The SM League does not rule out the possibility of foreign clubs applying for a league license.
In addition to TuTo’s license application, another interesting piece of information related to the process was heard at the background event organized by the SM league for the media on Thursday in Helsinki.
– Hypothetical question, chairman of Jääkiekkojournalistit ry Reijo Suikki started
– In Sweden, second-tier clubs have more championships than first-tier clubs, he continued, referring to HockeyAllsvenskan and the SHL.
– There are two clubs in Stockholm, Djurgården and AIK, which have been striving for the top for many years and have not made it. If they submit a license application, will you clap your hands?
SM league chairman Heikki Hiltunen and CEO Mikko Pulkkinen in addition, the chairman of the League’s license committee, the financial director of the Jääkieksliitto spoke at the event Jaakko Luumi.
– First, the ball would be thrown to the League and the League’s general meeting to see what kind of desire it is, Luumi answered.
– Whether we want to make this an international series or keep this a domestic series. If the league community was of the opinion that this could be an international series, then the license committee would naturally consider these applications as well.
Among others, 16-time Swedish champion Djurgården and 1987 champion Björklöven play in the country’s second level in HockeyAllsvenskan. PDO
Hiltusen’s idea
Suikki reminded that there are already transnational series in Europe.
For example, the Latvian champion HK Zemgale played in Mesti last season, and the Austrian ICE league also includes teams from Italy, Hungary and Slovenia.
And Hiltunen himself brought up the idea of a Europe-wide top ice hockey league last fall, which would block the dominance of the NHL. Of course, he thinks more about establishing one than about the expansion of the SM league beyond Finland’s borders.
In the league’s license procedure, foreign clubs have not been cut off, but in practice, applications may have come from Mestis in addition to league clubs.
In addition to Kiekko-Espo, which had previously announced its league project, TuTo also submitted an application for the 2024–25 season from the Mestis clubs. Decisions can be expected in December or March at the latest.