For Tuto and Jokeri, who are interested in moving up to the men’s main league, the league share price was defined back in November as more than one million euros more than the current price.
Jääkiekon SM-liiga Oy announced on Friday that the price of Kiekko-Espoo’s league shares is 2.2 million euros. The price is more than a million less than what the SM league announced to Jokeri and Tuto, who were interested in promotion, back in November.
Jokerit announced in November that it does not aim for league promotion on bad terms.
The Helsinki club published a press release on Friday afternoon in which it criticized the League’s actions.
– According to the Jokers’ point of view, the process carried out by the League has treated the Jokers and other Mestis clubs unequally. The league share price and payment period should be the same for all clubs, and the license conditions should be clearly stated in the name of transparency and fairness, the club announced.
Urheilu reached the chairman of Jokerit Helsinki Oy Mikko Saarninwho said that the club was surprised by Liiga’s result.
– It seems very special to us that the price can vary so enormously, Saarni begins.
– From a basic point of view, of course, the fact that the share price has come down dramatically in a relatively short period of time is positive. That’s a great thing. However, we made the plans according to the amount announced at the time.
Jokerit is still aiming for league promotion
According to Saarni, the conditions should be clear and the same for all teams. Now the conditions were changed in the middle of the current season.
– In retrospect, it is pointless to speculate, but basically there is a huge difference between 3.8 million and 2.2 million. The situation could perhaps have been different for the clubs that were considering it (league promotion).
Saarni emphasizes that the club’s focus is currently on the Mestis playoffs, which are about to begin.
– Our goal has been to play at the highest league level from the 2025–26 season. The goal is still valid. Let’s see where the discussions lead and if there will be any changes to the current conditions, which we hope for a little. Then we live by it.
“Raise some eyebrows”
Tuto Hockey Oy, which plays in Mestis, surprised hockey Seuraajat by announcing in November that it is also looking for a place in the SM league.
However, the SM League rejected Tuto’s application. Tuto left in January regarding the matter, an appeal request to the Sports Legal Protection Board.
Turku was also surprised by the SM league’s announcement on Friday.
– Yes, it raises quite a lot of surprise if, in addition to the license conditions, it was announced that the share price is 3.67 million and that financing must also be presented for it, and the method of payment was that it must be paid all at once, says Tuto Hockey’s CEO Kimmo Hollmé.
– When we inquired about what that 3.67 million includes and what the possible secondary market is, how it can be sold on and redeemed, unfortunately we were never answered.
For Kiekko-Espo, the league granted a payment period of five years. Hollmén emphasizes that there is no bitterness towards Kiekko-Espoo in the Turku camp.
– To be clear, it must be said that nothing is out of Kiekko-Espo. They have done a convincing and good job. Big hats off and congratulations to them for succeeding in that.
According to Hollmén, Tuto still hopes that in the future the club will play at the highest league level for men.
– This does not dim our (league) dream at all, but shows on the other hand that it is possible to get there. Now let’s see under what conditions and in what way the league qualifiers will be played, if the league opens and what the prices and other conditions will be at that point, when after next season we start to pursue league promotion.