Two different entities have approached the hockey SM league regarding the league license of the Helsinki Jokers. The club that left the KHL is currently looking for a new owner.
19:01•Updated 19:11
The Ice Hockey Championship League said on Sunday evening that two separate entities have contacted it regarding the Jokeri Championship League license process.
The Helsinki Jokerit left the Russian-led KHL last spring. Now Jokerit is planning a return to the domestic rinks.
The second group is the SM league, according to the press release Teemu Selänten represented by Naurava Narri oy, which has been in contact with the league since last spring.
The release does not clarify why the negotiations have failed. Urheilu has not reached a representative of the Helsinki Jokerit ry to comment on the matter.
According to the SC league’s announcement, another party has come forward this week with plans to go public with the Joker’s SC league project. The SM league does not have exact information about the group’s composition or backgrounds. The league has not yet had official discussions with them about pursuing a league spot.
The license process aimed at a league location for the 2023–2024 season will start if an application or applications are submitted by October 31, 2022, the SM league says in its press release.
The Jokerit played in the KHL from the 2014–2015 season to the 2021–2022 season, which it left unfinished due to the war of aggression in Russia.
Main owner of Jokerien’s KHL background company Jari Kurri already told last April that Jokerit aims to return to the SM league. In July, the SM League announced that the Jokers must sever all financial and ownership ties to the KHL project, so that a return to the domestic rinks is possible.