The Jokerit announced on Friday that chairman Jari Kurri has decided to suspend the KHL term. KHL playoffs will start next week.
The Helsinki Jokers will leave the KHL season, the club says in a press release. The jokers were due to start the KHL playoffs next Tuesday against Spartak Moscow. According to the Joker’s press release, the extension of the season in the current world situation would have been impossible. (switch to another service)
The Joker’s decision is through this.
– My own position on the end of the season was clear right on Thursday morning. However, in accordance with KHL policies, I had to have discussions with the league. That is why, unfortunately, we are only able to report this now, Chairman of the Joker Board Jari Kurri says in the club’s press release. (switch to another service)
The Jokers informed Urheilu that the club’s management would not comment further.
The reason for withdrawing from the playoffs is Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. On Friday morning, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi said nearly 140 people had died in the Russian attack.
– The world is going through really difficult times right now. All our thoughts are with the people who are suffering from the situation. We hope that a peaceful solution to the situation will be found soon, Kurri continues in the press release.
President of KHL Alexei Morozov was upset about the withdrawal of the Jokers.
Several sponsors announced on Thursday that they were terminating a partnership with the Jokers. Among other things, the service company Barona announced that it would end the cooperation and announced that it would no longer supply staff for match events in the future.
The Jokers have played at KHL for the 2014-2015 season. KHL is a Russian-led hockey league with close ties to the Russian president Vladimir Putin. KHL plays teams from Russia, Belarus, Latvia, Kazakhstan and China.