Vaahteraliiga

Last updated
Vaahteraliiga
Vaahteraliiga logo.gif
Sport American football
Founded1980
No. of teams7
Country Finland
Most recent
champion(s)		Porvoo Butchers (2023)
Most titles Helsinki Roosters
(22 titles)
Relegation to 1st division
Official website Vaahteraliiga

The Vaahteraliiga (Maple League) founded in 1980 is the highest level of American football in Finland played under American Football Association of Finland. The winner of the Vaahteraliiga is the Finnish champion. The Vaahteraliiga season is played in summer, with a schedule usually from May to September.

Contents

History

The first season of the Vaahteraliiga was played in 1980. The name Vaahteraliiga ("Maple League") comes from the name of the championship trophy Vaahteramalja ("Maple Bowl"), which was donated to the newly formed association by the embassy of Canada in Finland. Vaahteraliiga is managed by American Football Association of Finland – SAJL. It is government approved non-profit organization governing both American football and flag football activities in Finland.

The most successful team all-time are the Helsinki Roosters with a total of 17 championships, including a then-record six consecutive first-place finishes from 1995-2000. This record was tied by Porvoo Butchers as they also won six consecutive championships between 2005 and 2010. In the early years Helsinki and it surrounding towns were loaded with Maple League teams and they seemed to almost monopolize the championship. The first team outside the Helsinki metropolitan area to win the championship were the Seinäjoki Crocodiles in 2001, ending the 21-year Helsinki area supremacy. Since then, however, those teams have only won the championship twice. Turku Trojans have the most Maple Bowl losses. Having qualified for the game ten times, their only win is from their last visit in 2003.

The 2016 season of Vaahteraliiga was planned to see 8 teams competing, as Tampere Saints and Wasa Royals were promoted from 1st Division. Helsinki 69ers did not start the season, so the 2016 season had 7 teams. The 2017 season also has 7 teams, as TAFT was relegated after finishing last, and I-division winner Hämeenlinna Huskies were promoted to Maple League.

Current teams

Updated for 2024 season. [1]

League license

Vaahteraliiga has had a different number of teams during its tenure. In recent years the number has been around seven and eight. This is partly because of league license system enforced by SAJL. In addition to competitive status teams have to reach certain economical and organisational standards. This in turn means that at the end of each season it cannot be said to a certainty which teams will eventually play in the league the next year as teams need to apply for the license. SAJL checks the applications and grants licenses to maximum eight teams according to their seed in the previous season. Teams from the 1st division title game, Spaghetti Bowl, are the only division teams eligible to apply for the license.

The system was put in place largely to ensure long-term planning and sensible running of clubs. The system has already shown its cruelty as teams with no alarming difficulties in competitiveness have been relegated due to lack of management and/or economical difficulties.

Playing format

Helsinki Wolverines (blue) against Turku Trojans (white) Trojans-Wolverines.jpg
Helsinki Wolverines (blue) against Turku Trojans (white)

Regular season

League schedule is highly dependent on the number of teams. During seasons of eight teams teams are divided into two pools. Teams play against the teams in the same pool twice, home and away, and teams from the other pool once so that each team has ten games, five home and five away. Despite the pools teams are considered as one conference and they are seeded in one conference.

In a seven-team league teams face each team twice, home and away, with a total of 12 games.

Post season

After the regular season the four best teams advance to the post season with seed #1 facing #4 and #2 facing #3 in a single-game play-off. Winners will play in the Maple Bowl for the national title. As of 2006, there hasn't been a game for the bronze medal; they are simply awarded to the losing team of the semi-finals with better seed.

Champions

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turku Trojans</span>

Turku Trojans is one of the oldest American football teams in Finland, established in 1982. Turku Trojans have played in the Maple League Vaahteraliiga in Finland operated by American Football Association of Finland. Finnish champions in 2003. Maple Bowl championship game appearances in 1984, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004 and 2014. Third place in 1991, 1997, 2000 and 2001. After the 2012 season the Trojans decided to voluntarily drop one level down and play the next season in 1st division. In 2013, the Trojans won all the regular season games, the semifinal game and the Spaghetti Bowl. After a perfect season the Trojans was granted a Maple League Vaahteraliiga license and this season (2014) the team will play again in the highest level. Former Trojans head coach in 1993-94 Ken Meyer is the most accomplished Trojans alumni having coached many years in the NFL and top college level in USA before coming to Finland. Meyer also led the Finland national American football team to win the European championship in the 1990's.

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The 2005 Vaahteraliiga season was the 26th season of the highest level of American football in Finland. The regular season took place between June 4 and August 28, 2005. The Finnish champion was determined in the playoffs and at the championship game Vaahteramalja XXVI the Porvoo Butchers won the Seinäjoki Crocodiles.

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The 2019 Vaahteraliiga season was the 40th season of the highest level of American football in Finland. The regular season took place between May 23 and August 31, 2019. Like in the last two seasons, the Helsinki Roosters finished the regular season as top ranked team. In the play-offs, the Roosters and the Kuopio Steelers qualified for the championship game Vaahteramalja LX. Contrary to the regular season, where the Steelers defeated the Roosters in both matches, the Roosters won the final quite clearly. It was the 8th consecutive championship and the 22nd total championship for the Roosters.

The 2020 Vaahteraliiga season was the 41st season of the Vaahteraliiga, the highest level of American football in Finland. The regular season took place between July 30 and August 29, 2020. The Finnish Champion was determined in the playoffs, and at the championship game Vaahteramalja XLI the Kuopio Steelers defeated the Helsinki Wolverines. It was the Steelers' first championship title.

The 2021 Vaahteraliiga season was the 42nd season of the Vaahteraliiga, the highest level of American football in Finland. The regular season took place between July 26 and September 4, 2021. The Finnish Champion was determined in the playoffs, and at the championship game Vaahteramalja XLII the Kuopio Steelers defeated the Helsinki Roosters. It was the Steelers' second straight championship title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kuopio Steelers</span> American football team from Kuopio, Finland

Kuopio Steelers are an American football team originally from Varkaus, Finland in years 1991-2005, and since 2006 from Kuopio, Finland. The team plays in the Finnish Maple League and it has also played in the European Football League. The club's home field is Väinölänniemi Stadium in the Väinölänniemi district.

The 2022 Vaahteraliiga season was the 43rd season of the Vaahteraliiga, the highest level of American football in Finland. The regular season took place between May 15 and September 3, 2022. The Finnish Champion was determined in the playoffs, and at the championship game Vaahteramalja XLIII the Kuopio Steelers defeated the Seinäjoki Crocodiles. It was the Steelers' third straight championship title.

References

  1. ↑ "Vaahteraliigan" (in Finnish). Vaahteraliiga. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
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