Finnish ice hockey defenceman. Jutila was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in 1982 NHL Entry Draft. He played internationally for the Finland men's national ice hockey team and was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2003.
Jori Jonatan Lehterä is a Finnish professional ice hockey player currently playing for Tappara 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.
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.
Vesa Ilmari Viitakoski is a former professional ice hockey player.
Petri Kontiola is a Finnish professional ice hockey centre currently playing for Ilves of the Liiga. Kontiola has previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Chicago Blackhawks, the organization that drafted him 196th overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
Alexander Bonsaksen is a Norwegian professional ice hockey defenceman. He is currently playing with KooKoo in the Finnish Liiga.
Mari Heini Emilia Pehkonen is a Finnish retired ice hockey player. She represented Finland in the women's ice hockey tournament at the 2006 Winter Olympics and won bronze medals at the IIHF Women's World Championships in 2008 and 2009.
Rosa Lindstedt is a Finnish ice hockey coach and retired ice hockey defenseman, currently serving as assistant coach to Brynäs IF Dam in the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL). As player with the Finnish national ice hockey team, she was a three-time Olympian, two-time Olympic bronze medalist, and four-time IIHF Women's World Championship medalist.
Olli Palola is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who currently plays professionally for Timrå IK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).
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.
Sanni Vanhanen is a Finnish ice hockey player and member of the Finnish national ice hockey team, currently playing in the Naisten Liiga (NSML) with HIFK Naiset. She was the youngest player to represent Finland in the 2021 IIHF Women's World Championship and was the youngest player to compete in the women's ice hockey tournament at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
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