The SM League instructed the players not to answer questions about the series system at Monday’s media conference. Some of the captains then contacted the Jääkiekko players’ association.
The new arrival of Jokeri and Kiekko-Espoo has revived the discussion about opening the SM league and restoring the league qualifiers.
The league qualifiers were last played in 2013. The SM League announced in June that the league’s doors will remain closed at least until 2025. In the survey conducted by the players’ association, 98 percent of the players who stated their position are in favor of opening the series. 465 players answered the survey.
At the opening ceremony of the season on Monday, the SM League instructed the captains of the teams not to answer questions about the series system. For example, many of the captains interviewed by Urheilu went around and around when asked about the topic.
The ice hockey players’ association SRJY took a stand on the case on Tuesday.
– The players’ association does not accept this type of silencing of players’ voices. Everyone should have the right to their own opinions and the opportunity to express them. You have to be able to have a substantive discussion about the league’s series system, like all other topics. In all discussions, the opinion of the players must also be heard and influenced, the association announced in the press release.
Executive director of the players’ association Risto Kauppinen tells Urheilu that the association felt it necessary to intervene when some of the captains contacted.
– We received information from the captains about what had happened before the briefing. They had come across this problem when journalists had interviewed them, Kauppinen says.
Does the Players’ Association feel that the SM league silenced the players?
– This was the perception of the captains who informed us and of course we believe them.
Kauppinen, who started in the players association in 2021, does not remember that there have been similar cases in his time. He says that the case has been reviewed together with the SM league, and that the relationship between the players and the series is fine. There are no similar guidelines for other subjects.
– Yes, the SM League also hopes for an open discussion. Yes, everyone can express their opinion. In this case, the guidelines for one media event were perceived as too strict. We will surely learn from everything. On the other hand, this does not make it a bigger problem.
CEO of the SM League Mikko Pulkkinen said on Tuesday in an interview with MTV that the management of the SM League held a briefing for the players and head coaches before Monday’s press conference. According to Pulkkinen, the management of the SM league had no intention of silencing the players.
– Of course, everyone comments and speaks as they see fit. This is my position. If you want to maintain a certain clarity in the matter, I think it’s better that those who decide on the matter talk about it, Pulkkinen told MTV.
Urheilu could not reach SM league representatives to comment on the matter.