The SM League informs that the Jokers must cut off all financial and ownership ties to the KHL project, so that a return to the domestic rinks is possible.
12:21•Updated 13:19
The Ice Hockey Championship League has specified the conditions for the return of the Helsinki Jokerits to the domestic main league. Jokerit, who left the KHL, plans to return to the SM league for the 2023-2024 season.
– The shareholders’ position is clear. All financial and ownership-related connections to Joker’s previous KHL project must be severed. We are not going to accept any such link to Russia, the chairman of the SM league board Heikki Hiltunen line.
During the Jokerien KHL project, its main owners have been first Harry Harkimo and from 2019 Jari Kurri. In April, the club became 100% owned by Kurri, when he bought a 40% share from Norilsk Nickel Harjavalta Oy.
The SM league’s demand for ownership patterns raises the question of whether Kurri, who was the owner of the KHL-Jokers, can continue as the owner of the club. Hiltunen did not answer this question directly.
Can Jari Kurri continue in the Jokerit if the Jokerit is returning to the SM league?
– The club’s management takes a stand on who they choose for the team and organization applying for a league place. They now have the responsibility to decide what their organization is, Hiltunen told Urheilu.
What are the Joker’s links to Russia?
– We mean links or ties related to ownership or leadership that KHL-Jokers have had in the past. Of course, we cannot know if such parties are still involved if Jokerit submits an application to return to the SM league, Hiltunen clarified.
What kind of means does the SM league have to find out the Jokers’ connections to Russia?
– We will use external experts, we will make a legal process about Jokeri’s possible joining the SM league and issues related to the share issue, Hiltunen said.
The Jokerit, who have played in the KHL since 2014, announced on April 20 that the club is aiming to return to the SM league for the 2023-2024 season. According to Hiltunen, the Jokers have until October to submit an official application for their return to the league.