Fixtures
| Date | R | Home vs Away | - |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11/15 16:30 | - |
Tappara vs Ilves
|
View |
| 11/15 16:30 | - |
HPK vs Pelicans
|
View |
| 11/15 16:30 | - |
Jukurit vs Karpat
|
View |
| 11/15 16:30 | - |
Saipa vs Kalpa
|
View |
| 11/15 16:30 | - |
TPS vs Sport
|
View |
| 11/15 17:30 | - |
Kookoo vs HIFK
|
View |
| 11/16 12:00 | - |
K-Espoo vs Assat
|
View |
| 11/16 15:00 | - |
Ilves vs Jyp
|
View |
| 11/16 15:00 | - |
Pelicans vs Kärpät Oulu
|
View |
| 11/16 15:00 | - |
Kalpa vs HIFK
|
View |
| 11/16 15:00 | - |
Lukko vs Jukurit
|
View |
| 11/16 15:00 | - |
Vaasan Sport vs TPS
|
View |
Results
| Date | R | Home vs Away | - |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11/14 16:30 | - |
[3] K-Espoo vs Jyp
[14]
|
1-4 |
| 11/13 16:30 | - |
[6] Assat vs Kookoo
[13]
|
4-3 |
| 11/13 16:30 | - |
[4] Saipa vs Karpat
[9]
|
4-3 |
| 11/13 16:30 | - |
[5] Kalpa vs Sport
[11]
|
7-3 |
| 11/13 16:30 | - |
[14] Jyp vs Lukko
[8]
|
2-5 |
| 11/02 15:00 | - |
[11] Sport vs HPK
[15]
|
3-2 |
| 11/02 15:00 | - |
[6] Saipa vs Assat
[4]
|
4-1 |
| 11/02 15:00 | - |
[9] Karpat vs HIFK
[1]
|
2-3 |
| 11/02 15:00 | - |
[7] Kalpa vs Jyp
[14]
|
4-1 |
| 11/02 15:00 | - |
[16] Jukurit vs K-Espoo
[3]
|
2-3 |
| 11/02 15:00 | - |
[5] Lukko vs Pelicans
[13]
|
1-3 |
| 11/02 15:00 | - |
[12] Kookoo vs Ilves
[8]
|
3-4 |
Jokerit
Wikipedia - Liiga
The SM-liiga (marketed as just Liiga from 2013 on), colloquially called the Finnish Elite League in English or FM-ligan in Swedish, is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. The league comprises 16 teams from all around Finland with relegation and promotion between the Mestis. The winner of the Liiga playoffs is awarded the Kanada-malja at the end of each season.
Teams from the Liiga participate in the IIHF's annual Champions Hockey League (CHL), competing for the European Trophy. Participation is based on the strength of the various leagues in Europe (excluding the European/Asian Kontinental Hockey League).
The Liiga was established in 1975 to replace the former SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur competition. The Liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice Hockey Association, but the league and association have an agreement of cooperation. SM is a common abbreviation for Suomen mestaruus, "Finnish Champion".
History
The SM-liiga was established in 1975 to replace the amateur competition SM-sarja. Kalervo Kummola was elected to become the first chief executive officer of the SM-liiga, who served until 1987. The SM-liiga wasn't established unter the Finnish ice Hockey Association that oversees all the other leagues and cups in the country. The playoffs are introduced in Finnish ice hockey for the first time during the inaugural SM-liiga season.
At first there were 10 clubs in the SM-liiga. The league expanded to 12 teams in the 1988–89 season. In 2000, the SM-liiga was expanded by one team, after which the league was closed so that teams could not drop out of the league or move up from a lower league. For the 2005–2006 season, the Mestis winner KalPa was promoted to the series, which met the criteria required for a place in the league. The league qualifiers were brought back for the 2008–09 season. However, as a condition for promotion, the Mestis team that cleared the qualifiers should have bought the shares of the losing Liiga team at the price determined by the league. Otherwise, the losing Liiga team would have continued playing in the league. Starting from the 2013–2014 season, the Liiga qualifiers were replaced by a license system where the winner of Mestis can apply for a Liiga license. If granted, the club will be promoted to the league after a transition period of one season.
The league changed its marketing name to just Liiga for the 2013–14 season, and introduced a new logo to match. The 2019–20 Liiga season was terminated on March 13, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the decision, the final round of the regular season and the playoffs were not played, and the 2020 Finnish hockey championship was not awarded.
For the 2024–25 season, Kiekko-Espoo were promoted to the Liiga as the league expanded to 16 teams. The league was opened for relegation and promotion between the Mestis for the first time since 2013.
According to a 2023 article by The Hockey Writers, the SM-liiga is considered one of the best leagues in Europe and the world along with the Swedish Hockey League and behind the Kontinental Hockey League. Going into the 2024–25 CHL season, the Liiga was ranked the No. 3 league in Europe, allowing them to send their top four teams to compete in the CHL.
The SM Liiga is known for its fast-paced and intense gameplay, with teams battling it out on the ice to claim the title of the best ice hockey team in Finland. The tournament follows a regular season format, where each team plays a set number of games to determine their ranking in the standings. The top teams then advance to the playoffs, where they compete in a series of elimination rounds to ultimately reach the finals.
The tournament attracts a large and passionate fan base, with ice hockey being one of the most popular sports in Finland. The arenas are filled with enthusiastic supporters, creating an electric atmosphere during the games. Fans can expect to witness thrilling displays of skill, physicality, and teamwork as the teams compete for victory.
The Finland SM Liiga also serves as a platform for developing young talent, with many players using the tournament as a stepping stone to higher-level leagues or even international competitions. The league has produced numerous successful players who have gone on to have successful careers in the NHL and other top ice hockey leagues around the world.
Overall, the Finland SM Liiga is a highly anticipated and prestigious ice hockey tournament that showcases the best of Finnish ice hockey talent. With its exciting gameplay, passionate fan base, and the opportunity for players to showcase their skills, it is a must-watch event for ice hockey enthusiasts.