Ice hockey | The return of the Jokers received a confusingly unanimous reception

In the hockey spring we are going through interesting phases. The playoffs are going on in Liiga and Mestis.

In addition, the Helsinki Jokers have at least one foot between the Mestis door, as the Finnish Ice Hockey Federation awarded the team a place in the series.

Jester shirts still need a Mestis license, for which the application period ends on Friday of next week.

What do the Mestis clubs think about the possible entry of the Jokers into the Mestis next season?

HS asked the managers of current Finnish Mestis clubs about it. Latvian HK Zemgale also played in Mestis this season.

Kiekko-Espoo appealed to the agreement made with the Finnish Hockey Association and Mestis, according to which the individual clubs will not comment on the matter during the process.

However, responses were received from all other clubs.

The most critical the comments were about the fact that the Jääkiekkoliitto did not ask the Mestis clubs’ opinion about the Jokers, but the messages of almost all the clubs that responded can be summed up like this: Jokers are welcome in Mestis, as long as the background issues are in order.

“If Jokerit meets the license conditions, welcome only. Jokerit brings media visibility and audience interest to this series, even if Jokerit is on its way to the League,” says the chairman and CEO of Kiekko-Vantaa Kai Sointu.

Chairman of the board of Kajaani Hoki Pasi Halonen emphasizes that Mestis needs a boost and people in the stands. This is where Jokerit can help.

“Hardly they there [Mestiksessä] many years are, but all [aika minkä ovat] is positive”, says Halonen.

Chairman of the board of Imatran Ketterä Mikko from Beard it is precisely the possible “spike” to Mesti that makes me wonder.

“If it’s just a temporary hiatus and as a gateway to the League, will it bring anything permanent to Mesti? I wonder how the Finnish league ice hockey under the Liiga is doing and doing well,” says Partanen.

“For sure Jokerit will bring visibility next season and it’s great that the story of Jokerit continues.”

Iisalmen Chairman of the Board of Peli-Karhuje Mika Salonen sums up the return of Jokerit like this: “Jokerit is a brand that is needed in major league hockey.”

Also chairman of the board of Keupa HT from Keurua Antti Elo considers the arrival of the Jokers to Mesti as a positive thing.

“We would be happy to join Jokerit Mesti to increase the interest of the series.”

Read more: “Kerava saved” – This is the Joker’s new home hall

CEO of Koovee Pekka Hemmilä calls for straightforward and transparent actions from Jokers. If this happens, Kooveek also considers it a great thing that the Jokers come to Mesti.

“Jokerit is a vital club for Suomi-kieko and the capital region, which produces added value”, Hemmilä states.

The chairman of Tuto Hockey’s board of directors also had a very positive attitude towards the possible playing of the Jokers in Mestis Tuomas Haanpäächairman of the board of Kokkola Hermes Petri Torkinlampimanager of Joensuu Kiekko-Poikie Jaakko LipponenFPS board chairman Pasi Nuora and CEO of Rovaniemi Kieko Janne Hyvärinen.

“Thumbs up for the Jokers,” Hyvärinen announces.

The team manager and board member of Heinola’s Peliitto has a relatively positive attitude towards Jokers Marko Nymanbut incense is not quite at the same level as several other leaders of Mestis clubs.

“It’s fine if things are in order,” says Nyman.

Ketterän Partanen is also somewhat reserved.

“As a representative of the club or personally, I have no emotional ties to this matter. If it goes like this within the framework of the rules, then Jokerit will become Mesti.”

Own the question is whether Mestis is exactly the right league level for the Jokers’ return to domestic hockey.

Most of the respondents emphasize that this is a matter for the Ice Hockey Federation and they do not comment on it further.

“Let the wiser decide where to start,” says Lipponen of Kiekko-Poikien.

Instead, Tuto Hockey’s Haanpää says that Mestis sounds like the right route.

“I think it’s great that [Jääkiekkoliiton] the federal government has given the Jokers the opportunity to apply for a Mestis license.”

Kiekko-Vantaaan Sointu reminds us that the series level discussion is a matter of eternity.

“Different decisions have been made in different years. Some clubs are [aiemminkin] got directly to Mesti. There has been a little lack of linearity here, but yes, there have been grounds for those solutions,” Sointu spins.

Kajaani’s Hokin Halonen emphasizes that the change made in the middle of the season is equal for everyone, i.e. the number of teams will not be reduced, so no team will be relegated directly, but the last two Finnish teams will be eliminated from their Mestis place together with the top teams of the Finnish league.

“You can’t fool anyone,” says Halonen.

Here too, Peliittojen Nyman is a little more critical than the other clubs that responded to the survey.

“There has been a bit of talk within Mestis, that the route is not quite right, but this is what the union has decided, so this is how we will go.”