Jokerit Helsinki Oy, the new parent company of the Helsinki Jokers, who will play in men’s hockey next season in Mestis, has held its first official press conference.
Acts as the chairman of the company Mikko Saarni, who is known in the hockey business especially for the company Viima Hockey. Saarni described the last four to five months as difficult, but interesting and great.
Jokerit Helsinki Oy entered the designs in February. Before that, the return of the Jokers drove Joel Harkimon owned by Team Jokerit Oy.
Saarni said that Jokerit Helsinki Oy’s first goal was to acquire a Mestis license for Jokerit. Saarni praised Joker’s brand, but described it as like a phoenix bird whose wing has been on the ground. Saarni listed sports, economy and community spirit as the pillars of Joker’s new rise.
Jokeri’s goal is to be among the top three in the first Mestis season. The goal for the next few years is to return to the SM league. In addition, the club wants to be number one in the capital region in the development of juniors.
The SM League announced today that the league’s license criteria will be completely re-evaluated and it is currently not possible to apply for a league license for the 2024–25 season.
– The league’s statement fits our schedule perfectly. The goal is that we will be able to get things in such a way that we will be eligible for the league in 2025–26. The decision is made by other people, but we can do things so that we are eligible applicants, comments Saarni.
As other goals, Saari outlined that Jokerit aims to increase the number of its cooperation clubs on the junior side. The goal is to help individuals towards a possible competitive pipeline in Jokers.
The Jokers’ goal is that in the 2025–26 season, the composition of the representative team consists of 50% of their own growth.
Economy to league level “with a solid schedule”
As financial goals, Saarni listed that in order to guarantee the continuity of the operation, the operation must be profitable in both the short and long term. In addition to that, Jokerit aims to become league-eligible with a “solid schedule” in terms of finances.
According to Saarni, the Jokers already have a cooperation agreement with an equipment supplier that is “significant on the scale of the entire Finnish sport” as well as other partnerships.
The season tickets for the next season of the Jokers went on sale today. At the same time, it was announced that Jokerit will start a share issue aimed at fans, which will continue until the beginning of the Mestis season.
Regarding the third support pillar mentioned by Saarni, community spirit, the chairman explained, among other things, the promotion of physical activity for children and young people through the planned “Jokerit likutta” program.
Fans have a new limited company
Joker fans’ point of view was brought to the occasion by long-time supporters Roope Räty and Pasi “Pave” Mähönen. Räty said that a new company called Jokerikannattajat Oy has been established, the aim of which is to buy a part of Jokers through a share issue.
Yhti buys Jokerit Helsinki Oy’s b shares through a share issue. Everyone who wants to can participate in the share offering, with a minimum investment of 50 euros.
– With this, the fans become the owners of Jokerikannattajat Oy, and through that everyone can be part owners of the Jokers, Räty introduced.
– One important part of this is that we have one seat on the Joker board. Fans are making their voices heard in a way that hasn’t been done before.
In addition, it has been agreed that the supporter company will receive three percent of the Jokers’ future NHL training money.
– The main idea has been that the money we collect would be used to promote Jokeri’s junior pipeline and thereby support Jokeri’s strategic goals.
Mähönen made a mistake by emphasizing how the Joker’s supporters have appreciated their own juniors throughout history.
Read more: The final game of the Jokers was sold out in an instant – the club’s flagship bowed to silver in a storm of screams: “Nordis really can’t do it”
Team for the 2023–24 season
Serves as the head coach of the team Tero Määtt, 41, who has been the head coach of the Jokerien U20 team for the last few seasons. Määtä’s assistants were the coach and the team leader Mika Niskanen and goalkeeper and physical trainer Roy Hellgren.
Jokerie’s new CEO is the club’s defensive legend Antti-Jussi Niemi45, and the new sports director is Olli-Pekka Yrjänheikki50, who has worked for a long time at Jokerit ry as a coaching manager.
Niemi played professional hockey for 19 seasons, 11 of them with the Jokers. After his career, Niemi has worked at Eezy United, a personnel company aimed at athletes.
He described his move to the Jokers as a “very emotional decision”. Niemi stated that he is most interested in what the Joker’s new identity will be like.
– I think we have to be the highest quality Sports Club in Finland in many areas. When we think about communities, there are junnu players, their parents, the representative team, staff, match events, partners, fans… When quality is at the center, the result will be good, Niemi said.
According to Yrjänheik, on the player side, the interest in the Jokeri’s representative team next season has been strong for a long time, despite the uncertainties.
– We have tried to find players who feel that they have the opportunity to play higher than Mest, and we as a club believe that this can happen.