Ice hockey | “The league definitely needs another team from the capital region” – This is the opinion of the coaches and captains about the current state of the league

Tampere

Ice hockey The league starts its season at the same time as the discussion about the future of the series goes on electronically in the background.

Kiekko-Espoo has announced that its goal is to return to the main league level for the 2024–2025 season, and work is being done behind the Jokers to return to the domestic leagues.

Last week, at the opening ceremony of the League, the chairman Heikki Hiltunen presented the idea that Finland should be strongly pushing for the creation of the European Premier League. Hiltunen leads a working group that will consider the future of Finnish league hockey during this season and will give its presentation in the spring.

HS asked the coaches and captains for their views on the current situation of the League in connection with the opening ceremony. They were asked two questions: Is it too easy for young people to get into the League to play? How many teams should there be in the League?

Mainly getting into the League for young people was thought to be challenging enough at the moment. Piloted Tappara to the Finnish championship last season Jussi Tapola held a large number of young people As one of the strengths of the league.

“When you look at our 20-year-old national team, it is full of Liiga players,” Tapola reminded.

According to Tapola sometimes promotion to the League is characterized by haste.

“Haste comes from the background. Then it is too easy to rise if the background is too impatient. It usually doesn’t come from the player. If the backgrounds are in order, then it’s not too easy,” says Tapola.

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“Players born in the second half of the 1990s have gone leaps and bounds to the top of the world.”

HIFK coaching Ville Peltonen thanks the Finnish player production and reminds that the level of the age groups playing now is high.

“Players born in the second half of the 1990s have gone leaps and bounds to the top of the world. The mass below it now fills Liiga and other professional leagues. I think they are good players and deserve this. The level of play in the league is very good,” says Peltonen.

Also coached TPS in last spring’s Liiga finals Jussi Ahokas estimates that the situation has become more difficult for the coming season. With the players who left the KHL, there have also been more experienced players available than before.

“In itself, it is good for Finnish hockey that it is easier to rise here than, for example, in Switzerland or Sweden,” says Ahokas.

Gather the pilot Olli Salo on the other hand, reminds that a young person who gets into the League has always done something well compared to his peers.

“There are quite a few others there who want to join the League. Some just get there. Maybe it’s made it a little easier when more experienced players have left,” says Salo.

Moved to Kärppi in Oulu last season Lauri Marjamäki says that the matter cannot be generalized. At the same time, he thinks that it is too busy at the moment, which can be seen especially in the time spent in the A-youth league.

“The biggest physical growth for the next 15 years is made in the A-youths, to be able to be a top athlete. Now it feels like it’s a year of A and then it’s done. Fortunately, there are no shortcuts in sports. We have talented players, but we still need patience,” says Marjamäki.

About the captains TPS Juhani Jasu and HPK Juuso Hietanen however, they say that the ascent is easier than before. The question whether the ascent is already too easy does not get an unequivocal answer.

“It’s quite difficult to say yes or no, but it’s certainly easier than it used to be. It’s certainly quite case- and team-specific,” says Jasu.

“The league has gotten younger since I played. In that sense, it’s probably easier to get there than 15 years ago,” Hietanen reflects.

HIFK captain Teemu Tallberg is of the opinion that there are still enough challenges.

“Yes, it has always been difficult for younger people, but the good ones find their place,” says Tallberg.

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“The matter is in the hands of the bigger gentlemen.”

Coming regarding the number of teams, the ball is strongly thrown to the managing directors responsible for the clubs’ finances. Their decision also actually decides the matter. Changes to the number of teams in the league are decided at the general meeting, where each club has one vote. Changes require a two-thirds majority, i.e. ten supporters.

“I am of the opinion that the League definitely needs another team from the capital region. That situation has to be, but otherwise the matter is in the hands of the big guys,” says TPS’s Ahokas.

of HPK Jarno Pikkarainen takes the position of reducing Liiga and Mestis.

“I think that 12+10 teams would be good, we should go smaller,” Pikkarainen says.

TPS captain Jasu is also in favor of the change.

“There should be an even number of teams. Would 16 be too much? Maybe the reading could be a little lower or the series system could be renewed somehow. It’s not always terrible to add,” he reflects.

Jasu would like to bring the qualifiers back to Finnish major league hockey.

“At least as long as you don’t have to organize it yourself and think about series structures, such as how the drip will do. And of course it’s also a matter of circumstances and hall. It’s easy to shout about this, but in an ideal situation there would definitely be an open series,” says Jasu.

Jokers Lauri Marjamäki, who piloted the KHL team, says that the key factor in looking at the number of teams is how to get a competitive advantage in Finland compared to others. Marjamäki is convinced that Finnish hockey needs Jokers.

“I believe that HIFK needs even more than others to bring voltage to the capital region. I hope they get things right and return to the puck map and the League as quickly as possible,” says Marjamäki.

He calls for structural changes that also take into account Mestis, where he thinks there are good communities. He mentions Joensuu and Rovaniemi as examples.

“At the moment, Mestis is not doing very well. It seems that in February they will call to see if they could get players from one of the league teams, when the players run out. It’s a tough series for young players to go there and make themselves professionals,” says Marjamäki.