It seems unbelievable how poorly the discipline was managed for years, because it was finally fixed in the blink of an eye, writes journalist Jussi Paasi.
It happened amazingly fast.
The SM league season started and the games went on as usual. Corona restrictions were a distant memory. And one sure sign of the start of the season also came true: the website of Finland’s only fully professional league did not work. Unfortunately, it didn’t come as a surprise to anyone.
Based on J. Karjalainen’s hit: Everything is as it was before.
Except it wasn’t.
The league season didn’t have time to expire even a month, when the long-standing disgrace of the SM league was removed.
Discipline.
For a long time it was run in the same way as a lottery draw. You never knew what numbers would come out of the machine. And nobody knew the date of the draw either.
And when the decision about the case requiring discipline was finally made public, no one found a red thread in the punishment scale.
The regular season of the SM league has only been played for about a quarter, but already it is safe to declare that the stain of shame has been wiped away.
Disciplinary decisions have come quickly. And most importantly, they contain the most essential: consistency. A good example of this was given about a week ago.
Two situations in the league round played on October 9 progressed to disciplinary proceedings. TPS Arttu Ilomäki and Ace By Derek Barach contact between, and JYP Teemu Suhonen hit by Ilves Matias Mäntykiveen.
Barach and Mäntykivi were injured as a result of the blows to the head.
The discipline did not impose a punishment on Ilomäki. Suhonen was suspended for six matches. Many hockey fans may have rubbed their eyes at first. But when I carefully read the reasons for discipline, it was not unclear why the sanctions in the cases differed so much.
I recommend reading and looking at the disciplinary policies in their entirety and Ilomäki (you switch to another service) that Suhonen (you switch to another service) situations.
Here are brief extracts from the decisions:
The disciplinary delegation states that a lateral tackle on a player without the puck, which hits the head, is an act by which Suhonen recklessly endangers the opponent.
The disciplinary delegation states that the collision was accidental, and that Ilomäki did not recklessly endanger Barach in the situation.
Can I say it any more clearly? This is how it should always have worked!
I only noticed while writing this comment that the SM league had informed (you switch to another service) of the discipline’s “refined process and new schedules” at the start of the season.
It was startling to read how things had been “handled” before. For example, there were no time frames for external communication. So, as I stated above, you could never know when decisions were allowed to wait. Other loopholes were found.
The safety of the players is the most important thing in hockey. The biggest responsibility for that always lies with the players. You have to protect yourself and others in the rink.
But discipline, with its own policies, can significantly affect what happens on the ice.
An excellent example of this was Suhonen’s long suspension. It underlined what the hockey SM league does not tolerate in the rink. The message was crystal clear.
The disciplinary delegation of the SM League consists of five members: Sampo Liusjärvi, Markku Tuominen, Robert Bützow, Ville Uusitalo and Toni Kähkönen. Liusjärvi and Bützow are lawyers, Tuominen is a doctor of medicine, Uusitalo and Kähkönen are former ice hockey players.
Kähkönen joined the group at the end of September. No big headlines were written about Kähkönen’s new role, but it was one of the most significant puck news of this league season.
Kähkönen immediately articulates the most important issues of discipline.
– Consistency, evenness of line and fairness.
Nothing to add.
The role of Kähkönen and Uusitalo in the disciplinary delegation is indisputable. As far as I understand, the training of lawyers and doctors does not include analyzing head tackles or other fouls that occur in the rink. Of course, Liusjärvi and Bützow have played in a puddle through the junior path, but still the views of former top hockey players are guaranteed to weigh the most when suspensions are imposed or not imposed.
It seems to be working. And that is a shockingly great thing for the entire Finnish ice hockey.
Read also:
The number of goals in the SM league is falling – Ismo Lehkonen brings up a radical idea: “The youth must be brought to the stands”
There is a serious shortage of referees in ice hockey, although the behavior in the games has improved – an amusing example of the Canadian legend and appreciation from the Finnish boss
Does the professional judge take all the trouble, is there jealousy in the air or is the salary satisfactory? The SM League took a historic step in its refereeing activities
Analysis: Pekka Virra was supposed to be a lottery win for SaiPa, but the initial euphoria turned into a complete disaster – the club has many other problems than the league ranking
The Finnish ice hockey champion started as ‘s commentator – a huge job offer was disappointing