Helsinki Jokerit is applying for a place in Mestis next season. Team Jokerit Oy, which is behind the club’s new arrival, will submit its application on Tuesday, according to Jarmo Koskinen, the leader of the club’s comeback project.
Jokerit is applying for a place in hockey Mesti for next season, says MTV Urheilu (you switch to another service). The background company of the club’s return project, Team Jokerit Oy, leaves Jarmo Koskinen according to his application to the board of the Jääkieksoliitto, which will process the application at its meeting next week.
– We feel very confident that the Jokerit will play in Mest next season, Koskinen says according to MTV.
However, Koskinen, who has become one of the faces of the Jokeri comeback project, does not reveal more to MTV about the club’s return or its goals.
Koskinen also does not say where the club is supposed to play in its possible first Mestis season.
– The Hall issue is not completely in our hands, so I cannot comment on it, Koskinen says, referring to the issues related to the sale of the Helsinki arena.
The Helsinki arena is still under Russian ownership.
Jokerie’s Mestis application has several processing steps. First, the board of the Jääkieksliitto will consider the application at its meeting next week. If the federal government views the project as having potential for continuation, the application will be forwarded to the Ice Hockey Federation’s license committee.
The ice hockey association’s board’s processing is only the first step, while the license application itself is more precisely defined. According to MTV Urheilu’s source, Joker’s application must at least state the plans for the next season, open the club’s financing and state where it plans to play.
Team Jokerit Oy’s application process has been covered by a smoke screen regarding, among other things, ownership arrangements. Several different media asked, for example, for the company’s shareholder list, which, however, was not delivered despite the requests. However, later in November, Yelle found out from documents submitted to the trade register that Jokerie’s new background company is 100% Joel Harkimon owned.
Joel Harkimo is the long-time owner of Jokerit, a member of parliament Hjallis Harkimon son. Both Joel and Hjallis Harkimo represent the Liike Nyt party, as a member of which Joel sits on the Helsinki City Council.
Joel Harkimo has denied being the face of the Joker’s comeback project.
The news is updated.