League series system, referees, electricity price

The number of teams in the league is an eternal topic, which has come to the surface again because of the Jokeri and Kiekko-Espoo league projects.

They can together or either of them can move up to the League for the 2024–25 season, when the number of teams would increase to 16–17 teams. The current number is 15.

– During this season, the League together with the Jääkiekkoliitto is building a future path for what kind of model the League will be taken forward with, CEO of the League Kati Kivimäki stated at the opening ceremony of the season in Tampere.

Kärppi’s head coach Lauri Marjamäki and ex-captain of Tappara Jukka Peltola were involved in a panel discussion on the occasion. Both were of the opinion that a League of 14 teams would be optimal for Finnish hockey as a whole.

Kivimäki still kept his own vision hidden.

The model of two smaller professional leagues, where the qualifiers would be played in the spring, is one of the future options.

– At this point, we look at the direction in which the League should be developed with an open eye. Let’s keep all options open, but it is completely too early to say that we will do this or that, Kivimäki stated.

– During this season, we have to create the vision and vision for the direction in which the League will be taken.

Professional judges

The league will undergo a significant change for the 2022–23 season when it will introduce a professional referee system. In the beginning, there are seven full-time referees on the league’s payroll.

– There is some increase in costs, maybe five percent, but the referee system is a big entity. In the longer term, there are benefits here that make it worth investing in, Kivimäki said.

– On an individual level, there is a lot of good in this.

Referees have been tricked into working for the League with fixed-term contracts familiar from the sports world. Kivimäki did not reveal their annual salary.

– Matters are negotiated with individuals on an individual level, and of course we try to reward commitment to some extent.

“Summer food”

Experienced Chief Justice Antti Boman is one of the new professional judges. He is satisfied with the reform.

– I believe that in the future there will be more willingness to pursue a career as a judge, Boman was happy.

– I didn’t become a better judge, but now you can get food even in the summer, he said.

Professional referees have a better chance to focus on training, matches and recovery. The refereeing is therefore allowed to wait for improvement.

– With the future in mind, this is a really good thing. But if someone imagines that there won’t be any more mistakes, that’s not true, Boman pointed out.

For the 2023–24 season, there is an effort to hire new full-time judges again. Ultimately, the goal is a fully professional referee system.

Price of electricity

There are enough threats in the League. Just when it seems to have survived the pandemic with dry feet – at least for the time being – rising electricity prices and general inflation emerge as threats.

The battle for consumers’ dwindling funds spent on leisure time is even tougher, and clubs’ costs may rise with the energy costs of ice rinks.

– It is somewhat worrying, Kivimäki admits.

– We have to focus on what we are doing and strive to build such an attractive whole from the customer experience, series and competitiveness that people want to come and watch the matches.