According to the new director of the Women’s League, Heini Laaksonen, the development of the series starts with the clubs. He has followed the development work of the National Football League with interest.
SpongeBob Forsberg,
Simo Leinonen
Female ice hockey players at the highest league level in Finland still do not get paid.
The new leader of the Women’s League Heini Laaksonen hopes that in five years the daily life of women’s major league players would be much easier, and the players would no longer have to pay to play.
– Developers could already have a small salary structure. Above all, I would hope that there would be a stronger fan base there and that we would have a good cooperation with the clubs, says Laaksonen.
Laaksonen hopes that in the future the domestic main league would attract players from abroad, just as today talented Finns often move abroad.
Since the beginning of August, Laaksonen has been the first director of the Women’s League of Hockey. The Ice Hockey Association started recruiting for a new job in March.
The task of the leader of the Women’s League is to develop the league towards an international top league, which means commercial work, increasing visibility and developing the sports league.
Increase visibility
The major leagues in Sweden and Switzerland have raised their level considerably in recent years and attracted Finnish players. North America’s new professional women’s league PWHL will soon start its first season.
According to Laaksonen, it is extremely important that the Women’s League stays involved in development, even though it is still a high-level league.
The league boss estimates that there will be a lot of cooperation with the clubs of the Women’s League, because the development of the teams starts with the clubs.
What changes are planned for the Women’s League?
– In the short term, we will focus on increasing visibility. I believe that women’s hockey as a sports environment is a little bit fresher than the one played by men, which has really long traditions and which are also in a certain way hindering development.
– We may be able to do work related to equality and equality more quickly. I believe that this way we will get a lot of new fans and players involved in the activity.
How could visibility be increased?
– Social media is a really important part of it. And the fact that you can watch the games from somewhere. Leijonat TV will be an important partner in the future as well, but whether the Women’s League can be watched on another channel in the future will be an important part of the development even in the short term.
Women’s League matches are often played well before prime time. Will weekend games continue to be played in the afternoon?
– The everyday life of ice hockey played by women is really different. It really determines how easy it is for players to participate in matches. The schedules are really different because everyday life is different. Sure, it determines match times and days to some extent, at least in a different way than in men’s hockey.
– It is still difficult to say when the games will be scheduled in the future on weekdays and times. In that, the voice of the players is really high and an impressive factor.
How can the voice of the players be better heard?
– With a good conversation connection. We have already started excellent cooperation with the players’ association and club visits are underway. There you can talk not only with the club management, but also with the team management and players.
Model from football
The Women’s League has seen big differences in level and crushing results. The star player of the champion team HIFK by Michaela Pejzlova last season’s puck without a license didn’t at least improve the reputation of the series that was previously accused of “timbering”.
Laaksonen does not see the case as an image disadvantage for the series. You have to move on and learn from mistakes and shortcomings.
In football, the level and interest of women is on the rise. For example, in England, the big clubs have taken women under their wing and the sport has developed into a professional one. Spectator records were broken at the World Championships played in the summer.
Laaksonen has closely followed the development of the National League. Efforts have been made to develop the series professionally since the 2010s.
– Women are still lagging behind, the traditions are not as long in the field of professional sports. Do we want to go into a million-dollar business or make more sustainable solutions with more far-reaching perspectives? Excellent work has been done in football and there is a lot to learn from it.