Jokerit


Helsingin Jokerit is a professional ice hockey team based in Helsinki, Finland, which competes in Mestis. Jokerit plays its home games at the Helsinki Ice Hall and Veikkaus Arena in Helsinki.
Founded in 1967, the team has a rich history of success, having secured six league championships as a prominent member of the Finnish SM-liiga in the years 1973, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, and 2002. Additionally, Jokerit has three European championships to its name, having triumphed in the IIHF European Cup in 1994 and 1995, as well as the IIHF Continental Cup in 2003.
Starting in the 2014–15 season, Jokerit became part of the Bobrov Division of the Kontinental Hockey League Western Conference, marking Finland as the first Nordic country to have a team competing in this international league. However, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Jokerit made the decision to withdraw from the 2022 KHL playoffs. This move was followed by the termination of several team sponsor and supplier contracts, including the home arena's name rights holder Hartwall, as a response to the invasion. As a result, on 5 April 2022, Jokerit officially announced their decision to withdraw from the league entirely.
Jokerit intended to return to Finland and expressed their intentions to join the Liiga. However, before they could submit the formal application, Liiga announced that they would not be accepting any new applications for at least the next two seasons. Nevertheless, Jokerit remained determined to return to ice hockey in Finland.
On 31 March 2023, they submitted their application to join Mestis, the second-tier league in Finland. On 3 May, Mestis announced that they had accepted Jokerit's application for the 2023–24 season which began on 21 September, marking the return of Jokerit to Finnish leagues after a decade.

History

Establishment and early years (1967–1969)

Jokerit, the prominent ice hockey club from Finland, owes its existence to a crucial turning point in the country's sporting landscape.
In 1967, the ice hockey branch of Töölön Vesa, an amateur sports club grappling with significant debts, faced the difficult decision of discontinuing their resource-demanding ice hockey activities. Seizing this opportune moment, Aimo Mäkinen, a master-builder with an ardent passion for the sport, saw the potential to establish a new semi-professional sports club.
In a unique arrangement, Jokerit came into being by assuming half of Vesa's ice hockey debts and inheriting all their assets, including junior players and a coveted position in the Suomensarja, the second highest tier of Finnish ice hockey.
On 27 October 1967, Jokerit officially took shape during a momentous constitutional meeting, with Mäkinen assuming the role of the club's sole owner and wielding sovereign power, effectively acting as the board and managing director. The club adopted an emblem depicting a winking jester, creatively adapted from various jokers found in diverse card decks, designed meticulously by graphic artist Jorma Hinkka. The Helsinki Ice Hall became the revered home venue for the new club.

Promotion to SM-sarja (1969–1979)

Promotion to the highest level, SM-sarja, was achieved two years later in 1969, marking a pivotal moment in Jokerit's history. Aiming to strengthen the team for the challenges ahead, Aimo Mäkinen, as the club's sole owner, embarked on an assertive campaign to acquire star players. Notable additions included national team regulars, such as defenceman Ilpo Koskela, Veli-Pekka Ketola and forwards Henry Leppä and Timo Sutinen, who would go on to establish enduring connections with the club.
Subsequent to these initial reinforcements, Jokerit further bolstered its roster with noteworthy signings, including forward Jouko Öystilä and defenceman Timo Saari. Additionally, the club appointed head coach Matti Lampainen to lead the team. Notably, in 1969, the International Ice Hockey Federation revised its rules, allowing bodychecking anywhere on the ice, thus prompting a tactical transformation in SM-sarja. While physical and aggressive play became a prevailing strategy for many teams, Lampainen steered Jokerit towards a different path, recognizing the unsuitability of such an approach for the current lineup, particularly of the "nallipyssyketju" players. Instead, he emphasized a style of play that hinged on technique and strategic finesse. This unique playing philosophy became Jokerit's trademark, enduring until the late 1990s.
Mäkinen also prioritized the development of the club's junior organization, introducing the Kanada-sarja competition. This initiative attracted 500 aspiring junior players initially, with the number rapidly increasing over the ensuing years. Although Kanada-sarja did not survive beyond the 1970s, its impact was felt as Jokerit benefited from a consistent influx of emerging talent, including future stars like Jari Kurri. Moreover, the club's popularity flourished, especially in the outer urban zones of Helsinki.
Despite their on-ice achievements, notably securing Finnish championship silver in 1971 and a winning their first championship in 1973, financial profitability remained elusive during Mäkinen's stewardship. In response, Mäkinen strategically downsized the team's budget by prioritizing the integration of junior players to replace departing stars. As a result, Jokerit experienced a gradual decline in its success, narrowly avoiding relegation from the Finnish elite-level league on multiple occasions. These challenges, compounded by Mäkinen's controversial management style, which emphasized non-physical play, created an aura of uncertainty and turbulence for the club's future. Jokerit stood at a crossroads, facing critical decisions to secure its stability and enduring legacy in Finnish ice hockey.

Success and financial troubles (1980–1990)

In 1980, a replacement candidate emerged, leading Aimo Mäkinen to retire from his ownership role. However, he continued to contribute to the club's junior organization until the 1990s. Subsequently, the ownership of Jokerit transitioned to new hands, overseen by Jokeriklubin Tuki Ry, a conventional association with a supervisory board.
Under the stewardship of the new management, the club faced initial challenges in shaking off its previous struggles. Nonetheless, there was a remarkable upturn for one season when Jokerit signed players who were considered outcasts from other clubs. The turning point came during the 1982–83 season when Jokerit secured the services of Nikolai Makarov, a defenseman from the Soviet Union's national team. This significant addition led to an almost flawless season, propelling the team all the way to the SM-Liiga finals, where they faced local rivals HIFK in a best-of-five series. Jokerit won the first two match-ups and held a 2–0 lead halfway through the decisive fifth game, but HIFK came from behind to take the match and the series 3–2.
Unfortunately, the elation of the successful season was short-lived as unexpected financial problems surfaced for the management. The brief resurgence faded, and within a few years, the club found itself facing the imminent threat of bankruptcy not once but twice. This financial turmoil dealt a blow to the club's credibility and resulted in a mass exodus of players. Key players like wing Risto Kerminen departed, and center Jari Lindroos came close to leaving the club after signing elsewhere. Though Lindroos' contract was illegitimately nullified, the team faced a challenging period. Only a few loyal players, including longtime goaltender Rauli Sohlman, remained steadfast during this trying time.
In 1986–87 season Jokerit were at the bottom of the league and were relegated.
In the darkest hour of their history, when Jokeriklubin Tuki Ry contemplated discontinuing their association with the club, a renewed sense of hope was infused into Jokerit. The year 1988 saw their 20-year-old players claim victory in the Finnish junior championship, showcasing several prospective stars. Notable among them were defenceman Waltteri Immonen, who would later serve as captain from 1991 to 1999, and Mika Strömberg, who became the club's all-time leading scoring defenceman. Ari Sulander emerged as the main goaltender from 1993 to 1998, while forward Keijo Säilynoja displayed remarkable goal-scoring abilities and prowess in penalty shots. Most notably, the young phenomenon Teemu Selänne, who would go on to achieve records in the National Hockey League, stood among the promising talents.
In the 1988–89 season with the infusion of promising junior champions, Jokerit orchestrated a swift return to the top tier, now known as SM-liiga.
Despite the newfound popularity supported by standout scorer Selänne and other young stars, the club's owners encountered severe financial difficulties stemming from inadequate management and internal board disagreements. These challenges posed significant hurdles as Jokerit navigated a precarious path toward securing its financial stability and future prosperity.
To fortify the club's position, enthusiastic new owners stepped forward to rescue Jokerit. In a groundbreaking move, they established Jokeri-Hockey Oy, becoming the first limited company-based sports club in Finland. Kalervo Kummola played a prominent role in assembling the company and served on its board until 2002.

The Harkimo ownership era begins (1991–1999)

In 1991, Jokerit underwent a significant shift when an investor withdrew, leading to board member Harry "Hjallis" Harkimo assuming a double majority of shares. Harkimo took on the role of chairman of the board and implemented changes by dissolving all managerial positions, appointing his wife, Leena Harkimo, as the managing director. This marked a turning point for the club, as the internal disagreements dissipated, and Harry Harkimo's proficient business acumen facilitated a swift recovery of the club's financial standing. In a short span, Jokerit emerged as the wealthiest sports club in Finland.
With newfound financial strength, the club made strategic signings, securing first-class talent to reinforce the team. Key acquisitions included Otakar Janecký, who became a central figure as the first-line center and the club's all-time leading point scorer; Petri Varis, who excelled as the club's top goal scorer in the 1990s; and forward Antti Törmänen. Alongside the aforementioned junior champions, these players formed the core of a thriving dynasty. Jokerit celebrated Finnish championships in 1992, 1994, 1996, and 1997, as well as European Cup victories in 1995 and 1996. They also earned a Finnish silver and European bronze during this successful period.
Under Harkimo's leadership, the club embraced a shift towards professional sports entertainment, taking inspiration from the NHL model.
In 1997, Jokerit achieved a momentous milestone by becoming the first privately owned European club to have its own home venue, Hartwall Arena. To facilitate this transformation, the ownership structure was reorganized into Jokerit HC Oyj, a public limited company. The club strategically focused on the new European Hockey League, anticipating its potential for increased revenue compared to SM-Liiga. While some expansion plans did not materialize, Hartwall Arena proved to be a lucrative venture for the club's business.
Additionally, Harry Harkimo endeavored to create an elite team, the Newcastle Jesters, to participate in the British Ice Hockey Superleague. Though its success did not meet expectations, and the franchise was eventually sold back to the league.
With Hartwall Arena as their new home, Jokerit signed several star players to further strengthen the team. Despite boasting talented line-ups, the team's performance experienced fluctuations, with their most notable achievement being a Finnish bronze medal in 1998. In an ironic twist, Jokerit's long-standing rival, HIFK, claimed the SM-Liiga title in 1998, the very first year of Jokerit's occupancy at Hartwall Arena.