Jokerit Kevät1969
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Helsingin Jokerit (, English: Jokers or
Jester A jester, also known as joker, court jester, or fool, was a member of the household of a nobleman or a monarch kept to entertain guests at the royal court. Jesters were also travelling performers who entertained common folk at fairs and town ma ...
s of
Helsinki Helsinki () is the Capital city, capital and most populous List of cities and towns in Finland, city in Finland. It is on the shore of the Gulf of Finland and is the seat of southern Finland's Uusimaa region. About people live in the municipali ...
) is a
professional ice hockey Professional ice hockey (hockey) is the competition of ice hockey in which participants are paid to play. Professional competition began in North America in the United States—in Pennsylvania and Michigan—and in Canada around 1900. Professiona ...
team based in Helsinki, Finland, which competes in
Mestis Mestis (from , meaning 'Championship series', stylized as MEST1S) 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 ('First Division ...
. Jokerit plays its home games at the
Helsinki Ice Hall The Helsinki Ice Hall (, ), colloquially called Nordis, is an indoor arena located in the Taka-Töölö neighborhood of Helsinki, Finland. The arena has a seating capacity of 8,200. History Helsinki Ice Hall has been the home of HIFK of the L ...
and
Helsinki Halli Helsinki Halli, or Helsinki Arena (formerly Hartwall Arena), is a large multi-functional indoor arena located in Helsinki, Finland. It was opened in April 1997. The arena is convertible for various events. The total seated capacity during ice ...
in Helsinki. Founded in 1967, the team has a rich history of success, having secured six league championships as a prominent member of the Finnish
SM-liiga The Liiga, colloquially called the Finnish Elite League in English or FM-ligan in Swedish, is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. The league comprises 16 teams from all around Finland with relegation and promotion between the Mest ...
in the years
1973 Events January * January 1 – The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark 1973 enlargement of the European Communities, enter the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union. * January 14 - The 16-0 19 ...
,
1992 1992 was designated as International Space Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 – Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General. * January 6 ** The Republ ...
,
1994 The year 1994 was designated as the " International Year of the Family" and the "International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal" by the United Nations. In the Line Islands and Phoenix Islands of Kiribati, 1994 had only 364 days, omitti ...
,
1996 1996 was designated as: * International Year for the Eradication of Poverty Events January * January 8 – A Zairean cargo plane crashes into a crowded market in the center of the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...
,
1997 Events January * January 1 – The Emergency Alert System is introduced in the United States. * January 11 – Turkey threatens Cyprus on account of a deal to buy Russian S-300 missiles, prompting the Cypriot Missile Crisis. * January 1 ...
, and
2002 The effects of the September 11 attacks of the previous year had a significant impact on the affairs of 2002. The war on terror was a major political focus. Without settled international law, several nations engaged in anti-terror operation ...
. Additionally, Jokerit has three European championships to its name, having triumphed in the
IIHF European Cup The IIHF European Cup, also known as the Europa Cup, was a European ice hockey club competition for champions of national leagues which was contested between 1965 and 1997, governed by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). History The ...
in
1994 The year 1994 was designated as the " International Year of the Family" and the "International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal" by the United Nations. In the Line Islands and Phoenix Islands of Kiribati, 1994 had only 364 days, omitti ...
and
1995 1995 was designated as: * United Nations Year for Tolerance * World Year of Peoples' Commemoration of the Victims of the Second World War This was the first year that the Internet was entirely privatized, with the United States government ...
, as well as the IIHF Continental Cup in
2003 2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater. In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War. Demographic ...
. Starting in the 2014–15 season, Jokerit became part of the Bobrov Division of the
Kontinental Hockey League The Kontinental Hockey League (KHL; ) is an international professional ice hockey league founded in 2008. It comprises member clubs based in Russia (20), Belarus (1), Kazakhstan (1), and China (1) for a total of 23 clubs. It was considered in ...
(KHL) Western Conference, marking
Finland Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...
as the first
Nordic country The Nordic countries (also known as the Nordics or ''Norden''; ) are a geographical and cultural region in Northern Europe, as well as the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans. It includes the sovereign states of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway ...
to have a team competing in this international league. However, due to the
Russian invasion of Ukraine On 24 February 2022, , starting the largest and deadliest war in Europe since World War II, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, conflict between the two countries which began in 2014. The fighting has caused hundreds of thou ...
in February 2022, Jokerit made the decision to withdraw from the 2022 KHL playoffs. This move was followed by the termination of several team sponsor and supplier contracts, including the
home arena In sports, home is the place and venue identified with a sports team. Most professional teams are named for, and marketed to, particular metropolitan areas; amateur teams may be drawn from a particular region, or from institutions such as sc ...
's name rights holder
Hartwall Hartwall Ltd is a beverage company based in Helsinki, Finland. It was founded in 1836. Its drinks range includes Jaffa (soft drink)#Hartwall Jaffa, Jaffa, Pommac and Novelle waters. The company also owns the licence for manufacturing and sellin ...
, as a response to the invasion. As a result, on 5 April 2022, Jokerit officially announced their decision to withdraw from the league entirely. Jokerit intended to return to Finland and expressed their intentions to join the
Liiga The Liiga, colloquially called the Finnish Elite League in English or FM-ligan in Swedish, is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. The league comprises 16 teams from all around Finland with relegation and promotion between the Mesti ...
. However, before they could submit the formal application, Liiga announced that they would not be accepting any new applications for at least the next two seasons. Nevertheless, Jokerit remained determined to return to ice hockey in Finland. On 31 March 2023, they submitted their application to join
Mestis Mestis (from , meaning 'Championship series', stylized as MEST1S) 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 ('First Division ...
, the second-tier league in Finland. On 3 May, Mestis announced that they had accepted Jokerit's application for the 2023–24 season which began on 21 September, marking the return of Jokerit to Finnish leagues after a decade.


History


Establishment and early years (1967–1969)

Jokerit, the prominent ice hockey club from
Finland Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...
, owes its existence to a crucial turning point in the country's sporting landscape. In 1967, the ice hockey branch of Töölön Vesa, an amateur sports club grappling with significant debts, faced the difficult decision of discontinuing their resource-demanding ice hockey activities. Seizing this opportune moment, Aimo Mäkinen, a master-builder with an ardent passion for the sport, saw the potential to establish a new
semi-professional Semi-professional sports are sports in which athletes are not participating on a full-time basis, but still receive some payment. Semi-professionals are not amateur because they receive regular payment from their team, but generally at a cons ...
sports club. In a unique arrangement, Jokerit came into being by assuming half of Vesa's ice hockey debts and inheriting all their assets, including junior players and a coveted position in the
Suomensarja Suomensarja (sometimes also ''Suomi-sarja'') (‘Finland Series’) was the second highest level of league format association football in Finland from 1936 to 1972. Before the inauguration of the Suomensarja, there had been, in 1930–1935, spec ...
, the second highest tier of Finnish ice hockey. On 27 October 1967, Jokerit officially took shape during a momentous constitutional meeting, with Mäkinen assuming the role of the club's sole owner and wielding sovereign power, effectively acting as the board and managing director. The club adopted an emblem depicting a winking jester, creatively adapted from various jokers found in diverse card decks, designed meticulously by graphic artist Jorma Hinkka. The
Helsinki Ice Hall The Helsinki Ice Hall (, ), colloquially called Nordis, is an indoor arena located in the Taka-Töölö neighborhood of Helsinki, Finland. The arena has a seating capacity of 8,200. History Helsinki Ice Hall has been the home of HIFK of the L ...
became the revered home venue for the new club.


Promotion to SM-sarja (1969–1979)

Promotion to the highest level,
SM-sarja SM-Sarja was the top level of ice hockey in Finland from 1928 to 1975. SM-sarja is a common abbreviation for ''Suomen mestaruussarja'', "Finnish Championship Series". There was variable number of teams playing for the Finnish championship dur ...
, was achieved two years later in 1969, marking a pivotal moment in Jokerit's history. Aiming to strengthen the team for the challenges ahead, Aimo Mäkinen, as the club's sole owner, embarked on an assertive campaign to acquire star players. Notable additions included national team regulars, such as
defenceman Defence or defense (in American English) in ice hockey is a player position that is primarily responsible for preventing the opposing team from Goal (ice hockey), scoring. They are often referred to as defencemen, D, D-men or blueliners (the l ...
Ilpo Koskela, Veli-Pekka Ketola and forwards
Henry Leppä Henry Erik Leppä (12 March 1947 – 2 June 2025)Henry Leppä on kuollut
...
and Timo Sutinen, who would go on to establish enduring connections with the club. Subsequent to these initial reinforcements, Jokerit further bolstered its roster with noteworthy signings, including forward Jouko Öystilä and defenceman
Timo Saari Timo Saari (born 14 January 1949) is a Finnish ice hockey player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1976 Winter Olympics The 1976 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XII Olympic Winter Games (, ) and commonly known as Innsbru ...
. Additionally, the club appointed
head coach A head coach, senior coach, or manager is a professional responsible for training and developing athletes within a sports team. This role often has a higher public profile and salary than other coaching positions. In some sports, such as associat ...
Matti Lampainen Matti Veikko Lampainen (born January 16, 1932) is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga. He was born in Kanneljärvi, Finland (now Pobeda, Leningrad Oblast, Russia). He played for Tappara and Ilves. He was inducted int ...
to lead the team. Notably, in 1969, the
International Ice Hockey Federation The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF; ; ) is a worldwide governing body for ice hockey. It is based in Zurich, Switzerland, and has 84 member countries. The IIHF maintains the IIHF World Ranking based on international ice hockey to ...
(IIHF) revised its rules, allowing bodychecking anywhere on the ice, thus prompting a tactical transformation in SM-sarja. While physical and aggressive play became a prevailing strategy for many teams, Lampainen steered Jokerit towards a different path, recognizing the unsuitability of such an approach for the current lineup, particularly of the "nallipyssyketju" players. Instead, he emphasized a style of play that hinged on technique and strategic finesse. This unique playing philosophy became Jokerit's trademark, enduring until the late 1990s. Mäkinen also prioritized the development of the club's junior organization, introducing the Kanada-sarja competition. This initiative attracted 500 aspiring junior players initially, with the number rapidly increasing over the ensuing years. Although Kanada-sarja did not survive beyond the 1970s, its impact was felt as Jokerit benefited from a consistent influx of emerging talent, including future stars like
Jari Kurri Jari Pekka Kurri (; born 18 May 1960) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player. Beginning in 1980, he played Winger (ice hockey), right wing for five National Hockey League (NHL) teams: the Edmonton Oilers, the Los Angeles Kings, the N ...
. Moreover, the club's popularity flourished, especially in the outer urban zones of Helsinki. Despite their on-ice achievements, notably securing Finnish championship silver in
1971 * The year 1971 had three partial solar eclipses (Solar eclipse of February 25, 1971, February 25, Solar eclipse of July 22, 1971, July 22 and Solar eclipse of August 20, 1971, August 20) and two total lunar eclipses (February 1971 lunar eclip ...
and a winning their first championship in
1973 Events January * January 1 – The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark 1973 enlargement of the European Communities, enter the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union. * January 14 - The 16-0 19 ...
, financial profitability remained elusive during Mäkinen's stewardship. In response, Mäkinen strategically downsized the team's budget by prioritizing the integration of junior players to replace departing stars. As a result, Jokerit experienced a gradual decline in its success, narrowly avoiding
relegation Promotion and relegation is used by sports leagues as a process where teams can move up and down among divisions in a league system, based on their performance over a season. Leagues that use promotion and relegation systems are sometimes call ...
from the Finnish elite-level league on multiple occasions. These challenges, compounded by Mäkinen's controversial management style, which emphasized non-physical play, created an aura of uncertainty and turbulence for the club's future. Jokerit stood at a crossroads, facing critical decisions to secure its stability and enduring legacy in Finnish ice hockey.


Success and financial troubles (1980–1990)

In 1980, a replacement candidate emerged, leading Aimo Mäkinen to retire from his ownership role. However, he continued to contribute to the club's junior organization until the 1990s. Subsequently, the ownership of Jokerit transitioned to new hands, overseen by Jokeriklubin Tuki Ry, a conventional association with a supervisory board. Under the stewardship of the new management, the club faced initial challenges in shaking off its previous struggles. Nonetheless, there was a remarkable upturn for one season when Jokerit signed players who were considered outcasts from other clubs. The turning point came during the 1982–83 season when Jokerit secured the services of Nikolai Makarov, a defenseman from the
Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
's
national team A national sports team (commonly known as a national team or a national side) is a team that represents a nation, rather than a particular club or region, in an international sport. The term is most commonly associated with team sports, for exa ...
. This significant addition led to an almost flawless season, propelling the team all the way to the SM-Liiga finals, where they faced local
rivals A rivalry is the state of two people or Social group, groups engaging in a lasting competitive relationship. Rivalry is the "against each other" spirit between two competing sides. The relationship itself may also be called "a rivalry", and each ...
HIFK HIFK, the Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna, Helsingfors (IFK, Helsingfors) rf (officially abbreviated IFK Helsingfors, colloquially often Helsingfors IFK or Helsingin IFK) is a multi-sport association based in Helsinki, Finland. Formed in 1897 on ...
in a best-of-five series. Jokerit won the first two match-ups and held a 2–0 lead halfway through the decisive fifth game, but HIFK came from behind to take the match and the series 3–2. Unfortunately, the elation of the successful season was short-lived as unexpected financial problems surfaced for the management. The brief resurgence faded, and within a few years, the club found itself facing the imminent threat of bankruptcy not once but twice. This financial turmoil dealt a blow to the club's credibility and resulted in a mass exodus of players. Key players like wing Risto Kerminen departed, and center
Jari Lindroos Jari Juhani Lindroos (born 31 January 1961 in Pieksämäki, Finland) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga. He played for JYP, Jokerit and Kärpät and competed with the Finland national ice hockey team at ...
came close to leaving the club after signing elsewhere. Though Lindroos' contract was illegitimately nullified, the team faced a challenging period. Only a few loyal players, including longtime goaltender Rauli Sohlman, remained steadfast during this trying time. In 1986–87 season Jokerit were at the bottom of the league and were relegated. In the darkest hour of their history, when Jokeriklubin Tuki Ry contemplated discontinuing their association with the club, a renewed sense of hope was infused into Jokerit. The year 1988 saw their 20-year-old players claim victory in the Finnish junior championship, showcasing several prospective stars. Notable among them were defenceman
Waltteri Immonen Waltteri Immonen (born April 3, 1967 in Helsinki, Finland) is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman and former coach of SM-liiga team Jokerit. Playing career Immonen started his playing career in Helsingin Jokerit, an ice hockey team fr ...
, who would later serve as captain from 1991 to 1999, and
Mika Strömberg Mika Juhani Strömberg (born February 28, 1970, in Helsinki, Finland) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman. He was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques as their eleventh-round pick, #211 overall, in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft. After a ten- ...
, who became the club's all-time leading scoring defenceman.
Ari Sulander Ari Juhani Sulander (born 6 January 1969), nicknamed Sulo, is a retired Swiss-Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender. Career in Finland Sulander played nine seasons for Jokerit Helsinki in Finland's SM-liiga, winning four league championsh ...
emerged as the main goaltender from 1993 to 1998, while forward
Keijo Säilynoja Keijo Henrik Säilynoja (born February 17, 1970, in Vantaa, Finland) is a retired Finnish ice hockey player Playing career Jokerit (1988-1998) Säilynoja started his career for Jokerit in 1988, while the team was playing in Finnish First Divi ...
displayed remarkable goal-scoring abilities and prowess in penalty shots. Most notably, the young phenomenon
Teemu Selänne Teemu Ilmari Selänne (; born July 3, 1970) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey winger. He began his professional career in 1989–90 with Jokerit of the SM-liiga and played 21 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Winn ...
, who would go on to achieve records in the
National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...
(NHL), stood among the promising talents. In the 1988–89 season with the infusion of promising junior champions, Jokerit orchestrated a swift return to the top tier, now known as SM-liiga. Despite the newfound popularity supported by standout scorer Selänne and other young stars, the club's owners encountered severe financial difficulties stemming from inadequate management and internal board disagreements. These challenges posed significant hurdles as Jokerit navigated a precarious path toward securing its financial stability and future prosperity. To fortify the club's position, enthusiastic new owners stepped forward to rescue Jokerit. In a groundbreaking move, they established Jokeri-Hockey Oy, becoming the first limited company-based sports club in Finland.
Kalervo Kummola Kalervo Juhani Kummola (born 21 November 1945) is a Finnish ice hockey executive, businessman, and politician. He co-founded the hockey club Kiekko-67 at age 21, was later marketing director for HC TPS, HC Turun Palloseura, and chief executive o ...
played a prominent role in assembling the company and served on its board until 2002.


The Harkimo ownership era begins (1991–1999)

In 1991, Jokerit underwent a significant shift when an investor withdrew, leading to board member Harry "Hjallis" Harkimo assuming a double majority of shares. Harkimo took on the role of chairman of the board and implemented changes by dissolving all managerial positions, appointing his wife,
Leena Harkimo Leena Harkimo ( Alamäki; born 28 March 1963) is a Finnish business executive and ex-politician. Political career In 1999, Harkimo was elected Member of Parliament from the Uusimaa constituency, representing the centre-right National Coaliti ...
, as the managing director. This marked a turning point for the club, as the internal disagreements dissipated, and Harry Harkimo's proficient business acumen facilitated a swift recovery of the club's financial standing. In a short span, Jokerit emerged as the wealthiest sports club in Finland. With newfound financial strength, the club made strategic signings, securing first-class talent to reinforce the team. Key acquisitions included
Otakar Janecký Otakar Janecký (born 26 December 1960 in Pardubice, Czechoslovakia) is a retired Czechs, Czech ice hockey forward (ice hockey), forward. Career In his homeland Janecký represented HC Pardubice, his birthcity team for his entire Czechoslovak Ex ...
, who became a central figure as the first-line center and the club's all-time leading point scorer;
Petri Varis Petri Johannes Varis (born May 13, 1969) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward. He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks as their 6th-round pick in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. Playing career Starting his pro career with Karhu-Kissat i ...
, who excelled as the club's top goal scorer in the 1990s; and forward
Antti Törmänen Antti Ilari Törmänen (born September 19, 1970) is a retired professional ice hockey player and current head coach of EHC Biel in Switzerland's National League. He played for the Ottawa Senators, Jokerit, HV71 and Södertälje SK over 14 se ...
. Alongside the aforementioned junior champions, these players formed the core of a thriving dynasty. Jokerit celebrated Finnish championships in
1992 1992 was designated as International Space Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 – Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General. * January 6 ** The Republ ...
,
1994 The year 1994 was designated as the " International Year of the Family" and the "International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal" by the United Nations. In the Line Islands and Phoenix Islands of Kiribati, 1994 had only 364 days, omitti ...
,
1996 1996 was designated as: * International Year for the Eradication of Poverty Events January * January 8 – A Zairean cargo plane crashes into a crowded market in the center of the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...
, and
1997 Events January * January 1 – The Emergency Alert System is introduced in the United States. * January 11 – Turkey threatens Cyprus on account of a deal to buy Russian S-300 missiles, prompting the Cypriot Missile Crisis. * January 1 ...
, as well as
European Cup The UEFA Champions League (UCL) is an annual club association football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) that is contested by top-division European clubs. The competition begins with a round robi ...
victories in
1995 1995 was designated as: * United Nations Year for Tolerance * World Year of Peoples' Commemoration of the Victims of the Second World War This was the first year that the Internet was entirely privatized, with the United States government ...
and
1996 1996 was designated as: * International Year for the Eradication of Poverty Events January * January 8 – A Zairean cargo plane crashes into a crowded market in the center of the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...
. They also earned a Finnish silver and European bronze during this successful period. Under Harkimo's leadership, the club embraced a shift towards professional sports entertainment, taking inspiration from the NHL model. In 1997, Jokerit achieved a momentous milestone by becoming the first privately owned European club to have its own home venue,
Hartwall Arena Helsinki Halli, or Helsinki Arena (formerly Hartwall Arena), is a large multi-functional indoor arena located in Helsinki, Finland. It was opened in April 1997. The arena is convertible for various events. The total seated capacity during ice ...
. To facilitate this transformation, the ownership structure was reorganized into Jokerit HC Oyj, a public limited company. The club strategically focused on the new
European Hockey League The European Hockey League was a European ice hockey club competition which ran between the years 1996 and 2000. History It was established in 1996 by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and commercial partner CWL Telesport and first c ...
, anticipating its potential for increased revenue compared to SM-Liiga. While some expansion plans did not materialize, Hartwall Arena proved to be a lucrative venture for the club's business. Additionally, Harry Harkimo endeavored to create an elite team, the
Newcastle Jesters The Newcastle Jesters were an ice hockey franchise based in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England. The team were members of the Ice Hockey Superleague and played their home games at the Telewest Arena (now the Utilita Arena). History Single Season o ...
, to participate in the British Ice Hockey Superleague. Though its success did not meet expectations, and the franchise was eventually sold back to the league. With Hartwall Arena as their new home, Jokerit signed several star players to further strengthen the team. Despite boasting talented line-ups, the team's performance experienced fluctuations, with their most notable achievement being a Finnish bronze medal in
1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...
. In an ironic twist, Jokerit's long-standing rival,
HIFK HIFK, the Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna, Helsingfors (IFK, Helsingfors) rf (officially abbreviated IFK Helsingfors, colloquially often Helsingfors IFK or Helsingin IFK) is a multi-sport association based in Helsinki, Finland. Formed in 1897 on ...
, claimed the SM-Liiga title in
1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...
, the very first year of Jokerit's occupancy at Hartwall Arena .


Into the next millennium (2000–2004)

As the new millennium dawned, the management shifted their focus back to
SM-Liiga The Liiga, colloquially called the Finnish Elite League in English or FM-ligan in Swedish, is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. The league comprises 16 teams from all around Finland with relegation and promotion between the Mest ...
, aiming to cultivate a more stable approach. However, there was a notable turnover rate in the line-ups between seasons, and a distinct core of players failed to develop or be retained. In the 1999–2000 season, Jokerit fielded a strong team, including players like German international Jan Benda, Russian
Dmitri Kvartalnov Dmitri Vyacheslavovich Kvartalnov (Дмитрий Вячеславович Квартальнов; born March 25, 1966, in Voskresensk, Soviet Union) is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 112 games in the National Hockey League, a ...
, Czech
Miroslav Hlinka Miroslav Hlinka (31 August 1972Miroslav Hlinka
, hokej.cz, Retrieved 15. 9. 2014 – 14 September 2014) was a Petri Varis Petri Johannes Varis (born May 13, 1969) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward. He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks as their 6th-round pick in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. Playing career Starting his pro career with Karhu-Kissat i ...
, and Finnish top players
Antti-Jussi Niemi Antti-Jussi Jormanpoika Niemi (born 22 September 1977) 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 ...
, Tom Koivisto, and
Pasi Nurminen Pasi Johan Olavi Nurminen (born 17 December 1975) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey goaltender. He was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers as their sixth-round pick, #189 overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. Playing career Nurminen sta ...
in goal. The team was further bolstered by the addition of former NHL players Tuomas Grönman and five-time Stanley Cup champion
Esa Tikkanen Esa Tikkanen (born January 25, 1965) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, New Jersey Devils, Vancouver Canucks, Florida P ...
. Despite their strength, Jokerit reached the finals but fell short, losing the series to
TPS TPS or Tps may refer to: In arts and entertainment *Télévision Par Satellite, a French satellite television company *Third-person shooter, a game genre * Torsonic Polarity Syndrome, in ''South Park'' animation * Trailer Park Sex, a band from ...
three games to one. While the club reached the finals in
2000 2000 was designated as the International Year for the Culture of Peace and the World Mathematics, Mathematical Year. Popular culture holds the year 2000 as the first year of the 21st century and the 3rd millennium, because of a tende ...
, they experienced repeated disappointments in the
European Hockey League The European Hockey League was a European ice hockey club competition which ran between the years 1996 and 2000. History It was established in 1996 by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and commercial partner CWL Telesport and first c ...
, which did not live up to expectations. In the subsequent season, Jokerit faced challenges despite the presence of players like
Jukka Hentunen Jukka Mika Petteri Hentunen (born May 3, 1974) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward, who last played with KalPa of the SM-liiga in the 2012–13 season. Playing career Hentunen played with HPK of the SM-liiga when he was drafted ...
and
Antti Törmänen Antti Ilari Törmänen (born September 19, 1970) is a retired professional ice hockey player and current head coach of EHC Biel in Switzerland's National League. He played for the Ottawa Senators, Jokerit, HV71 and Södertälje SK over 14 se ...
, who were meant to bolster the team. The 2001–02 season saw the team welcome players like
Pavel Rosa Pavel Rosa (born June 7, 1977) is a Czech former professional ice hockey forward who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Los Angeles Kings. Playing career Rosa was selected by Kings in the second round (#50 overall) 1995 NHL En ...
,
Frank Banham Frank Banham (born April 14, 1975) is a Canadian-born Hungarian former professional ice hockey winger who last played for Hungarian club, SAPA Fehérvár AV19 in the Austrian Hockey League (EBEL). Playing career Initially drafted 147th overa ...
, and 1995 world champion
Ville Peltonen Ville Sakari Peltonen (born 24 May 1973) is a Finnish ice hockey coach and a former professional ice hockey forward. Peltonen was drafted by the San Jose Sharks as their third round pick, 58th overall, in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. During his ...
. With stellar performances by goaltender
Kari Lehtonen Kari Lehtonen (born November 16, 1983) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey goaltender who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Atlanta Thrashers and Dallas Stars. He was selected second overall in the 2002 NHL E ...
and the acquisition of Vladimir Machulda from
SaiPa SAIPA (, ''SAIPA'') is an Iranian automaker headquartered in Tehran. The SAIPAC (an acronym for the French ''Société anonyme iranienne de production des automobiles Citroën'' lit. ''Iranian Limited Company for the Production of Citroën Autom ...
, Jokerit clinched their sixth Finnish championship in 2002. However, the following two seasons, 2002–03 and 2003–04, yielded no medals for Jokerit. In 2003, the club acquired forward
Glen Metropolit Glen David Metropolit (born June 25, 1974) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who most notably played over 400 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) Playing career Early years A native of Toronto, Ontario, Metropolit was ne ...
from the
Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...
(NHL) organization, and he became a key player for Jokerit in both the regular season and playoffs, as well as the 2004–05 regular season. Another important addition was goaltender Tim Thomas, acquired from the
Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...
(NHL) organization. Thomas's exceptional performance earned him the prestigious
Kultainen kypärä Kultainen kypärä () is an ice hockey award given by the Suomen jääkiekkoilijat ry (SJRY; ) to the best player in the Finnish Liiga and Auroraliiga. Winners are selected via votes cast by each league's players. Kultainen kypärä has been award ...
award. During the
2004–05 NHL lockout The 2004–05 NHL lockout was a labor lockout that resulted in the cancellation of the National Hockey League (NHL) season, which would have been its 88th season of play. The main dispute was the league's desire to implement a salary cap to ...
, Jokerit brought in
Brian Campbell Brian Wesley Campbell (born May 23, 1979) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played for the Buffalo Sabres, San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks and Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He won the Stanley ...
and welcomed Ossi Väänänen back to the team from the
Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche (colloquially known as the Avs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. The Avalanche compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Con ...
.
Teemu Selänne Teemu Ilmari Selänne (; born July 3, 1970) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey winger. He began his professional career in 1989–90 with Jokerit of the SM-liiga and played 21 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Winn ...
also joined the lineup, although he was unable to play due to injury. Jokerit emerged as contenders and looked poised to win the
regular season In an organized sports league, a typical season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session: for example, in Major League Baseball the season lasts approximately from the last week of March to the last week of S ...
and championship but faltered in the late stages, finishing as silver medalists after losing to Kärpät in the finals.


Post-2005 NHL lockout (2005–2006)

Following the conclusion of the NHL lockout in 2005, Jokerit faced significant player departures to both NHL teams and European clubs. Notable departures included
Brian Campbell Brian Wesley Campbell (born May 23, 1979) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played for the Buffalo Sabres, San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks and Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He won the Stanley ...
, Ossi Väänänen,
Teemu Selänne Teemu Ilmari Selänne (; born July 3, 1970) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey winger. He began his professional career in 1989–90 with Jokerit of the SM-liiga and played 21 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Winn ...
,
Glen Metropolit Glen David Metropolit (born June 25, 1974) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who most notably played over 400 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) Playing career Early years A native of Toronto, Ontario, Metropolit was ne ...
,
Pasi Häkkinen Pasi Häkkinen (born 25 June 1977) is a Finnish former ice hockey goaltender. Career Häkkinen started his pro career with SaiPa in the Finnish SM-liiga, and was the backup goalie for Jokerit for the 2004–2005 season, when he won the silver me ...
,
Valtteri Filppula Valtteri Filppula (born 20 March 1984) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward (ice hockey), forward. Filppula won the Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008 Stanley Cup Finals, 2008. He has previously played with the Red Wi ...
, and
Tomi Mäki Tomi Mäki (born August 19, 1983) is a Finnish people, Finnish professional ice hockey Forward (ice hockey), forward who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for Jokerit in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Playing ...
. The final blow came just one day before the start of the regular season when goaltender Tim Thomas signed with the
Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...
. In response to the loss of Thomas, Jokerit attempted to fill the void with goalkeeper
Karl Goehring Karl Goehring (born August 23, 1978, in Apple Valley, Minnesota) is a retired American professional ice hockey goaltender who was most recently an assistant coach with the UND Fighting Hawks of the NCHC. He led Apple Valley High School to a w ...
. However, Goehring's tenure was short-lived, and he was soon replaced by ex-NHL player
Steve Passmore Steve Passmore (born January 29, 1973) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques as their ninth-round pick in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. He played 93 games in the NHL between 1998 and 2004 with ...
. A mid-season pairing with
HIFK HIFK, the Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna, Helsingfors (IFK, Helsingfors) rf (officially abbreviated IFK Helsingfors, colloquially often Helsingfors IFK or Helsingin IFK) is a multi-sport association based in Helsinki, Finland. Formed in 1897 on ...
's Tom Askey also failed to adequately replace Tim Thomas. Despite efforts to strengthen the lineup with players like
Eric Beaudoin Eric P. Beaudoin (born May 3, 1980) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward. He played in the National Hockey League with the Florida Panthers. Playing career Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Beaudoin started his hockey career in the OHL. ...
and Justin Mapletoft, the team struggled to find its footing during the early season. Adding to the challenges, Jokerit entrusted rookie coach
Waltteri Immonen Waltteri Immonen (born April 3, 1967 in Helsinki, Finland) is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman and former coach of SM-liiga team Jokerit. Playing career Immonen started his playing career in Helsingin Jokerit, an ice hockey team fr ...
with his coaching debut. Immonen, a long-time Jokerit player transitioning into a head coaching role, faced a daunting task. After a discouraging start for the 2005–06 season with a record of 5–11–4 in the first 20 games, Immonen was relieved of his coaching duties in November.
Curt Lindström Curt "Curre" Lindström (born 26 November 1940) is a Swedish people, Swedish ice hockey coach. Career on international level He coached Finnish national men's ice hockey team, Team Finland from 1993 to 1997, winning Finland's first Ice Hockey Wo ...
was brought in as a replacement coach in an attempt to salvage the team's performance. However, despite the coaching change, Jokerit faced an unprecedented outcome for the first time in 16 years as they failed to qualify for the playoffs. This marked a period of significant challenges for the club as they navigated a transitional phase in their roster and coaching staff.


The Doug Shedden Era (2006–2008)

Following a challenging season that resulted in Jokerit's lowest ranking in decades, the club underwent significant changes by appointing former NHL player and head coach of
HIFK HIFK, the Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna, Helsingfors (IFK, Helsingfors) rf (officially abbreviated IFK Helsingfors, colloquially often Helsingfors IFK or Helsingin IFK) is a multi-sport association based in Helsinki, Finland. Formed in 1897 on ...
,
Doug Shedden Douglas Arthur Shedden (born April 29, 1961) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former player. He played in the National Hockey League between 1981 and 1991. After his playing career he became a coach, and worked in the minor leagues for severa ...
, to lead the team. Shedden's arrival brought several notable players to Jokerit, including
Kim Hirschovits Kim Michael Hirschovits-Gerz (born 9 May 1982) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward and sports manager of Kiekko-Espoo in the Mestis. During his playing career, he skated in the Finnish Liiga (called SM-liiga until 2013) with H ...
from
HIFK HIFK, the Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna, Helsingfors (IFK, Helsingfors) rf (officially abbreviated IFK Helsingfors, colloquially often Helsingfors IFK or Helsingin IFK) is a multi-sport association based in Helsinki, Finland. Formed in 1897 on ...
, Jyrki Louhi from the 2005–06 champions HPK, and Juuso Riksman from
Ässät Ässät or Ässä may refer to: *HC Ässät Pori Oy, Finnish sports club **Porin Ässät (men's ice hockey) **Porin Ässät (women's ice hockey) **Porin Ässät (men's football) **PATA (esports) *, Finnish band from Oulu *S Group, Finnish Consumer ...
, the second-place team in 2006. Additionally, the team acquired scoring talent
Tim Stapleton Timothy Gabriel Stapleton (born July 19, 1982) is an American former professional ice hockey center. He played in the National Hockey League with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Atlanta Thrashers and Winnipeg Jets between 2008 and 2012. In 2011, Stapl ...
and experienced NHL player Clarke Wilm, who had previously worked with Shedden during their time with the
Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...
. Shedden's inaugural season with Jokerit proved to be a success, as the team returned to the playoffs and achieved a memorable victory over the reigning champions HPK in the semi-finals. Although Jokerit ultimately fell to Kärpät in the finals, the 2006–07 season marked a promising start for Shedden's tenure with the club. During the 2007–08 season, Jokerit celebrated their 40th anniversary, commemorating the club's rich history. On 27 October, the jersey of former Jokerit alumnus
Jari Kurri Jari Pekka Kurri (; born 18 May 1960) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player. Beginning in 1980, he played Winger (ice hockey), right wing for five National Hockey League (NHL) teams: the Edmonton Oilers, the Los Angeles Kings, the N ...
was retired, honoring his contributions to the team. To strengthen the goaltending department, Jokerit acquired former NHL and Finnish national team goaltender
Jussi Markkanen Jussi Markkanen (born 8 May 1975) is a Finnish professional ice hockey executive and former goaltender. He is currently serving as general manager of SaiPa. Markkanen played extensively in various European professional leagues as well as the Na ...
to replace
Scott Langkow Scott Langkow (born April 21, 1975) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played 20 National Hockey League games and for numerous teams in the minor and European leagues, most notably for the Springfield Falcons of the Americ ...
before the season. They also added more NHL experience by signing former
Atlanta Thrashers The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL) on June 25, 1997, and became the League's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL sea ...
and
Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...
center Tommi Santala after the season had commenced. As the 2007–08 season progressed, it was announced that Doug Shedden had accepted a contract with the Swiss team
EV Zug EV Zug is a professional men's ice hockey team from Zug, Switzerland. It is a member of the National League and plays its home games at the Bossard Arena. History EV Zug won its first championship in the 1997–98 season, and the second one in t ...
, signaling his departure from Jokerit after the season's conclusion. Following Shedden's announcement, it was revealed that ex-NHL head coach
Glen Hanlon Glen A. Hanlon (born February 20, 1957) is a Canadian ice hockey coach, executive and former goaltender. Hanlon played in the National Hockey League for the Vancouver Canucks, St. Louis Blues, New York Rangers and the Detroit Red Wings. He is al ...
would succeed Shedden as the head coach of Jokerit, taking over the role after Shedden's contract expired. However, Shedden's final season with Jokerit did not meet the high expectations set for the team. Despite being considered championship contenders, Jokerit faced a setback, losing a 3–1 lead in the series against the
Espoo Blues Kiekko-Espoo is a Finnish professional ice hockey club founded in 2018 as a continuation of the Kiekko-Espoo team originally founded in 1984. Kiekko-Espoo men's team plays in the Liiga, where they were promoted for the 2024–25 Liiga season, 20 ...
and ultimately falling in the series 3 games to 4. As a result, the club was relegated to the bronze medal game, where they suffered a defeat against
Tappara Tappara (; Finnish language, Finnish for "Battle axe") is a Finnish professional ice hockey team playing in the SM-liiga. They play at ''Nokia Arena (Tampere), Nokia Arena'' in Tampere, Finland. The team has won 20 Finnish league championships, wh ...
, concluding the 2007–08 season in fourth place. Alongside
Doug Shedden Douglas Arthur Shedden (born April 29, 1961) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former player. He played in the National Hockey League between 1981 and 1991. After his playing career he became a coach, and worked in the minor leagues for severa ...
's departure, the club bid farewell to assistant coach
Waltteri Immonen Waltteri Immonen (born April 3, 1967 in Helsinki, Finland) is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman and former coach of SM-liiga team Jokerit. Playing career Immonen started his playing career in Helsingin Jokerit, an ice hockey team fr ...
, who followed Shedden to
EV Zug EV Zug is a professional men's ice hockey team from Zug, Switzerland. It is a member of the National League and plays its home games at the Bossard Arena. History EV Zug won its first championship in the 1997–98 season, and the second one in t ...
.


Glen Hanlon's appointment and team reinforcements (2008–2009)

In preparation for the 2008–09 season,
Glen Hanlon Glen A. Hanlon (born February 20, 1957) is a Canadian ice hockey coach, executive and former goaltender. Hanlon played in the National Hockey League for the Vancouver Canucks, St. Louis Blues, New York Rangers and the Detroit Red Wings. He is al ...
, former head coach of the Belarus national team and the NHL's
Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...
, assumed the position of head coach for Jokerit, succeeding
Doug Shedden Douglas Arthur Shedden (born April 29, 1961) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former player. He played in the National Hockey League between 1981 and 1991. After his playing career he became a coach, and worked in the minor leagues for severa ...
. Despite coming off a recent appearance in the SM-liiga playoffs, Jokerit made notable signings to strengthen their roster for the upcoming season. Among the new additions were former Jokerit and
Dallas Stars The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas. The Stars compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The Stars ...
player
Juha Lind Juha Petteri Lind (born 2 January 1974 in Helsinki, Finland) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player. Lind started his career with Jokerit his hometown team. He was drafted 178th overall by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1992 NH ...
, along with former
American Hockey League The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental league of the National Hockey League (NHL). The league comprises 32 teams, with 26 in the United States and 6 in Cana ...
(AHL) players Janne Lahti and
Tomi Mäki Tomi Mäki (born August 19, 1983) is a Finnish people, Finnish professional ice hockey Forward (ice hockey), forward who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for Jokerit in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Playing ...
.
Pasi Nielikäinen Pasi Nielikäinen (born 11 February 1974, Oulainen, Finland) is a former professional ice hockey player. Playing career Nielikäinen has played for numerous teams in the Finnish SM-liiga; these include Kärpät, HIFK (ice hockey), HIFK and HPK. ...
, known for his role as an enforcer, also joined the team. The defensive line was bolstered with the signing of former Jokerit and
Frölunda HC Frölunda Hockey Club, previously known as the Frölunda Indians, is a Swedish professional ice hockey club based in Gothenburg. They currently play in the highest Swedish league, the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), formerly the Elitserien, where th ...
defenseman Tom Koivisto, bringing an added offensive dimension to Jokerit's defensive play. Additionally, Antti Hulkkonen was recruited for his valuable experience on the ice. In terms of goaltending, Juuso Riksman returned to Jokerit after a one-year stint in North America and the AHL. Riksman replaced
Jussi Markkanen Jussi Markkanen (born 8 May 1975) is a Finnish professional ice hockey executive and former goaltender. He is currently serving as general manager of SaiPa. Markkanen played extensively in various European professional leagues as well as the Na ...
, who moved on to join
HC CSKA Moscow HC CSKA Moscow (, ''Central Sports Club of the Army, Moscow'') is a professional ice hockey club based in Moscow, Russia. It is a member of the Tarasov Division in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). It is referred to in the West as "Central R ...
in the
Russian Superleague The Russian Superleague (, ''Russian Championship Superleague''), commonly abbreviated as RSL, was the highest division of the main professional ice hockey league in Russia. It was considered the second-best league in the world, after the Nation ...
(RSL). Alongside the changes in player personnel, Jokerit's team organization underwent some modifications after the 2007–08 season. The team's general manager, Matti Virmanen, assumed a new role as the director of sports activities for Jokerit, leading to his replacement as the general manager by
Keijo Säilynoja Keijo Henrik Säilynoja (born February 17, 1970, in Vantaa, Finland) is a retired Finnish ice hockey player Playing career Jokerit (1988-1998) Säilynoja started his career for Jokerit in 1988, while the team was playing in Finnish First Divi ...
. Keijo Säilynoja, a former Jokerit-alumni and Finnish international player, took on the position of general manager for Jokerit on 15 June 2008. As part of their preparations, Jokerit engaged in a preseason game against the NHL's
Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...
, but unfortunately, the team was defeated with a score of 4–1. This encounter marked the second time Jokerit faced an NHL team, the first being a game against the
Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...
during the 2003–04 season.


2009–10 season

In the 2009–10 season, Jokerit underwent significant coaching changes. The team initially appointed
Hannu Aravirta Hannu Aravirta (born 26 March 1953) is a former Finnish ice hockey player and an ice hockey coach for the Finnish national men's team, SM-liiga and Elitserien. Career as player Aravirta was born in Savonlinna, and made his first professional ...
, a former Jokerit head coach from 1993 to 1996, to lead the team. However, the season started poorly, and the team found themselves at the bottom of the standings. In an effort to improve their performance, Jokerit made key player acquisitions at the start of the season, bringing in
Fredrik Bremberg Per Fredrik Bremberg (born Per Fredrik Lindquist on 21 June 1973) is a Swedish former professional ice hockey player. He was drafted in the third round, 55th overall, by the New Jersey Devils in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. He played eight games i ...
, Alex Brooks,
Michael Nylander Michael Gunnar Nylander (born 3 October 1972) is a Swedish former professional ice hockey centre and coach. He played for fifteen seasons in the NHL, and represented the Swedish national team in multiple Olympics and World Championships. Play ...
, and
Bates Battaglia Jonathan "Bates" Battaglia (born December 13, 1975) is an American former professional ice hockey left winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Washington Capitals and the Toronto Ma ...
. On 25 November, due to the team's struggles, Aravirta was dismissed from his coaching position, and
Hannu Jortikka Hannu Jortikka (born 16 December 1956) is a Finnish former ice hockey player and current coach.http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=3167 Hannu Jortikka on Eliteprospects.com Jortikka spent most of his playing career in TPS. He was a p ...
, who had previously coached the team in 2003–2005, was brought in as a replacement. Despite the coaching change, Jokerit's season remained challenging, and they barely qualified for the playoffs' wild-card round. Unfortunately, their playoff run was short-lived as they were eliminated by Tappara in a 2–1 wild card series defeat.


The Kekäläinen Era (2010–2012)

Following the 2009–2010 season, Jokerit announced the retirement of their long-serving team CEO and sports director, Matti Virmanen. Jarmo Kekäläinen, previously a deputy CEO and player scout for the NHL's
St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...
, was appointed as the new CEO. Kekäläinen's responsibilities included developing the team, making player and coach selections, and improving the junior development program significantly. The contract was set for five years, and Kekäläinen aimed to elevate the team's junior operations while establishing a stable core for the roster. The 2010–11 season began with lower-than-expected performance. Head coach Jortikka was relieved of his duties on 24 November 2010, and
Erkka Westerlund Erkka Westerlund (born 30 March 1957, in Pernå, Finland) was the head coach of the Finnish national men's ice hockey team. He was appointed head coach on November 1, 2004, and his contract ended in May 2007, after winning silver in Moscow's World ...
, who had previously coached Jokerit from 1999 to 2001, was brought in as the new head coach.
Tomi Lämsä Tomi Lämsä (born September 16, 1979) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player. He is currently the head coach of Rauman Lukko in the SM-Liiga. Lämsä was the head coach of the Jokerit for the 2012–13 season, remaining in that po ...
, the coach for Lahden Pelicans' U20-juniors, replaced Sami Ranta as an assistant coach. During the season, Jokerit and
HIFK HIFK, the Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna, Helsingfors (IFK, Helsingfors) rf (officially abbreviated IFK Helsingfors, colloquially often Helsingfors IFK or Helsingin IFK) is a multi-sport association based in Helsinki, Finland. Formed in 1897 on ...
played the so-called "Talviklassikko," or "Winter Classic" an outdoor match held at
Helsinki Olympic Stadium The Helsinki Olympic Stadium (; ), located in the Töölö district about from the centre of the Finnish capital Helsinki, is the largest stadium in the country. The stadium is best known for being the centre of activities in the 1952 Summer ...
in February 2011, where HIFK won 4–3. The game drew over 36,000 spectators, setting a record for attendance in European club ice hockey. Janne Lahti topped the regular-season goal-scoring chart with 37 goals, while
Teemu Pulkkinen Teemu Pulkkinen (born 2 January 1992) is a Finland, Finnish professional ice hockey Winger (ice hockey), left winger who currently plays for HK Poprad of the Slovak Extraliga. Pulkkinen was drafted 111th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2 ...
was named Rookie of the Year after breaking the rookie single-season assist record with 36 assists. Jokerit finished the regular season in sixth place but was eliminated in the quarterfinals by HIFK with a 4–3 series defeat. Before the start of the 2011–12 season, Jokerit qualified for the
European Trophy European Trophy (previously named ''Nordic Trophy'' between 2006 and 2009) was an annually held ice hockey tournament, traditionally composed of teams from the higher-level ice hockey leagues in countries across Europe. With 32 participating team ...
finals after the preseason games.Jokerit lost the final to Red Bull Salzburg in December. Additionally, Jokerit played a home exhibition match against
Teemu Selänne Teemu Ilmari Selänne (; born July 3, 1970) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey winger. He began his professional career in 1989–90 with Jokerit of the SM-liiga and played 21 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Winn ...
's
Anaheim Ducks The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California. The Ducks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Confere ...
in early October, losing 4–3 in overtime. The 2012 Talviklassikko was hosted by
HIFK HIFK, the Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna, Helsingfors (IFK, Helsingfors) rf (officially abbreviated IFK Helsingfors, colloquially often Helsingfors IFK or Helsingin IFK) is a multi-sport association based in Helsinki, Finland. Formed in 1897 on ...
, and the game ended in a 2–2 tie after regular time, with HIFK winning the shootout. In the playoffs, Jokerit faced HIFK again, and this time, the team advanced with a 4–0 series victory. However, in the semi-finals, JYP proved stronger, defeating Jokerit with a 4–1 series result. Nonetheless, Jokerit secured a medal for the first time in years by defeating
Blues Blues is a music genre and musical form that originated among African Americans in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues has incorporated spiritual (music), spirituals, work songs, field hollers, Ring shout, shouts, cha ...
4–3 in overtime in the bronze medal game. In December 2011, Jokerit announced that assistant coach Tomi Lämsä would take over as the head coach for the 2012–13 season on a two-year contract. Former Jokerit player
Tomek Valtonen Tomasz Valtonen (born 8 January 1980) is a Poland, Polish-born Finnish people, Finnish former professional ice hockey forward (ice hockey), forward. He is currently the head coach for HK Dukla Ingema Michalovce. He coached the Poland men's natio ...
, who had coached the team's U20-juniors, was appointed as the new assistant coach. Due to the
2012–13 NHL lockout 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number, numeral, and glyph. It is the first and smallest positive integer of the infinite sequence of natural numbers. This fundamental property has led to its unique uses in other fields, ranging from science to ...
, Jokerit welcomed Swedish defenseman
Erik Karlsson Erik Sven Gunnar Karlsson (; born 31 May 1990) is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Karlsson was drafted in the first round, 15th overall, by the Ottawa Senators at th ...
, who had been named the NHL's best defenseman, for the
2012–13 NHL season The 2012–13 NHL season was the 96th season of operation (95th season of play) of the National Hockey League (NHL). The regular season began on January 19, 2013, and ended on April 28, 2013, with the playoffs to follow until June. The Chicago B ...
. The team also signed forward
Valtteri Filppula Valtteri Filppula (born 20 March 1984) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward (ice hockey), forward. Filppula won the Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008 Stanley Cup Finals, 2008. He has previously played with the Red Wi ...
from the NHL. Jokerit finished atop the regular-season standings, but they were eliminated in the playoffs, losing 4–2 in the quarterfinals to
Rauman Lukko Rauman Lukko (Finnish for "lock") is a Finnish sports club based in Rauma, Finland, best known for its men's professional ice hockey team. The club was founded as Rauma Woodin Lukko in 1936. The representative team currently plays in the Finni ...
. During Jarmo Kekäläinen's tenure as CEO, the club focused on developing its junior operations, resulting in the drafting of four Jokerit players in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. In the 2012–13 season, Jokerit faced injury issues at the start, but instead of acquiring external players, the team relied on its young players. This was facilitated by Jokerit's collaboration with
Mestis Mestis (from , meaning 'Championship series', stylized as MEST1S) 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 ('First Division ...
team
Kiekko-Vantaa Kiekko-Vantaa is an ice hockey team from Vantaa, Finland, playing in the Mestis league. It plays its home games in Trio Areena. Kiekko-Vantaa has been in Mestis since the league started in 2000 and have been in the finals twice, losing both times. ...
, initiated during Kekäläinen's era.


The final SM-liiga season (2013–2014)

On 28 June 2013,
Hjallis Harkimo Harry Juhani "Hjallis" Harkimo (born 2 November 1953) is a Finnish businessman, sportsperson, and a member of the Finnish Parliament. Previously a National Coalition Party MP, he chairs his own political party, Movement Now. First elected to the ...
announced that he had sold
Hartwall Areena Helsinki Halli, or Helsinki Arena (formerly Hartwall Arena), is a large multi-functional indoor arena located in Helsinki, Finland. It was opened in April 1997. The arena is convertible for various events. The total seated capacity during ice ...
to Finnish-
Russian Russian(s) may refer to: *Russians (), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries *A citizen of Russia *Russian language, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages *''The Russians'', a b ...
businessmen
Gennady Timchenko Gennady Nikolayevich Timchenko (, ''also spelled'' Guennadi Timtchenko; born 9 November 1952) is a Russian oligarch and billionaire businessman. He founded and owns the private investment firm Volga Group. He was previously a co-owner of Gun ...
and
Arkady Arkady () is a Slavic masculine given name, ultimately derived from the Greek name Αρκάδιος, meaning “from Arcadia”. Endeared versions of the name are ''Arkasha''. The Latin equivalent is Arcadius. Notable people with the name include: ...
, Boris, and Roman Rotenberg, with an option to buy a share of Jokerit after the 2013–14 season. Harkimo himself was named the new CEO. At the same time, it was announced that Jokerit would transition to the
Kontinental Hockey League The Kontinental Hockey League (KHL; ) is an international professional ice hockey league founded in 2008. It comprises member clubs based in Russia (20), Belarus (1), Kazakhstan (1), and China (1) for a total of 23 clubs. It was considered in ...
(KHL) for the
2014–15 KHL season The 2014–15 KHL season was the seventh season of the Kontinental Hockey League. The season started on 3 September with the Opening Cup between defending champions Metallurg Magnitogorsk and Dynamo Moscow, replacing Lev Praha, last year's runne ...
, becoming the first Finnish and
Nordic Nordic most commonly refers to: * Nordic countries, the northern European countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, and their North Atlantic territories * Scandinavia, a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern ...
team to join the league. Although the
Finnish Ice Hockey Association The Finnish Ice Hockey Association (, ) is the sport governing body, governing body of ice hockey in Finland. Since the late 1980s, Finland has enjoyed a period of success on the international stage and, , the Finland men's national ice hockey t ...
granted Jokerit permission for the move, the
SM-liiga The Liiga, colloquially called the Finnish Elite League in English or FM-ligan in Swedish, is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. The league comprises 16 teams from all around Finland with relegation and promotion between the Mest ...
stated that the club had not consulted the league according to IIHF regulations. Other SM-liiga teams claimed that Jokerit had violated the shareholders' agreement and demanded the team's suspension from the 2013–14 season. Ultimately, an agreement was reached during a SM-liiga shareholders' meeting on 30 July, allowing Jokerit to compete in the following season's SM-liiga under certain conditions. The secret terms of the agreement also allowed the club to switch to the KHL later on. Harkimo mentioned that the decision to join the KHL would likely be made in the autumn, as there was no official contract with the league at that time. The transfer of Jokerit to the KHL for the 2014–2015 season was confirmed on 30 October. At the same time, it was announced that Arena Events had acquired 49% of Jokerit Hockey Club Oy's shares, while Harry Harkimo retained 51% ownership. On 4 December, the club named
Erkka Westerlund Erkka Westerlund (born 30 March 1957, in Pernå, Finland) was the head coach of the Finnish national men's ice hockey team. He was appointed head coach on November 1, 2004, and his contract ended in May 2007, after winning silver in Moscow's World ...
as their head coach for the first KHL season, signing a two-year contract. During the 2013–14 SM-Liiga season's Christmas break, Jokerit, sitting in seventh place in the regular-season standings, dismissed Tomi Lämsä and promoted
Tomek Valtonen Tomasz Valtonen (born 8 January 1980) is a Poland, Polish-born Finnish people, Finnish former professional ice hockey forward (ice hockey), forward. He is currently the head coach for HK Dukla Ingema Michalovce. He coached the Poland men's natio ...
as the head coach. Former goaltender
Pasi Nurminen Pasi Johan Olavi Nurminen (born 17 December 1975) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey goaltender. He was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers as their sixth-round pick, #189 overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. Playing career Nurminen sta ...
also joined the coaching staff. Jokerit finished the regular season in seventh place, qualifying for the first round of the playoffs. However, they were defeated by HPK in a straight 0–2 series result. The team's final placement in the league was ninth.
Markus Hännikäinen Markus Mikael Hännikäinen (born 26 March 1993) is a Finnish professional ice hockey player. Hännikäinen is currently under contract with Adler Mannheim in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Playing career Hännikäinen recorded a break-out s ...
scored Jokerit's last goal in the SM-liiga.


Transition to the KHL: successes and challenges (2014–2020)

The move to the
Kontinental Hockey League The Kontinental Hockey League (KHL; ) is an international professional ice hockey league founded in 2008. It comprises member clubs based in Russia (20), Belarus (1), Kazakhstan (1), and China (1) for a total of 23 clubs. It was considered in ...
(KHL) marked a significant increase in Jokerit's player budget. During their inaugural
2014–15 KHL season The 2014–15 KHL season was the seventh season of the Kontinental Hockey League. The season started on 3 September with the Opening Cup between defending champions Metallurg Magnitogorsk and Dynamo Moscow, replacing Lev Praha, last year's runne ...
, Jokerit secured the sixth position among 28 teams in the league. In the regular season, they accumulated 119 points, earning them the fourth place in the Western Conference. This was a remarkable achievement, surpassing any previous record by an expansion team in the KHL. In the playoffs, Jokerit advanced by eliminating Dinamo Minsk, becoming the first expansion team in history to reach the conference semi-finals. Unfortunately, they were eventually eliminated by
CSKA Moscow CSKA Moscow () is a Russian sports club based in Moscow. It was created in 1911 in the Russian Empire on base of OLLS (Skiing Society, founded 1901). Later, during the Soviet Union, Soviet era, it was the central part of the Armed Forces (sports ...
in the conference finals.The team's home games attracted a total of 327,972 spectators during the regular season, setting a new record for attendance in Finland. Additionally, American forward Steve Moses set a new KHL single-season goal-scoring record with 36 goals. The first KHL season was widely regarded as a success within the organization and the media. Besides the team's strong performance and significant fan interest, Jokerit made headlines due to various reasons, including a partnership deal with an international betting company, NordicBet, and the influence of the political situation in Russia. The club had faced challenges in paying salaries due to
economic sanctions Economic sanctions or embargoes are Commerce, commercial and Finance, financial penalties applied by states or institutions against states, groups, or individuals. Economic sanctions are a form of Coercion (international relations), coercion tha ...
imposed as a result of the
War in Ukraine The Russo-Ukrainian War began in February 2014 and is ongoing. Following Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity, Russia Russian occupation of Crimea, occupied and Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, annexed Crimea from Ukraine. It then ...
that had started in February 2014, affecting Jokerit's background figures
Gennady Timchenko Gennady Nikolayevich Timchenko (, ''also spelled'' Guennadi Timtchenko; born 9 November 1952) is a Russian oligarch and billionaire businessman. He founded and owns the private investment firm Volga Group. He was previously a co-owner of Gun ...
and
Arkady Rotenberg Arkady Romanovich Rotenberg (; born 15 December 1951) is a Russian billionaire businessman and oligarch. With his brother Boris Rotenberg, he was co-owner of the Stroygazmontazh (S.G.M. group), the largest construction company for gas pipeli ...
. In the 2015–16 season, Jokerit made history by becoming the first team outside Russia to win their division in the Western Conference, finishing second overall in the conference and third overall in the league, based on points earned. Despite their regular-season success, Jokerit was eliminated in the conference quarterfinals by
Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod () is a professional ice hockey club in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. It is a member of the Bobrov Division in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). The team's home arena is Trade Union Sport Palace. The team used to play it ...
with a 2–4 series loss in the playoffs. For the 2016–17 season,
Jukka Jalonen Jukka Pertti Juhani Jalonen (born 2 November 1962 in Riihimäki, Finland) is a Finland, Finnish professional ice hockey coach (sport), coach and former player. In 2011 IIHF World Championship, 2011, 2019 IIHF World Championship, 2019 and 2022 II ...
became the new head coach. However, the team once again faced a playoff exit in the conference quarterfinals, being defeated 0–4 by the regular-season champion,
CSKA Moscow CSKA Moscow () is a Russian sports club based in Moscow. It was created in 1911 in the Russian Empire on base of OLLS (Skiing Society, founded 1901). Later, during the Soviet Union, Soviet era, it was the central part of the Armed Forces (sports ...
. In March 2017, Jokerit announced their commitment to continue playing in the KHL for at least the next five years. The 2017–18 season marked the club's 50th anniversary celebration. The team set a new club record at the beginning of the season by winning 16 consecutive games. In the playoffs, Jokerit advanced to the conference semi-finals by defeating
HC Sochi Hockey Club Sochi () is a professional ice hockey club based in Sochi, Russia. It is a member of the Bobrov Division in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). The club joined the KHL in the 2014–15 KHL season, 2014–15 season. History On May 2 ...
4–1 in the quarterfinals but were eliminated by
CSKA Moscow CSKA Moscow () is a Russian sports club based in Moscow. It was created in 1911 in the Russian Empire on base of OLLS (Skiing Society, founded 1901). Later, during the Soviet Union, Soviet era, it was the central part of the Armed Forces (sports ...
in a closely contested series with a 2–4 loss. Nonetheless, the team's fifth-place finish in the KHL and third-place finish in the Western Conference were their best achievements during their KHL era. The season also featured a historic outdoor game against SKA St. Petersburg held at
Kaisaniemi Park Kaisaniemi park (, ) is a popular park, in the center of Helsinki, in the region of Kluuvi. The Kaisaniemi Park was named after Cajsa Wahllund, Catharina "Cajsa" Wahllund. Part of the park was given to the University of Helsinki in 1829, for garden ...
in Helsinki on 2 December 2017. The game attracted a record attendance of 17,645 spectators, becoming the largest crowd ever in a KHL game. In preparation for the 2018–19 season, Jokerit appointed
Lauri Marjamäki Lauri Marjamäki (born May 29, 1977) is a Finnish ice hockey coach who currently serves as head coach of EHC Kloten of the National League A, a position he has held since 2022. He previously served as head coach of the Finnish national ice hocke ...
as head coach on a four-year contract. The opening game of the season made Finnish sports history as Jokerit featured more foreign players than Finnish players on their roster, a significant milestone for the club. However, the team once again faced elimination in the conference quarterfinals, this time against
Dynamo Moscow MGO VFSO "Dynamo" (), commonly known as Dynamo Moscow (), is a Russian sports club based in Moscow. Founded by Felix Dzerzhinsky on 18 April 1923, Dynamo Moscow was the first institution created from the All-Union Dynamo Sports Club. Dynamo Mosco ...
, losing the series 2–4. During the 2019–20 season, Jokerit advanced to the conference semi-finals by defeating
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl Hockey Club Lokomotiv (, ), also known as Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, is a professional ice hockey club based in Yaroslavl, Russia. It is a member of the Tarasov Division in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). The name of the team is derived from its ...
with a 4–2 series win in the first round of the playoffs. Unfortunately, due to the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
, Jokerit withdrew from the playoffs before facing SKA St. Petersburg in the conference semi-finals. The team had already announced that the series would be played without spectators in
Helsinki Helsinki () is the Capital city, capital and most populous List of cities and towns in Finland, city in Finland. It is on the shore of the Gulf of Finland and is the seat of southern Finland's Uusimaa region. About people live in the municipali ...
due to restrictions in Finland that prevented events with more than 500 people. In February 2020, Jokerit declared that their previous five-year agreement to play in the KHL was now an open-ended arrangement.


End of the KHL era (2021–2022)

The 2020–21 season was set to begin with Jokerit playing against Dinamo Minsk in Belarus, which raised widespread criticism due to the political situation in the country. Belarus had been facing significant protests following disputed presidential elections. However, the departure to Belarus was canceled at the last moment, with the team's plane waiting on the runway. In the 2021 playoffs, Jokerit once again confronted
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl Hockey Club Lokomotiv (, ), also known as Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, is a professional ice hockey club based in Yaroslavl, Russia. It is a member of the Tarasov Division in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). The name of the team is derived from its ...
but suffered a 4–0 series defeat. All the playoff games took place in Russia due to the COVID-19 restrictions in Finland, which had forced Jokerit to play the home matches without spectators since November 2020. Following the
Russian invasion of Ukraine On 24 February 2022, , starting the largest and deadliest war in Europe since World War II, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, conflict between the two countries which began in 2014. The fighting has caused hundreds of thou ...
, Jokerit made an announcement on 25 February 2022, declaring their withdrawal from the 2021–22 season before the start of the playoffs. Jokerit was scheduled to face Moscow Spartak in the first round of the playoffs. In the aftermath of the invasion, numerous sponsors severed ties with the club's parent company. The Jokerit Supporters' Association, Eteläpääty ry, demanded the team's withdrawal from the KHL. Additionally, the team's Russian-owned home arena,
Hartwall Arena Helsinki Halli, or Helsinki Arena (formerly Hartwall Arena), is a large multi-functional indoor arena located in Helsinki, Finland. It was opened in April 1997. The arena is convertible for various events. The total seated capacity during ice ...
, faced sanctions, and its marketing partner,
Hartwall Hartwall Ltd is a beverage company based in Helsinki, Finland. It was founded in 1836. Its drinks range includes Jaffa (soft drink)#Hartwall Jaffa, Jaffa, Pommac and Novelle waters. The company also owns the licence for manufacturing and sellin ...
, terminated its contract with the arena company.
Lauri Marjamäki Lauri Marjamäki (born May 29, 1977) is a Finnish ice hockey coach who currently serves as head coach of EHC Kloten of the National League A, a position he has held since 2022. He previously served as head coach of the Finnish national ice hocke ...
assumed the head coaching position at
Oulun Kärpät Oulun Kärpät (Finnish language, Finnish for "Oulu Stoat, Ermines", sometimes referred to as Kärpät Oulu) is a Finnish professional ice hockey team based in Oulu and playing in the top-tier Finnish Liiga. Kärpät have won the Finnish champion ...
for the remainder of the season, while several players transferred to other teams. The long-standing partnership with the
Mestis Mestis (from , meaning 'Championship series', stylized as MEST1S) 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 ('First Division ...
team
Kiekko-Vantaa Kiekko-Vantaa is an ice hockey team from Vantaa, Finland, playing in the Mestis league. It plays its home games in Trio Areena. Kiekko-Vantaa has been in Mestis since the league started in 2000 and have been in the finals twice, losing both times. ...
also ended that spring. On 5 April 2022, Jokerit made an announcement of the decision to completely withdraw from the
Kontinental Hockey League The Kontinental Hockey League (KHL; ) is an international professional ice hockey league founded in 2008. It comprises member clubs based in Russia (20), Belarus (1), Kazakhstan (1), and China (1) for a total of 23 clubs. It was considered in ...
(KHL). Over the course of its seven full KHL seasons, Jokerit advanced to the second round of the playoffs three times and the first round four times.


Return to Finland (2022–2023)

In April 2022, the club revealed its intention to make a comeback to the Finnish
Liiga The Liiga, colloquially called the Finnish Elite League in English or FM-ligan in Swedish, is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. The league comprises 16 teams from all around Finland with relegation and promotion between the Mesti ...
for the
2023–24 Liiga season The 2023–24 Liiga season was the 49th season of the Liiga, the top level of ice hockey in Finland, since its formation in 1975. Format The regular season started on Tuesday, 12 September 2023, with a match between Rauman Lukko and Hämeenlin ...
. According to the announcement, the privately held representation team would not participate in any leagues during the 2022–2023 season, but the junior teams under the association would continue their operations as usual. Before the return would be possible,
Liiga The Liiga, colloquially called the Finnish Elite League in English or FM-ligan in Swedish, is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. The league comprises 16 teams from all around Finland with relegation and promotion between the Mesti ...
demanded Jokerit to sever all financial and ownership ties related to the previous KHL team. Initially, the return to the Finnish leagues was being orchestrated by a new background company named Team Jokerit Oy and led by the son of Harry "Hjallis" Harkimo, Joel Harkimo. However, on 1 September,
Liiga The Liiga, colloquially called the Finnish Elite League in English or FM-ligan in Swedish, is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. The league comprises 16 teams from all around Finland with relegation and promotion between the Mesti ...
stated that it would not accept any license applications from outside the league for the 2023–24 season. Heikki Hiltunen, the chairman of the Liiga board, explained that the league had not received any concrete information from Jokerit regarding the application for a Liiga license. Additionally, Harkimo's previous involvement with the club's KHL team posed an obstacle to the club's return to the Liiga. In February 2023, Joel Harkimo withdrew and pulled Team Jokerit Oy from the project. A few days later a new ownership group under Jokerit Helsinki Oy, led by Mikko Saarni and including such former Jokerit names as Ossi Väänänen,
Teuvo Teräväinen Teuvo Henri Matias Teräväinen (; born 11 September 1994) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward (ice hockey), forward for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 18th overall, of the ...
and Esa Lindell, stepped in to continue with the project. On 31 March, Jokerit Helsinki Oy left the license application to Mestis. On 3 May, the
Finnish Ice Hockey Association The Finnish Ice Hockey Association (, ) is the sport governing body, governing body of ice hockey in Finland. Since the late 1980s, Finland has enjoyed a period of success on the international stage and, , the Finland men's national ice hockey t ...
granted Jokerit a license to compete in
Mestis Mestis (from , meaning 'Championship series', stylized as MEST1S) 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 ('First Division ...
for the 2023–2024 season.


Return to Finnish leagues (2023–present)

In August 2023, Jokerit played their first game since 11 January 2022, in the
Pitsiturnaus Pitsiturnaus is an ice hockey tournament held in Rauma, Finland. It is held around the time of the Pitsiviikko. The tournament has been played since 1993. The tournament is held in the Kivikylän Areena, home arena of Lukko of the Liiga. Hist ...
tournament. Jokerit faced
Porin Ässät Porin Ässät ry is a sports club based in Pori, Finland. The club's only programs are ice hockey and esports, but it used to have an association football program. Porin Ässät ry operates an ice hockey team in the Finnish Elite League. Porin ...
and lost the game 4–1. One week prior to the start of the 2023–24 season, Jokerit unveiled their leadership lineup. Saku Forsblom was appointed as the new
captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...
, with Otto Karvinen,
Emil Oksanen Emil may refer to: Literature *''Emil and the Detectives'' (1929), a children's novel *"Emil", nickname of the Kurt Maschler Award for integrated text and illustration (1982–1999) *''Emil i Lönneberga'', a series of children's novels by Astr ...
, Erkka Seppälä, and Onni Lind assuming the roles of assistant captains. On 21 September, Jokerit played their first official league game in Finland since 16 March 2014. The game was an
away game A road game or away game is a sports game where the specified team is not the host and must travel to another venue. Most professional teams represent cities or towns and amateur sports teams often represent academic institutions. Each team h ...
against
Kiekko-Espoo Kiekko-Espoo is a Finnish professional ice hockey club founded in 2018 as a continuation of the Kiekko-Espoo team originally founded in 1984. Kiekko-Espoo men's team plays in the Liiga, where they were promoted for the 2024–25 Liiga season, 20 ...
and Jokerit won 3–2 in
overtime Overtime is the amount of time someone works beyond normal working hours. The term is also used for the pay received for this time. Normal hours may be determined in several ways: *by custom (what is considered healthy or reasonable by society) ...
with a goal from Leevi Lemberg. On 6 October, Jokerit broke the one-game attendance record for Mestis in a game against Kiekko-Vantaa with 8,200 spectators (the previous record was 6,982). Jokerit won the game 3–2. Jokerit finished their first season in third place of the regular season but were ultimately defeated 2–4 by
Kokkolan Hermes Kokkolan Hermes is a Finnish semi-professional ice hockey club based in Kokkola that plays in the Mestis, the second-tier men's league in Finland after Liiga. The club was founded in 1953 and plays their home games at the Kokkolan jäähalli, w ...
in the semi-finals. Before the
2024–25 Mestis season The 2024–25 Mestis season was the 25th season of Mestis, the second level of ice hockey in Finland. 10 teams participates in the league and each will play 49 games during the regular season. The regular season is followed by playoffs, promotion ...
, the Jokerit organization underwent several changes.
Antti-Jussi Niemi Antti-Jussi Jormanpoika Niemi (born 22 September 1977) 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 ...
announced his decision to step down as general manager. Additionally, the club welcomed back former Jokerit player
Valtteri Filppula Valtteri Filppula (born 20 March 1984) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward (ice hockey), forward. Filppula won the Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008 Stanley Cup Finals, 2008. He has previously played with the Red Wi ...
, a member of the prestigious "
Triple Gold Club The Triple Gold Club is the group of ice hockey players and coaches who have won an Ice hockey at the Olympic Games, Olympic Games gold medal, a Ice Hockey World Championships, World Championship gold medal, and the Stanley Cup, the championship t ...
," who joined as a player-owner. Jokerit also made significant changes to their coaching staff, appointing
Risto Dufva Risto Dufva (born May 1, 1963) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey goaltender. He is currently the head coach of Vaasan Sport of the Finnish ice hockey league (Liiga). Dufva played with JYP Jyväskylä JYP is an ice hockey team playin ...
as the new head coach to replace
Tero Määttä Tero Määttä (born January 2, 1982) is a Finnish ice hockey defenceman who last played for Ässät of the SM-liiga. Although selected by the San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, Califor ...
, who continued as an assistant coach. After the start of the season Jokerit also welcomed back two of their former stars Juhamatti Aaltonen and Antti Pihlström. Jokerit beat Iisalmen Peli-Karhut in the 2025 Mestis finals to become the Mestis champion.


Current team


Roster


Coaches and team management

* Head Coach:
Risto Dufva Risto Dufva (born May 1, 1963) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey goaltender. He is currently the head coach of Vaasan Sport of the Finnish ice hockey league (Liiga). Dufva played with JYP Jyväskylä JYP is an ice hockey team playin ...
* Assistant Coach:
Tero Määttä Tero Määttä (born January 2, 1982) is a Finnish ice hockey defenceman who last played for Ässät of the SM-liiga. Although selected by the San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, Califor ...
* Goaltending Coach: Roy Hellgren * Osteopath: Jarno Hyytiäinen * Photographer: Mikko Taipale * Press officer: Iiro Keurulainen * Sports Director: Olli-Pekka Yrjänheikki


Office

* general manager: TBA * Administration: Laura Pussila * Communication: Iiro Keurulainen * Contact and partnership manager: Jukka Räisänen


Logo and jerseys

Jokerit originally had a logo designed by artist Jorma Hinkka, based on various joker cards. As compensation Hinkka received free tickets to Jokerit games but he never used them as he was not interested in ice hockey. A new logo with Canadian-style speed lines was introduced in 1983 but Jokerit later reverted to the original in 1988. Notably, Nike designed a logo that was in use from 1998 to 2000. In 1997, The Hockey News ranked Jokerit's logo as the world's best among team insignias. File:Jokerit logo 1983.png, The logo of Jokerit in 1983–1988. File:Jokerit logo 1998.PNG, The logo of Jokerit in 1998–2000. File:Jokerit logo 2019.png, The logo of Jokerit in 2019–2022. File:Jokerit logo 2023.png, The logo of Jokerit since 2022. The team's jerseys evolved over time. They began with blue and white, switched to red in 1973, and then back to blue in 1981. Different color combinations were used, including green and blue, and green and white, followed by green and purple. Eventually, the team returned to the original blue and white in 1997–98. In recent years, Jokerit shifted to yellow and black jerseys in 2019–2020, aiming to highlight the traditional logo and team colors. In 2023–2024 season all home games played in the
Helsinki Ice Hall The Helsinki Ice Hall (, ), colloquially called Nordis, is an indoor arena located in the Taka-Töölö neighborhood of Helsinki, Finland. The arena has a seating capacity of 8,200. History Helsinki Ice Hall has been the home of HIFK of the L ...
, Jokerit will play in green and purple retro jerseys and silver helmets.


Home arena

Jokerit had its home games at the
Helsinki Ice Hall The Helsinki Ice Hall (, ), colloquially called Nordis, is an indoor arena located in the Taka-Töölö neighborhood of Helsinki, Finland. The arena has a seating capacity of 8,200. History Helsinki Ice Hall has been the home of HIFK of the L ...
from 1967 until 1997. In 1995,
Hjallis Harkimo Harry Juhani "Hjallis" Harkimo (born 2 November 1953) is a Finnish businessman, sportsperson, and a member of the Finnish Parliament. Previously a National Coalition Party MP, he chairs his own political party, Movement Now. First elected to the ...
initiated the construction of a new arena for Jokerit, which was completed in 1997. Subsequently, Jokerit began its 1997–98 SM-Liiga season at the newly built venue, known as
Hartwall areena Helsinki Halli, or Helsinki Arena (formerly Hartwall Arena), is a large multi-functional indoor arena located in Helsinki, Finland. It was opened in April 1997. The arena is convertible for various events. The total seated capacity during ice ...
(later shortened to Hartwall Arena). The
Hartwall Arena Helsinki Halli, or Helsinki Arena (formerly Hartwall Arena), is a large multi-functional indoor arena located in Helsinki, Finland. It was opened in April 1997. The arena is convertible for various events. The total seated capacity during ice ...
served as the home for Jokerit from 1997 until 2022. In 2014, when Jokerit transitioned to the
Kontinental Hockey League The Kontinental Hockey League (KHL; ) is an international professional ice hockey league founded in 2008. It comprises member clubs based in Russia (20), Belarus (1), Kazakhstan (1), and China (1) for a total of 23 clubs. It was considered in ...
(KHL), Hjallis Harkimo sold the arena to Arena Events, a company owned by Gennady Timchenko and Arkady and Boris Rotenbergs. In March 2022, after the
Russian invasion of Ukraine On 24 February 2022, , starting the largest and deadliest war in Europe since World War II, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, conflict between the two countries which began in 2014. The fighting has caused hundreds of thou ...
and the subsequent sanctions imposed on Gennady Timchenko, and Arkady and Boris Rotenberg,
Hartwall Hartwall Ltd is a beverage company based in Helsinki, Finland. It was founded in 1836. Its drinks range includes Jaffa (soft drink)#Hartwall Jaffa, Jaffa, Pommac and Novelle waters. The company also owns the licence for manufacturing and sellin ...
, the former naming rights holder, made an official announcement regarding the termination of its naming rights contracts. As a result, Hartwall Arena was renamed
Helsinki Halli Helsinki Halli, or Helsinki Arena (formerly Hartwall Arena), is a large multi-functional indoor arena located in Helsinki, Finland. It was opened in April 1997. The arena is convertible for various events. The total seated capacity during ice ...
. Due to the impact of the imposed sanctions, beyond the loss of its original name, the arena faced financial difficulties, and any further use of the venue became impossible during this period. In the
2023–24 Mestis season The 2023–24 Mestis season was the 24th season of Mestis, the second level of ice hockey in Finland. 13 teams participated in the league. This season marked the return of Jokerit to Finnish hockey after 10 years in the KHL. Clubs Updated 25 July ...
, Jokerit played their home games in two venues. Thirteen games were played at the Kerava ice rink, while for the remaining eleven games of the regular season and all playoff games, Jokerit played in the
Helsinki Ice Hall The Helsinki Ice Hall (, ), colloquially called Nordis, is an indoor arena located in the Taka-Töölö neighborhood of Helsinki, Finland. The arena has a seating capacity of 8,200. History Helsinki Ice Hall has been the home of HIFK of the L ...
. For the 2024–25 season Jokerit returns fully to the Helsinki Ice Hall and will play all home games there. With Helsinki Halli reopening at some point in 2025, it is possible that Jokerit may return to the arena for the first time since 2022.


Supporters

Jokerit boasts a fervent fanbase supported by three notable supporters organizations: the Jokerit Fan Club, Old Chiefs, and Eteläpääty. Established in the 1970s and officially registered as an association in 1989, the Jokerit Fan Club has been a long-standing pillar of support for the club. It played a significant role in uniting fans during the successful 1990s era. After a long period of reduced activity, the Fan Club resumed its operations in 2019. Formed in 2008, the Old Chiefs fan group is dedicated to passionate, long-time supporters who have been faithfully following the club for many years, even decades. The group serves as a gathering point for fans who may not actively participate in the livelier atmosphere of Eteläpääty. Eteläpääty, meaning "South End" in English, stands as the largest and most visually impressive fan group. Established in 2008, they draw inspiration from the passionate
ultras Ultras are a type of association football fans who are known for their fanatical support. The term originated in Italy, but is used worldwide to describe predominantly organised fans of association football teams. The behavioural tendency ...
of Southern-European football and basketball leagues. Their visually appealing
tifo ''Tifo'' () is the phenomenon whereby ''tifosi'' of a sports team make a visual display of any choreographed flag, sign or banner in the stands of a stadium, mostly as part of an association football match. ''Tifo'' are most commonly seen in ...
s, loud chants and unwavering dedication contribute to the vibrant atmosphere at Jokerit matches. Jokerit supporters have extended their enthusiasm to other sports as well. In 2012, they founded the phoenix football club Jokerit FC, carrying on the legacy of FC Jokerit, and which currently competes in lower leagues. Additionally, in 2008, the fans established the floorball club Jokerit Salibandy, further showcasing their dedication and involvement in various sporting endeavors.


Ownership

The management and ownership of the hockey team are overseen by Jokerit Helsinki Oy. The ownership structure of the company is distributed as follows:
Class A share In finance, a class A share refers to a share classification of common or preferred stock that typically has enhanced benefits with respect to dividends, asset sales, or voting rights compared to Class B or Class C shares. There may be restri ...
s are held by notable individuals within the organization, including Viima Hockey founder and owner Mikko Saarni, who serves as the chairman of the board, along with former Jokerit players Ossi Väänänen,
Teuvo Teräväinen Teuvo Henri Matias Teräväinen (; born 11 September 1994) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward (ice hockey), forward for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 18th overall, of the ...
, Esa Lindell, movie producer
Markus Selin Markus Selin (born 16 March 1960) is a Finnish television and film producer. Career Selin was born in Vihti. His first feature, '' Born American'' (), was conceived in the mid-1980s. At a party in Los Angeles, he was introduced to fellow Fin ...
, Timo Mäkelä, writer and movie director Max Seeck, and Helsingin Jokerit Ry, which is the junior organization vested with the rights to the team's name and logo.
Class B share In finance, a Class B share or Class C share is a designation for a share class of a common stock, common or preferred stock that typically has strengthened voting rights or other Entitlement (fair division), benefits compared to a Class A share t ...
s are fully owned (100%) by Jokerikannattajat Oy (translated as "Supporters of Jokerit" in English), an entity owned by supporters of the team. Holding Class B shares entitles the supporters to a board seat within the club's governance structure, as well as a 3% share of any player transfers to the
NHL The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...
.


Honours and statistics


Team awards


Domestic

*
SM-sarja SM-Sarja was the top level of ice hockey in Finland from 1928 to 1975. SM-sarja is a common abbreviation for ''Suomen mestaruussarja'', "Finnish Championship Series". There was variable number of teams playing for the Finnish championship dur ...
Kanada-malja The Kanada-malja, or Poika (Literally "''Boy''" or "''Son''"), is an ice hockey club championship trophy, awarded annually to the winner of the Finnish SM-liiga playoffs. Kanada-malja is Finnish language, Finnish for "Canada Bowl"; the trophy is s ...
:
1973 Events January * January 1 – The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark 1973 enlargement of the European Communities, enter the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union. * January 14 - The 16-0 19 ...
*
SM-liiga The Liiga, colloquially called the Finnish Elite League in English or FM-ligan in Swedish, is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. The league comprises 16 teams from all around Finland with relegation and promotion between the Mest ...
Kanada-malja:
1992 1992 was designated as International Space Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 – Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General. * January 6 ** The Republ ...
,
1994 The year 1994 was designated as the " International Year of the Family" and the "International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal" by the United Nations. In the Line Islands and Phoenix Islands of Kiribati, 1994 had only 364 days, omitti ...
,
1996 1996 was designated as: * International Year for the Eradication of Poverty Events January * January 8 – A Zairean cargo plane crashes into a crowded market in the center of the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...
,
1997 Events January * January 1 – The Emergency Alert System is introduced in the United States. * January 11 – Turkey threatens Cyprus on account of a deal to buy Russian S-300 missiles, prompting the Cypriot Missile Crisis. * January 1 ...
,
2002 The effects of the September 11 attacks of the previous year had a significant impact on the affairs of 2002. The war on terror was a major political focus. Without settled international law, several nations engaged in anti-terror operation ...
* SM-sarja Kanada-malja:
1971 * The year 1971 had three partial solar eclipses (Solar eclipse of February 25, 1971, February 25, Solar eclipse of July 22, 1971, July 22 and Solar eclipse of August 20, 1971, August 20) and two total lunar eclipses (February 1971 lunar eclip ...
* SM-liiga Kanada-malja:
1983 1983 saw both the official beginning of the Internet and the first mobile cellular telephone call. Events January * January 1 – The migration of the ARPANET to TCP/IP is officially completed (this is considered to be the beginning of the ...
,
1995 1995 was designated as: * United Nations Year for Tolerance * World Year of Peoples' Commemoration of the Victims of the Second World War This was the first year that the Internet was entirely privatized, with the United States government ...
,
2000 2000 was designated as the International Year for the Culture of Peace and the World Mathematics, Mathematical Year. Popular culture holds the year 2000 as the first year of the 21st century and the 3rd millennium, because of a tende ...
,
2005 2005 was designated as the International Year for Sport and Physical Education and the International Year of Microcredit. The beginning of 2005 also marked the end of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Internationa ...
,
2007 2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year. Events January * January 1 **Bulgaria and Romania 2007 enlargement of the European Union, join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eur ...
* SM-liiga Kanada-malja:
1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...
,
2012 2012 was designated as: *International Year of Cooperatives *International Year of Sustainable Energy for All Events January *January 4 – The Cicada 3301 internet hunt begins. * January 12 – Peaceful protests begin in the R ...


International

*
IIHF European Cup The IIHF European Cup, also known as the Europa Cup, was a European ice hockey club competition for champions of national leagues which was contested between 1965 and 1997, governed by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). History The ...
:
1994 The year 1994 was designated as the " International Year of the Family" and the "International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal" by the United Nations. In the Line Islands and Phoenix Islands of Kiribati, 1994 had only 364 days, omitti ...
,
1995 1995 was designated as: * United Nations Year for Tolerance * World Year of Peoples' Commemoration of the Victims of the Second World War This was the first year that the Internet was entirely privatized, with the United States government ...
*
IIHF European Cup The IIHF European Cup, also known as the Europa Cup, was a European ice hockey club competition for champions of national leagues which was contested between 1965 and 1997, governed by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). History The ...
:
1992 1992 was designated as International Space Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 – Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General. * January 6 ** The Republ ...
*
IIHF Continental Cup The Continental Cup is a second-level ice hockey tournament for European clubs (behind Champions Hockey League), begun in 1997 after the discontinuing of the European Cup. It was intended for teams from countries without representatives in the ...
:
2003 2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater. In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War. Demographic ...
*
European Trophy European Trophy (previously named ''Nordic Trophy'' between 2006 and 2009) was an annually held ice hockey tournament, traditionally composed of teams from the higher-level ice hockey leagues in countries across Europe. With 32 participating team ...
''(1)'':
2011 The year marked the start of a Arab Spring, series of protests and revolutions throughout the Arab world advocating for democracy, reform, and economic recovery, later leading to the depositions of world leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen ...
* Tournament Hameenlinna: 2014 * Puchkov Cup: 2014, 2016 * Puchkov Cup: 2017 * Puchkov Cup: 2015 * Bauer games: 2020, 2021 * Warrior Cup Kaufbeuren: 2024


Other awards

* Aaro Kivilinnan Memorial Trophy (Best Finnish Club age classes combined): 1976, 1996, 1997 (shared), 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003 *Harry Lindblad Trophy (SM-liiga regular season winner, since 1975): 1983, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2013 *
Mestis Mestis (from , meaning 'Championship series', stylized as MEST1S) 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 ('First Division ...
(second level of ice hockey in Finland):
2025 So far, the year has seen the continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudanese civil war, and the Gaza war. Internal crises in Bangladesh post-resignation v ...
*
I-Divisioona I-Divisioona was the second tier of ice hockey in Finland from 1974 to 2000. It replaced the previous league Suomensarja that ran from 1936 to 1974. I-Divisioona was known as the Finland-liiga (1992–1994) and the Fazer liiga (1994–1996) due ...
/ Suomensarja, promotion to top league. (it was the second level of ice hockey in Finland): 1969,
1989 1989 was a turning point in political history with the "Revolutions of 1989" which ended communism in Eastern Bloc of Europe, starting in Poland and Hungary, with experiments in power-sharing coming to a head with the opening of the Berlin W ...


Individual awards

;
Kultainen kypärä Kultainen kypärä () is an ice hockey award given by the Suomen jääkiekkoilijat ry (SJRY; ) to the best player in the Finnish Liiga and Auroraliiga. Winners are selected via votes cast by each league's players. Kultainen kypärä has been award ...
*
Teemu Selänne Teemu Ilmari Selänne (; born July 3, 1970) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey winger. He began his professional career in 1989–90 with Jokerit of the SM-liiga and played 21 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Winn ...
– 1991 * Tim Thomas – 2005 *
Ville Leino Ville Hans Viking Leino (born 6 October 1983) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey Forward (ice hockey), forward. He has played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers and Buffalo Sabres. Playin ...
– 2008 * Juuso Riksman – 2009 ;
Urpo Ylönen trophy Urpo is a given name. Notable people with the name include: *Urpo Korhonen (1923–2009), Finnish cross-country skier *Urpo Lahtinen, Finnish magazine publisher *Urpo Pikkupeura (born 1957), former ice speed skater from Finland *Urpo Sivula (born ...
* Rauli Sohlman – 1983 *
Ari Sulander Ari Juhani Sulander (born 6 January 1969), nicknamed Sulo, is a retired Swiss-Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender. Career in Finland Sulander played nine seasons for Jokerit Helsinki in Finland's SM-liiga, winning four league championsh ...
– 1996 *
Kari Lehtonen Kari Lehtonen (born November 16, 1983) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey goaltender who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Atlanta Thrashers and Dallas Stars. He was selected second overall in the 2002 NHL E ...
– 2002, 2003 * Juuso Riksman – 2009 ;
Pekka Rautakallio trophy The Pekka Rautakallio trophy is an ice hockey award given by the Finland, Finnish Liiga to the best defenceman of the season. In 1995 the award was renamed to carry the name of its first winner Pekka Rautakallio. In 2019 it was awarded to Oliwer Ka ...
* Nikolai Makarov – 1983 *
Erik Hämäläinen Erik Vesa Hämäläinen (born April 20, 1965 in Rauma, Finland) is a left-handed retired Finnish ice hockey defenceman. Hämäläinen currently is an Ice hockey coach, employed by SM-liiga team Lukko Playing career Early career Erik Hämäläin ...
– 1993 *
Mika Strömberg Mika Juhani Strömberg (born February 28, 1970, in Helsinki, Finland) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman. He was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques as their eleventh-round pick, #211 overall, in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft. After a ten- ...
– 1996 ; Jarmo Wasama memorial trophy *
Teemu Pulkkinen Teemu Pulkkinen (born 2 January 1992) is a Finland, Finnish professional ice hockey Winger (ice hockey), left winger who currently plays for HK Poprad of the Slovak Extraliga. Pulkkinen was drafted 111th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2 ...
– 2011 *
Teuvo Teräväinen Teuvo Henri Matias Teräväinen (; born 11 September 1994) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward (ice hockey), forward for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 18th overall, of the ...
– 2012 ;
Veli-Pekka Ketola trophy The Veli-Pekka Ketola trophy () is a Finnish ice hockey trophy awarded by the Liiga The Liiga, colloquially called the Finnish Elite League in English or FM-ligan in Swedish, is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. The league c ...
* Timo Turunen – 1973 * Timo Sutinen – 1974, 1975 *
Petri Varis Petri Johannes Varis (born May 13, 1969) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward. He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks as their 6th-round pick in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. Playing career Starting his pro career with Karhu-Kissat i ...
– 1997, 2001 ;
Aarne Honkavaara trophy The Aarne Honkavaara trophy is an ice hockey trophy given by the Finnish Liiga to the player who scores the most goals during regular season play. Trophy Winners: 1977-78: Markku Kiimalainen ( Kärpät) 1978-79: Kari Makkonen ( Ässät) 1979 ...
* Timo Turunen – 1973, 1974 (shared) *
Teemu Selänne Teemu Ilmari Selänne (; born July 3, 1970) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey winger. He began his professional career in 1989–90 with Jokerit of the SM-liiga and played 21 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Winn ...
– 1992 *
Petri Varis Petri Johannes Varis (born May 13, 1969) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward. He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks as their 6th-round pick in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. Playing career Starting his pro career with Karhu-Kissat i ...
– 1997 *
Pasi Saarela Pasi Saarela (born August 24, 1973 in Finland) is a professional Finnish ice hockey player. Pasi Saarela won the Aarne Honkavaara trophy for best goal scorer in 2005 with the team, Lukko and in 1999 with Jokerit Helsingin Jokerit (, English: ...
– 1999 *
Jani Rita Jani Markus Rita (born July 25, 1981) 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. Playing career Despite limited NHL experience, Rita has played extens ...
– 2007 *
Jukka Hentunen Jukka Mika Petteri Hentunen (born May 3, 1974) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward, who last played with KalPa of the SM-liiga in the 2012–13 season. Playing career Hentunen played with HPK of the SM-liiga when he was drafted ...
– 2010 (shared) ; Raimo Kilpiö trophy * Jari Kapanen – 1975 *
Teemu Selänne Teemu Ilmari Selänne (; born July 3, 1970) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey winger. He began his professional career in 1989–90 with Jokerit of the SM-liiga and played 21 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Winn ...
– 1991 *
Keijo Säilynoja Keijo Henrik Säilynoja (born February 17, 1970, in Vantaa, Finland) is a retired Finnish ice hockey player Playing career Jokerit (1988-1998) Säilynoja started his career for Jokerit in 1988, while the team was playing in Finnish First Divi ...
– 1992 *
Waltteri Immonen Waltteri Immonen (born April 3, 1967 in Helsinki, Finland) is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman and former coach of SM-liiga team Jokerit. Playing career Immonen started his playing career in Helsingin Jokerit, an ice hockey team fr ...
– 1996 *
Ville Peltonen Ville Sakari Peltonen (born 24 May 1973) is a Finnish ice hockey coach and a former professional ice hockey forward. Peltonen was drafted by the San Jose Sharks as their third round pick, 58th overall, in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. During his ...
– 2003 ;
Matti Keinonen trophy The Matti Keinonen Trophy () is an ice hockey award given by the Finnish Liiga The Liiga, colloquially called the Finnish Elite League in English or FM-ligan in Swedish, is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. The league compris ...
*
Arto Sirviö Arto Tapio Ilmari Sirviö (born 6 January 1962) is a retired professional Finnish ice hockey player. Currently he is the head coach of Kristianstads IK. Sirviö was born in Sotkamo, and began his professional career in 1979 with HIFK where he st ...
– 1984 *
Waltteri Immonen Waltteri Immonen (born April 3, 1967 in Helsinki, Finland) is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman and former coach of SM-liiga team Jokerit. Playing career Immonen started his playing career in Helsingin Jokerit, an ice hockey team fr ...
– 1992 *
Erik Hämäläinen Erik Vesa Hämäläinen (born April 20, 1965 in Rauma, Finland) is a left-handed retired Finnish ice hockey defenceman. Hämäläinen currently is an Ice hockey coach, employed by SM-liiga team Lukko Playing career Early career Erik Hämäläin ...
– 1993 *
Petri Varis Petri Johannes Varis (born May 13, 1969) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward. He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks as their 6th-round pick in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. Playing career Starting his pro career with Karhu-Kissat i ...
– 1996 *
Martti Järventie Martti Juhani Järventie (born April 4, 1976) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenceman. He was selected in the fourth round, 109th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft and played one game for the Canadiens ...
– 2007 ;
Kalevi Numminen trophy The Kalevi Numminen trophy is an ice hockey award given by the Finnish Liiga to the best coach of the season. In 2019 it was awarded to Antti Pennanen of HPK. Trophy Winners: 1977-78: Kari Mäkinen ( Ässät) 1978-79: Veli-Pekka Roiha ( Reipas ...
* Reino Ruotsalainen – 1983 *
Raimo Summanen Raimo Olavi Summanen (born March 2, 1962) is a former professional ice hockey forward and the current head coach of HIFK of the Finnish Elite League. He is also a former coach of the Finnish national team. He was selected by the Edmont ...
– 2002 Other achievements: *In the 2004–05 season, Tim Thomas broke the SM-liiga shutout record with 15 shutouts during the regular season. *Nine European players in the history of the
National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...
have scored 1,000 career points; two of these nine, and the only Finns,
Jari Kurri Jari Pekka Kurri (; born 18 May 1960) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player. Beginning in 1980, he played Winger (ice hockey), right wing for five National Hockey League (NHL) teams: the Edmonton Oilers, the Los Angeles Kings, the N ...
and
Teemu Selänne Teemu Ilmari Selänne (; born July 3, 1970) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey winger. He began his professional career in 1989–90 with Jokerit of the SM-liiga and played 21 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Winn ...
, started their professional careers with Jokerit. *In the
2015–16 KHL season The 2015–16 KHL season was the eighth season of the Kontinental Hockey League. The season started on 24 August 2015 with the Opening Cup between defending champions SKA Saint Petersburg and last year's Continental Cup winners CSKA Moscow, repl ...
, Jokerit won the
Bobrov Division The KHL's Bobrov Division was formed in 2008 as part of the league's inauguration and is part of the Western conference since the second season of KHL when the conferences were established. It is one of 4 divisions. It is named in honor of Vsev ...
in just their second season in the league.


Retired numbers


All-time captains

* Osmo Kuusisto – 1967–1969 *
Erkki Mononen Erkki is a Finnish and Estonian given name (derived from Erik). Notable people with the name include: A–K * Erkki Aadli (born 1974), Estonian orienteer * Erkki Aaltonen (1910–1990), Finnish composer * Erkki Ala-Könni (1911– 1996), Fin ...
– 1969–1971 * Timo Turunen – 1971–1976, 1978 *
Pentti Hiiros Pentti is a Finnish language, Finnish male given name and a surname, a form of Bengt (disambiguation), Bengt (Swedish for Benedict (given name), Benedict). Pentti was a very popular name in 1920–1950's. In 1924–1953 it was given to more than 100 ...
– 1976–1978 * Jari Kapanen – 1978–1980 *
Henry Leppä Henry Erik Leppä (12 March 1947 – 2 June 2025)Henry Leppä on kuollut
...
– 1980–1981 * Jussi Lepistö – 1981–1982, 1987 * Risto Kerminen – 1982–1984 * Markus Lehto – 1984–1985 *
Jari Lindroos Jari Juhani Lindroos (born 31 January 1961 in Pieksämäki, Finland) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga. He played for JYP, Jokerit and Kärpät and competed with the Finland national ice hockey team at ...
– 1985–1987 * Jarmo Koskinen – 1987–1989 *
Anssi Melametsä Anssi Ilari Melametsä (born June 21, 1961) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League and SM-liiga. He played for Jokerit, where he was captain, as well as HIFK, and the Winnipeg Jets. Internat ...
– 1989–1990 *
Waltteri Immonen Waltteri Immonen (born April 3, 1967 in Helsinki, Finland) is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman and former coach of SM-liiga team Jokerit. Playing career Immonen started his playing career in Helsingin Jokerit, an ice hockey team fr ...
– 1991–1999 *
Antti-Jussi Niemi Antti-Jussi Jormanpoika Niemi (born 22 September 1977) 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 ...
– 1999–2000, 2009–2010 *
Antti Törmänen Antti Ilari Törmänen (born September 19, 1970) is a retired professional ice hockey player and current head coach of EHC Biel in Switzerland's National League. He played for the Ottawa Senators, Jokerit, HV71 and Södertälje SK over 14 se ...
– 2000–2002 *
Ville Peltonen Ville Sakari Peltonen (born 24 May 1973) is a Finnish ice hockey coach and a former professional ice hockey forward. Peltonen was drafted by the San Jose Sharks as their third round pick, 58th overall, in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. During his ...
– 2001–2002, 2002–2003 *
Sami Helenius Sami "Helge" Helenius (born January 22, 1974) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenceman who played predominantly in the SM-liiga and National Hockey League. He most recently was in a coaching role with Haukat of the Suomi-sarja. Pl ...
– 2003–2004 *
Juha Lind Juha Petteri Lind (born 2 January 1974 in Helsinki, Finland) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player. Lind started his career with Jokerit his hometown team. He was drafted 178th overall by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1992 NH ...
– 2004–2005 *
Petri Varis Petri Johannes Varis (born May 13, 1969) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward. He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks as their 6th-round pick in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. Playing career Starting his pro career with Karhu-Kissat i ...
– 2005, 2006–2009 *
Marko Jantunen Marko Jantunen (born February 14, 1971) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player. He was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the 11th round, 239th overall, of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. Playing career Jantunen began his career in Kiekko-R ...
– 2005–2006 * Ossi Väänänen – 2010–2014 *
Niko Kapanen Niko Klaus Petteri Kapanen (born 29 April 1978) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey centre, who last played for HPK of the Finnish Liiga. Playing career Kapanen was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the 6th round as the 173rd overall pick ...
– 2014–2016 *
Peter Regin Peter Regin Jensen (born 16 April 1986) is a Danish former professional ice hockey player. He was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the third round (87th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft and played his first five NHL seasons with the organi ...
– 2016–2020 * Marko Anttila – 2020–2022 * Saku Forsblom – 2023 *
Valtteri Filppula Valtteri Filppula (born 20 March 1984) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward (ice hockey), forward. Filppula won the Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008 Stanley Cup Finals, 2008. He has previously played with the Red Wi ...
– 2024–present


All-time head coaches

*
Jorma Salmi Jorma Salmi (6 May 1933 – 24 May 2016) was a Finnish professional ice hockey player. He played in the SM-sarja for Ilves, HIFK, and HJK and also played in Sweden's Division 1 for AIK IF and Västra Frölunda IF. He was inducted into the Finnis ...
1967–1968 *
Martti Sarlin The IV District, also known as Martti ( Finnish; ''Martinsbacken'' in Swedish), is one of the central districts of Turku, Finland. It is located on the east side of the river Aura, between ''Tervahovinkatu'' in the west and ''Betaniankatu'' ...
1968–1969 (half season) *
Jorma Kyntölä Jorma can refer to: *Jorma (name) ''Jorma'' is a Finnish male given name. It was very popular in Finland in the 1940s and 1950s. It is a Finnish version of the name ''Jeremiah''. The name day In Christianity, a name day is a tradition in many c ...
1968–1969 (half season) *
Aulis Hirvonen Aulis may refer to: * Aulis (given name) * Aulis (ancient Greece), an ancient Greek town in Boeotia, traditionally the port from which the Greek army set sail for the Trojan War * ''Aulis'' (beetle), a genus of ladybird beetle * Aulis (mythology) ...
1969–1970 *
Matti Lampainen Matti Veikko Lampainen (born January 16, 1932) is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga. He was born in Kanneljärvi, Finland (now Pobeda, Leningrad Oblast, Russia). He played for Tappara and Ilves. He was inducted int ...
1970–1973, 1973–1974 *
Rauli Virtanen Rauli Virtanen (born 28 June 1948) is a Finnish writer, freelance journalist, lecturer and television producer. He has covered wars and conflicts since the days of Vietnam, and may be the first person to have visited all the countries in the world ...
1973 */ Boris Majorov 1974–1976, 1990–1993 *
Jorma Borgström Jorma can refer to: *Jorma (name) ''Jorma'' is a Finnish male given name. It was very popular in Finland in the 1940s and 1950s. It is a Finnish version of the name ''Jeremiah''. The name day In Christianity, a name day is a tradition in many c ...
1976–1977 * Pentti Katainen 1977–1978 * Timo Turunen 1978 * Matti Väisänen 1978–1980, 1985–1987 * Olli Hietanen 1980–1982 * Reino Ruotsalainen 1982–1985 *
Henry Leppä Henry Erik Leppä (12 March 1947 – 2 June 2025)Henry Leppä on kuollut
...
1987–1988 *
Kari Mäkinen Kari Mäkinen (born 5 January 1955) is the former archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. He was elected the 14th Archbishop of Turku and Finland on 11 March 2010, he was installed on 6 June 2010, and he retired on 1 June 2018. ...
1988–1990 *
Alpo Suhonen Alpo Suhonen (born 17 June 1948) is a Finnish former ice hockey coach. He and Ivan Hlinka of the Pittsburgh Penguins were the first European-born NHL head coaches in 52 years. Coaching career Suhonen worked for the Finnish ice hockey federation ...
1993 *
Hannu Aravirta Hannu Aravirta (born 26 March 1953) is a former Finnish ice hockey player and an ice hockey coach for the Finnish national men's team, SM-liiga and Elitserien. Career as player Aravirta was born in Savonlinna, and made his first professional ...
1993–1996 * Curt Lundmark 1996–1997, 1997–1998 *
Sakari Pietilä Sakari Pietilä (born 21 June 1954) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player. Pietilä was a SM-liiga head coach with HPK for the 1995–96 SM-liiga season and Jokerit for the 1997–98 SM-liiga season. He was the head coach of the ...
1997 * Hannu Kapanen 1998–1999 *
Timo Lahtinen Timo Lahtinen (born 24 May 1947) is a retired Finnish ice hockey coach and former forward. Playing career Lahtinen played in the SM-sarja for Ilves and HJK. He also played in Serie A for HC Gherdëina and SG Cortina. Coaching career Lahtinen ...
1999 *
Erkka Westerlund Erkka Westerlund (born 30 March 1957, in Pernå, Finland) was the head coach of the Finnish national men's ice hockey team. He was appointed head coach on November 1, 2004, and his contract ended in May 2007, after winning silver in Moscow's World ...
1999–2001, 2010–2012, 2014–2016 *
Raimo Summanen Raimo Olavi Summanen (born March 2, 1962) is a former professional ice hockey forward and the current head coach of HIFK of the Finnish Elite League. He is also a former coach of the Finnish national team. He was selected by the Edmont ...
2001–2003 *
Hannu Jortikka Hannu Jortikka (born 16 December 1956) is a Finnish former ice hockey player and current coach.http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=3167 Hannu Jortikka on Eliteprospects.com Jortikka spent most of his playing career in TPS. He was a p ...
2003–2005, 2009–2010 *
Waltteri Immonen Waltteri Immonen (born April 3, 1967 in Helsinki, Finland) is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman and former coach of SM-liiga team Jokerit. Playing career Immonen started his playing career in Helsingin Jokerit, an ice hockey team fr ...
2005 *
Curt Lindström Curt "Curre" Lindström (born 26 November 1940) is a Swedish people, Swedish ice hockey coach. Career on international level He coached Finnish national men's ice hockey team, Team Finland from 1993 to 1997, winning Finland's first Ice Hockey Wo ...
2005–2006 *
Doug Shedden Douglas Arthur Shedden (born April 29, 1961) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former player. He played in the National Hockey League between 1981 and 1991. After his playing career he became a coach, and worked in the minor leagues for severa ...
2006–2008 *
Glen Hanlon Glen A. Hanlon (born February 20, 1957) is a Canadian ice hockey coach, executive and former goaltender. Hanlon played in the National Hockey League for the Vancouver Canucks, St. Louis Blues, New York Rangers and the Detroit Red Wings. He is al ...
2008–2009 *
Hannu Aravirta Hannu Aravirta (born 26 March 1953) is a former Finnish ice hockey player and an ice hockey coach for the Finnish national men's team, SM-liiga and Elitserien. Career as player Aravirta was born in Savonlinna, and made his first professional ...
2009 *
Tomi Lämsä Tomi Lämsä (born September 16, 1979) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player. He is currently the head coach of Rauman Lukko in the SM-Liiga. Lämsä was the head coach of the Jokerit for the 2012–13 season, remaining in that po ...
2012–2014 (half a season) */
Tomek Valtonen Tomasz Valtonen (born 8 January 1980) is a Poland, Polish-born Finnish people, Finnish former professional ice hockey forward (ice hockey), forward. He is currently the head coach for HK Dukla Ingema Michalovce. He coached the Poland men's natio ...
2014 (half a season) *
Jukka Jalonen Jukka Pertti Juhani Jalonen (born 2 November 1962 in Riihimäki, Finland) is a Finland, Finnish professional ice hockey coach (sport), coach and former player. In 2011 IIHF World Championship, 2011, 2019 IIHF World Championship, 2019 and 2022 II ...
2016–2018 *
Lauri Marjamäki Lauri Marjamäki (born May 29, 1977) is a Finnish ice hockey coach who currently serves as head coach of EHC Kloten of the National League A, a position he has held since 2022. He previously served as head coach of the Finnish national ice hocke ...
2018–2022 *
Tero Määttä Tero Määttä (born January 2, 1982) is a Finnish ice hockey defenceman who last played for Ässät of the SM-liiga. Although selected by the San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, Califor ...
2023-2024 *
Risto Dufva Risto Dufva (born May 1, 1963) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey goaltender. He is currently the head coach of Vaasan Sport of the Finnish ice hockey league (Liiga). Dufva played with JYP Jyväskylä JYP is an ice hockey team playin ...
2024–present


Season-by-season record

''NOTE: Overtime rules have changed in professional hockey, as seen in this chart. RW= Regulation Win, D=Draw, OTW = Overtime or Shootout Win, OTL = Overtime or Shootout loss.'' ''Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, OTW = Overtime or shootout wins, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime or shootout losses, L = Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes''


See also

* FC Jokerit * Jokerit FC


References


External links

* {{Liiga Former Liiga teams Sports clubs and teams in Helsinki Ice hockey clubs established in 1967 1967 establishments in Finland Former Kontinental Hockey League teams Ice hockey teams in Finland Bobrov Division