The players’ association is critical of the recent decision of the SM league.
The ice hockey player’s association says that it is concerned about the SM league’s recent decision to close the league from promotion for the time being.
The SM League announced on Thursday that new league license applications will not be accepted for the 2024–25 season. Therefore, moving up to the series and falling out of it are not possible in the next few years.
Chairman of the players’ association Teemu Ramstedt backed up the players’ opinion in the association’s press release.
– Ice hockey is a players’ game and the players’ opinion should be the most important in this matter as well. The Players’ Association strongly supports the open League in every way and also wants to be involved in developing series systems in cooperation with the League and the Ice Hockey Federation.
The Players’ Association said in its announcement that as many as 98 percent of the players are in favor of open leagues. A total of 465 players responded to a survey conducted in the spring for SM league and Mestis players.
The doors to the SM league remain ajar at this point. Mika Kylmäniemi, AOP