The SM League announced on Wednesday that it will still accept new license applications for the 2024–25 season.
Sakari Lund,
Simo Leinonen
Kiekko-Espoo is applying for a place in the hockey SM league for next season. Chairman of the club Amy Rubinstein told about it today at a press conference. The license application must be submitted by October 31.
The SM League announced on Wednesday that it will still accept new license applications for the 2024–25 season.
The goal of Kiekko-Espoo’s six-year project has always been league promotion. Espoo’s top juniors have had to go elsewhere when there has been no league team in the city.
Kiekko-Espoo held discussions with the SM league for the first time in the spring of 2022. Discussions were held about the criteria for promotion to the league, which were related to sports credibility, junior organization and finances, among other things. Kiekko-Espoo only received the exact criteria yesterday.
In more detail, Rubinstein did not go into the discussions between Kiekko-Espoo and the SM league.
– Mutual communication between the league and us is confidential, but it has been done in good spirit. What is important from our side is that we have been able to show the league why it is important for us to submit an application this year.
There will be a rush to submit the application, but according to Rubinstein, Kiekko-Espoo is well prepared for all options.
On the sporting side, Kiekko-Espoo won the regular season of Mestis last season, the championship of Mestis and also set a new points record. On the junior side, Kiekko-Espo has a strong organization and Espoo’s arena is a top class hall.
On the financial side, Kiekko-Espoo has got investors behind it. The plan is to start the first league season with a budget of around five million euros. The collection of league funding is underway and there are now commitments of more than three million from 19 investors.
In the last fiscal year, Kiekko-Espoo made a loss of no less than 397,000 euros with a turnover of 950,000 euros.
– The economy is on a strong foundation. We made a significant loss last season, but it was well capitalized. All the measures we took last season were aimed at the fact that we are now able to submit a league application.
Serial entrepreneur, millionaire and Nokia board member Timo Ahopelto is According to Ilta-Sanom one of the new investors behind Kiekko-Espoo.
Ahopelto, 48, is known, for example, as one of the founders of CRF Health, a company focused on electronic patient information. According to IS, Ahopelto earned capital gains of 15 million from the sale of the company in 2015.
“The interest in Espoo is strong”
Kiekko-Espoo’s director of sports Kim Hirschowitz was naturally in a positive mood when things have progressed to this point.
– A lot of work has been done for this. The team is in a good mess. Hopefully, as many players as possible from this season will play in next season’s team. Other players are also very interested in Espoo.
Hirschovits did not reveal the player budget in more detail.
– Every year there are as many chips as there are. Let’s try to get the best possible team together.
Kiekko-Espoo’s six-year project has progressed close to a league place. Rubinstein doesn’t lick yet.
– The process is still in progress. At that point, if and when a league place is obtained, you can start to get sensitive.
Another club interested in promotion to the league, Jokerit, is not going to apply for a league license for next season.