In ice hockey’s Mestis clubs, there is a positive attitude towards the possible return of the Jokers. Urheilu reached out to ten Mestis clubs, none of which rejected the Jokers joining the league.
– Welcome to Jokeri Mesti. I believe this will increase the series’ interest in the media as well as for the public and partners. If the series could still be opened, it would further increase the interest and vitality of the series, chairman of the board of Kiekko-Vantaa Kai Sointu inch.
– Naturally, Jokerit is a big and well-known brand in Finnish sports. It’s a great thing that a solution has been found and we can get the Jokers back on the Finnish hockey rink, TuTo’s chairman of the board Tuomas Haanpää stated.
On Tuesday, the Jokerit received a conditional place in the league from the Ice Hockey Association. The club still needs to meet the conditions of the Mestis license to play for Mestis next season. The deadline for submitting a license application is March 31.
The SM league has said that it is considering future series systems in the league board. The pressure to open the league has grown even more when Jokerit and Kiekko-Espoo have told of their desire to rise to the highest league level.
RoKi and Joensuu Kiekko-Pojat have also expressed their interest in the SM league.
– The fact is that the more Mestis clubs there are, whose goal is to play in the league, it certainly increases the pressure on the series system discussion as well, TuTon Haanpää says.
Also the CEO of RoK Janne Hyvärinen believes that the discussion will bring pressure for change. He highlights the aforementioned clubs and states that Mestis has made a lot of progress.
– More clubs have signed up. I believe it will help the discussion and decisions on how to operate in the league, says Hyvärinen.
A new hall in Joensuu
Hyvärinen reminds that the SM league has already stated that it is an open league if the club meets certain conditions related to finances, athletic success in Mestis and junior activities. According to Hyvärinen, the application process has been vague.
– If it is known that by winning the series you can move up, it is much easier to justify it to supporters, companies, supporters and owners. This more vague process is significantly more difficult to communicate externally and to stakeholders.
Kiekko-Pojat, who also wants to join the league, is positive about it. Joensuu previously decided to invest in hockey by expanding and renovating the Mehtimäki hall with 13 million euros.
– When we get a renovated ice rink in Joensuu in a year, the ice rink frames will be in good condition. We need to develop the organization even further, so one day it will be possible here too, manager and owner of Kiekko-Poikie Jaakko Lipponen says.
The number of teams does not change
Chairman of IPK Mika Salonen and Hoki chairman Pasi Halonen although they believe that the Jokers will not stay in the series for a longer period of time.
– Surely the visit will be quite quick before the league promotion. I hope they can resolve the hall issue as quickly as possible so that they can have their own hall, says Salonen.
The Ice Hockey Association also received some criticism during the call round. Lipponen of Kiekko-Poikien was surprised that the rules are changed in the middle of everything, like in previous years.
– The number of teams will remain the same, and it will not be reduced. Of course, these are negative things to my own ears. If something is agreed upon, they will be kept.
– There is nothing personally against it (the return of the Jokers). If the background and others are in order, then welcome, Lipponen continued.
Jokerit released new owners
A few other interviewees also mention in a side sentence that they hope that the backgrounds are in order.
Jokerit was mysterious about its owners for a long time, but went public in February, among other things Ossi Väänänen, Teuvo Teräväinen and Esa Lindell under. For example Joel Harkimo are no longer involved in the company’s operations.
CEO of Koovee Pekka Hemmilän according to that, it’s great that Jokerit was able to organize its affairs so that it conditionally has the opportunity to apply for a place in the series. He hopes that the activities of the Jokers are transparent and straightforward.
Hermes Petri Torkinlampi on the other hand, thinks that the Ice Hockey Federation has taken matters outside of the sport into account when making a decision on the matter.
– So let’s trust that these things are okay. It would seem that these other things are fine.