Jokerit
Encyclopedia
Jokerit is an ice-hockey team from Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...

, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

, playing in the Finnish Elite League, SM-liiga
SM-liiga
The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice...

. The team has won 6 league championships (1973, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2002). Jokerit plays its home games at the Hartwall Areena
Hartwall Areena
Hartwall Areena is a large multifunctional indoor arena located in Helsinki, Finland...

.

Early history

Jokerit would not exist without the debts-incurred ice hockey branch of Töölön Vesa amateur
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....

 sports club, who were faced with having to discontinue their resource-demanding ice hockey activities in 1967
1967 in sports
1967 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* The first Alpine Skiing World Cup is organised for the three ski events: Downhill, Slalom and Giant Slalom:** Men's overall champion: Jean-Claude Killy, France...

. Master-builder Aimo Mäkinen seized the opportunity to establish a semi-professional
Semi-professional
A semi-professional athlete is one who is paid to play and thus is not an amateur, but for whom sport is not a full-time occupation, generally because the level of pay is too low to make a reasonable living based solely upon that source, thus making the athlete not a full professional...

 sports club of his own, and for the price of half of Vesa's ice hockey debts the new ice hockey club inherited everything, including junior players and the vacant position in second highest Finnish series, Suomi-sarja
Suomi-sarja
The Suomi-sarja is Finland's third-highest ice hockey league. Suomi-sarja has 4 divisions. Suomi-sarja has been played since the 1999-2000 season. Prior to this, Finland's third league had been Division II since 1975 and before that the Provincial Series since 1947. During the 1990s the series also...

.

Officially Jokerit were established on October 27, 1967 at their constitutional meeting. The club's sole owner Mäkinen chose to wield sovereign power, becoming in practice also the board and managing director. The insignia, winking jester, was adapted from jokers
Joker (playing card)
Joker is a special type of playing card found in most modern decks, or else a type of tile in some Mahjong game sets.-Name:It is believed that the term "Joker" comes from a mispronunciation of Jucker, the German/Alsatian name for the game Euchre. The card was originally introduced in about 1860 for...

 of various card decks and drawn by graphic designer Jorma Hinkka. Their home venue was Helsinki Ice Hall.

Mäkinen did not intend his new club to loiter in the lower series. Even though dramatic changes in the line-up did not appear directly, only a few players from Töölön Vesa saw prolonged employment: Timo Turunen
Timo Turunen
Timo Mikko Juhani Turunen is a Finnish retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga. He played for Jokerit. He was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004.-Playing career:...

 would be the most distinguished, remaining even today as the club's all-time goal scoring leader. With him, Pentti Hiiros and Timo Kyntölä would form nallipyssyketju ("cap gun line", referring to their lack of height - Hiiros was the tallest at 172 cm) until 1975
1975 in sports
1975 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Gustav Thöni, Italy** Women's overall season champion: Annemarie Pröll, Austria-American football:...

, when the latter retired.

Promotion to SM-sarja

Promotion to the highest level, SM-sarja
SM-sarja
SM-Sarja was the top level of ice hockey in Finland from 1928 to 1975. SM-sarja is a common abbreviation for Suomen mestaruussarja, "Finnish Championship Series"....

, took place two years later. Immediately after the promotion was secured, Mäkinen began an aggressive acquisition of star players. Among them were the national team regulars defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...

 Ilpo Koskela
Ilpo Koskela
Ilpo Kaarlo Koskela was a professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga. He played for Reipas Lahti, Jokerit, and Kiekkoreipas Lahti. He was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 1989....

 with forwards Henry Leppä
Henry Leppä
Henry Leppä is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga. He played for Jokerit and TuTo. He was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996. Leppä was born in Turku, Finland.-External links:*...

 and Timo Sutinen
Timo Sutinen
Timo Sutinen is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga. He played for KooVee, Jokerit, and FoPS. He was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991.-External links:*...

, whose relationship with the club lasted long.

Other, later reinforcements worthy of a mention were forward Jouko Öystilä and defenceman Timo Saari, and finally, head coach Matti Lampainen
Matti Lampainen
Matti Veikko Lampainen is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga. He played for Tappara and Ilves. He was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985.-External links:*...

. In 1969
1969 in sports
1969 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup:** Men's overall champion: Karl Schranz, Austria** Women's overall champion: Gertrud Gabl, Austria-American football:...

, IIHF
International Ice Hockey Federation
The International Ice Hockey Federation is the worldwide governing body for ice hockey and in-line hockey. It is based in Zurich, Switzerland, and has 70 members...

 had loosened amateur rules by permitting bodychecking anywhere in the rink (old rules allowed bodychecking only in defensive end). SM-sarja underwent a tactical revolution as physical, mean play became a means to success. Lampainen, however, reckoned physical play unsuitable for the line-up at hand (consider nallipyssyketju). He guided the team, with success, towards a play that demanded technique and clever tactics. This became the trademark of Jokerit that stuck all the way to the late 1990s and resulted in the way Jokerit played as being branded as "neitikiekko"http://karhuherra.jatkoaika.com/?p=774, http://yle.fi/urheilu/lajit/jaakiekko/sm-liiga/2009/01/jokeri-valmentaja_steriili_tussuttelu_ihan_perseesta_1323745.html which roughly translates as "playing like women".

To his credit, Mäkinen also enhanced the club's junior organisation by launching a competition of their own, called Kanada-sarja, with 500 participating junior players, a figure that cumulatively tripled in a few years. Kanada-sarja didn't survive the 1970s, but Jokerit benefitted from it through a steady flow of emerging talent including Jari Kurri
Jari Kurri
Jari Pekka Kurri is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey right winger and a five-time Stanley Cup champion. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001. He is currently the general manager of Team Finland....

, and by gaining a strong popular base in the outer urban zones of Helsinki.

Despite winning Finnish championship silver in 1971
1971 in sports
1971 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Gustav Thöni, Italy** Women's overall season champion: Annemarie Pröll, Austria-American football:...

 and gold in 1973
1973 in sports
1973 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Gustav Thöni, Italy** Women's overall season champion: Annemarie Pröll, Austria-American football:* O.J...

, Jokerit didn't manage to be financially profitable during Mäkinen's period in charge. He started downsizing the team's budget
Budget
A budget is a financial plan and a list of all planned expenses and revenues. It is a plan for saving, borrowing and spending. A budget is an important concept in microeconomics, which uses a budget line to illustrate the trade-offs between two or more goods...

 by methodically replacing departing stars with junior players. Success slowly declined and Jokerit only just managed to avoid relegation from the Finnish elite league several times. This, combined with Mäkinen's controversial manner of management – the emphasis being place on non-physical play – led to the club facing an uncertain and turbulent future.

Success and financial troubles

When a replacement candidate turned up in 1980
1980 in sports
1980 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup:** Men's overall season champion: Andreas Wenzel, Liechtenstein** Women's overall season champion: Hanni Wenzel, Liechtenstein...

, Mäkinen retired from the ownership, though he went on in the club's junior organisation up to the 1990s. New owners, Jokeriklubin Tuki Ry, were a conventional association supervised by its board.

Under new management, the club didn't instantly shake off its wobbliness, but then they peaked for one season. Having signed mainly outcasts of other clubs, they suddenly hit jackpot: for the 1982-1983 season, the club signed Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....

's national team defenceman Nikolai Makarov
Nikolai Makarov
Nikolai Makarov is a retired ice hockey player who played in the Soviet Hockey League. He played for Traktor Chelyabinsk. He is the elder brother of the Soviet hockey legend Sergei Makarov....

. As a result, Jokerit had a near-perfect season and advanced all the way to the SM-Liiga finals, where they were comprehensively beaten by Helsinki's leading team, local rivals and their "big brother" HIFK
HIFK (ice hockey)
HIFK is an ice hockey team based in Helsinki, Finland. The team plays at Helsinki Ice Hall. It was founded in 1897...

.

However, the management ran into unexpected financial problems, and the brief success soon withered. Only a few years later, they had to avert bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....

 twice, which struck a blow to their credibility, as a mass desertion of the players ensued. The first line was a shambles as wing Risto Kerminen departed and center Jari Lindroos
Jari Lindroos
Jari Lindroos is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga. He played for JYP, Jokerit and Kärpät. He was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 2005.-External links:*...

 almost did, but though he had signed elsewhere, the contract was illegitimately nullified. Few others, apart from the longtime goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...

 Rauli Sohlman, remained. Jokerit faced the imminent relegation in 1987
1987 in sports
1987 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Pirmin Zurbriggen, Switzerland** Women's overall season champion: Maria Walliser, Switzerland-American football:...

.

In the middle of the bleakest hour of their history, with Jokeriklubin Tuki Ry seeking to discontinue their association, new blood was rushed into Jokerit. In 1988
1988 in sports
1988 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Pirmin Zurbriggen, Switzerland** Women's overall season champion: Michela Figini, Switzerland-American football:...

 their 20-year-olds won the Finnish junior championship with several prospective stars: defenceman Waltteri Immonen
Waltteri Immonen
Waltteri Immonen is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman and former coach of SM-liiga team Jokerit.-Playing career:...

 would be captain
Captain (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, each team can designate an official captain for each game. The player serving as captain during the game wears a "C" on his or her jersey...

 of the team 1991-1999; Mika Strömberg
Mika Strömberg
Mika Strömberg is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman. He was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques as their eleventh-round pick, #211 overall, in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft....

 the club's all-time best-scoring defenceman; Ari Sulander
Ari Sulander
Ari Sulander, also nicknamed Sulo , is a professional ice hockey goaltender.-Career in Finland:...

 the main goaltender 1993-1998; forward Keijo Säilynoja
Keijo Säilynoja
Keijo Säilynoja is a retired Finnish ice hockey player-Jokerit :Säilynoja started his career for Jokerit in 1988, while the team was playing in Finnish First Division...

 a goal scorer and a penalty-shot specialist; and Teemu Selänne
Teemu Selänne
Teemu Ilmari Selänne nicknamed "The Finnish Flash" is a Finnish professional ice hockey winger, an alternate captain of the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League . An offensive player known for his skill and speed, Selanne has led the NHL in goal-scoring three times and has been named to...

 the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...

 record-breaker.

Now that the club was spiced with such promising, new willing owners turned up to save them. They established Jokeri-Hockey Oy and became the first limited company
Limited company
A limited company is a company in which the liability of the members or subscribers of the company is limited to what they have invested or guaranteed to the company. Limited companies may be limited by shares or by guarantee. And the former of these, a limited company limited by shares, may be...

 based sports club in Finland. Kalervo Kummola
Kalervo Kummola
Kalervo Kummola is the Vice President of the International Ice Hockey Federation. He is a former member of the Parliament of Finland, representing the liberal conservative National Coalition Party from 1999 to 2003.- References:...

, who played the leading role assembling the company, sat in its board up to 2002.

The team, reinforced with the junior champions, orchestrated a quick promotion back to the top level, now called SM-liiga. But once again, despite the phenomenal boost in popularity supported by the prominent scorer Selänne and other young star players, the owners ran into severe financial problems, caused by incompetent management and disagreements within the board.

The Harkimo Era

In 1991
1991 in sports
1991 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Marc Girardelli, Luxembourg** Women's overall season champion: Petra Kronberger, Austria-American football:...

 an investor withdrew and board member Harry "Hjallis" Harkimo got credentials to a double majority of shares. He appointed himself the chairman of the board, discontinued all managerial positions and nominated his wife Leena Harkimo the managing director (who held the task up to her election to the Parliament of Finland
Parliament of Finland
The Eduskunta , is the parliament of Finland. The unicameral parliament has 200 members and meets in the Parliament House in Helsinki. The latest election to the parliament took place on April 17, 2011.- Constitution :...

 in 1999). This proved to be the final stroke of luck the club needed: the disagreements vanished once and for all and Harry Harkimo established himself as an efficient businessman, being able to conduct a rapid recovery of the economy. In a few years, Jokerit were the wealthiest Finnish sports club.

Thus, they were able to reinforce the team with first class talent. Several successful acquisitions were signed, most memorably Otakar Janecky
Otakar Janecký
Otakar Janecký is a retired Czech ice hockey forward.In his homeland Janecký represented HC Pardubice, his birthcity team for his entire Czechoslovak Extraliga and Czech Extraliga career....

, who manned the first line center for several seasons, becoming the club's all-time best point scorer; Petri Varis
Petri Varis
Petri Varis is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey forward. He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks as their 7th-round pick in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft.-Playing career:...

, who became the club's best goal scorer of the 1990s; and forward Antti Törmänen
Antti Törmänen
Antti Törmänen is a retired professional ice hockey player and current head coach of SC Bern in Switzerland's National League A...

. Together with the above-mentioned junior champions they formed a core of a dynasty of thriving times: Jokerit won Finnish championship in 1992
1992 in sports
1992 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup* Men's overall season champion: Paul Accola, Switzerland* Women's overall season champion: Petra Kronberger, Austria-American football:...

, 1994
1994 in sports
1994 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* January 29 – death of Ulrike Maier , Austrian skier, who broke her neck when she crashed during a World Cup downhill race at Garmisch-Partenkirchen...

, 1996
1996 in sports
1996 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Lasse Kjus, Norway** Women's overall season champion: Katja Seizinger, Germany-American football:...

 and 1997
1997 in sports
1997 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Luc Alphand, France** Women's overall season champion: Pernilla Wiberg, Sweden-American football:...

, and European Cup in 1995
1995 in sports
1995 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Alberto Tomba, Italy** Women's overall season champion: Vreni Schneider, Switzerland-American football:...

 and 1996
1996 in sports
1996 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Lasse Kjus, Norway** Women's overall season champion: Katja Seizinger, Germany-American football:...

, plus Finnish silver once and European bronze once.

Harkimo further converted the club from semi-professionalism towards his ideal of professional sports entertainment, which was unmistakably adopted from NHL. His efforts yielded Jokerit their own home venue Hartwall Areena in 1997
1997 in sports
1997 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Luc Alphand, France** Women's overall season champion: Pernilla Wiberg, Sweden-American football:...

 - first such privately owned in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

. Ownership was reformed into Jokerit HC Oyj, a public limited company
Public limited company
A public limited company is a limited liability company that sells shares to the public in United Kingdom company law, in the Republic of Ireland and Commonwealth jurisdictions....

. They focused on the new European Hockey League expecting it to evolve into a competition more money-making than SM-Liiga, and sought various other ways to expand. Most of these plans did not meet with success, but the new venue turned out to be a gold-mine for the club's business. Meanwhile Harry Harkimo tried to create an elite team to the British Ice Hockey Superleague, the Newcastle Jesters
Newcastle Jesters
The Newcastle Jesters were an ice hockey franchise based in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England. The team were members of the Ice Hockey Superleague and played their home games at the Telewest Arena .-Single Season of Jesters :...

 but the team was not as successful as hoped, so he sold the franchise back to the League.

As they set foot at Hartwall Areena, the club signed several star reinforcements seen to be required to win the two professional leagues and to replace the now slightly aged core. However, despite having sparkling line-ups, their performance fluctuated, ending up winning "only" Finnish bronze in 1998
1998 in sports
1998 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Hermann Maier, Austria** Women's overall season champion: Katja Seizinger, Germany-American football:...

. To make matters worse, their closest rival, HIFK won the SM-Liiga title in 1998, the first year that Jokerit had occupied the new Hartwall Arena. The club went on to making a losing appearance in the finals in 2000
2000 in sports
2000 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Hermann Maier, Austria** Women's overall season champion: Renate Götschl, Austria-American football:...

, and repeatedly failed to achieve success in the European Hockey League (which turned out as a major flop in itself).

To the next millennium

In the 2000s, the management have regained what the supporters consider more reasonable an attitude by concentrating back on SM-Liiga, but the line-ups have had a notable turnover rate between seasons - a distinct core has not developed or been preserved.

For the 1999-00 season Jokerit had a good team. The team featured good players like German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

 international Jan Benda
Jan Benda
Jan Benda is a German ice hockey player who currently plays for HC Plzeň 1929 of Extraliga.- Career :Born in Belgium to Czech parents, Benda started his career in the OHL with the Oshawa Generals, where he played with future NHL stars such as Eric Lindros, Jason Arnott, and Stephane Yelle...

, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

n Dmitri Kvartalnov
Dmitri Kvartalnov
Dmitri Vyacheslavovich Kvartalnov is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 112 games in the National Hockey League. He played with the Boston Bruins...

, Czech
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....

 Miroslav Hlinka
Miroslav Hlinka
Miroslav Hlinka is a Slovakian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing in the Slovak Extraliga.-External links:...

, longtime Jokerit alumni Petri Varis
Petri Varis
Petri Varis is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey forward. He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks as their 7th-round pick in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft.-Playing career:...

, Finnish top players Antti-Jussi Niemi
Antti-Jussi Niemi
Antti-Jussi Jormanpoika Niemi is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman playing for Jokerit of the SM-Liiga.- Draft :...

, Tom Koivisto
Tom Koivisto
Tomas Koivisto is a Finnish ice hockey defenceman for Jokerit in the SM-liiga. He was drafted by the St. Louis Blues as their eighth-round pick, 253rd overall, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He played parts of ten seasons in the SM-liiga before coming to North America in 2002...

 and Pasi Nurminen
Pasi Nurminen
Pasi Nurminen is a Finnish retired ice hockey goaltender. He was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers as their sixth-round pick, #189 overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft....

 on goal. The team was soon joined by former NHL'ers Tuomas Grönman
Tuomas Grönman
Tuomas Grönman is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League and SM-Liiga. He played for TPS, Lukko, Jokerit, Chicago Blackhawks, and Pittsburgh Penguins. He would also win a bronze medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics.- External links :...

 and the 5 time Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...

 champion Esa Tikkanen
Esa Tikkanen
Esa Tikkanen is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey forward. He played for the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, St...

. The team was strong and reached the finals but lost to TPS
TPS (ice hockey)
TPS or Turun Palloseura is an ice hockey team and 11-time champion of SM-liiga. They play in Turku, Finland at the HK Arena. In terms of championships, TPS is the most successful team in SM-liiga history.-Team history:...

.

Jokerit did not have much success on the following although they had players like Jukka Hentunen
Jukka Hentunen
Jukka Hentunen is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward, who plays for KalPa.- Draft :He was drafted by the Calgary Flames as their sixth-round pick, #176 overall, in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft....

 and Antti Törmänen
Antti Törmänen
Antti Törmänen is a retired professional ice hockey player and current head coach of SC Bern in Switzerland's National League A...

 to strengthen the team.

In 2001-02 The team featured players like Pavel Rosa
Pavel Rosa
Pavel Rosa is a Czech professional ice hockey forward who plays for Oulun Kärpät.- Career :Selected by Kings in the second round 1995 NHL Entry Draft, Rosa has played 36 games for the Kings since the 1998–99 season...

, Frank Banham
Frank Banham
Frank Banham is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger who currently plays for KHL Medveščak Zagreb.-Playing career:Initially drafted 147th overall by the Washington Capitals in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, Banham played 27 regular season games in the NHL for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim scoring 9...

 and the 1995 world champion Ville Peltonen
Ville Peltonen
Ville Peltonen is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the HIFK of the SM-liiga . He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks as their third round pick, 58th overall, in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft....

. With Kari Lehtonen's
Kari Lehtonen
Kari Lehtonen is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League...

 terrific form between the pipes and the arrival of Vladimir Machulda from SaiPa
SaiPa
Saimaan Pallo is an ice hockey team in the Finnish SM-liiga. They play their home games at Kisapuisto in Lappeenranta, Finland.-History:The team's best achievement is from the 1965-1966 season, when they won bronze medals for placing third...

, Jokerit won their sixth Finnish championship in 2002
2002 in sports
2002 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Stephan Eberharter, Austria** Women's overall season champion: Michaela Dorfmeister, Austria-American football:...

.

Kari Lehtonen
Kari Lehtonen
Kari Lehtonen is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League...

, the starting goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...

 for the Atlanta Thrashers
Atlanta Thrashers
The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season...

 (NHL) played for Jokerit in 2001. At 21 years old, he was the youngest goaltender to play in SM-liiga
SM-liiga
The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice...

.

The 2002-03 and 03-04 seasons yielded no medals for Jokerit. In the spring of 2003 Jokerit acquired forward Glen Metropolit
Glen Metropolit
Glen Metropolit is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for EV Zug in the Swiss National League A.-Early years:...

 from the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...

 organization; despite his unimpressive NHL record, Metropolit became scoring leader of Jokerit in both the 2003-04 regular season and playoffs, as well as the 2004-05 regular season. Metropolit became a firm fan favorite, and many were sorry to see him leave the Finnish league after the 2004-05 season. Another important Jokerit acquisition was goalie Tim Thomas
Tim Thomas (ice hockey)
Timothy James Thomas, Jr. is an American professional ice hockey goaltender with the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League . Raised in Davison, MI, Thomas played college hockey for the University of Vermont for four years, from 1993–1997, during which he was drafted 217th overall by the...

 from the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...

 organization. Thomas played in every game of the season bar two with a save percentage of 94.59% and a record-breaking 15 shutouts, for which he won the Kultainen kypärä
Kultainen kypärä
Kultainen kypärä is an ice hockey award given to the best player in the Finnish SM-liiga. It is the most appreciated of the awards, as it is voted for by the players. It has been awarded since 1987....

 award.

As the 2004-2005 NHL lockout was extended, Jokerit hired Brian Campbell
Brian Campbell
Brian Wesley Campbell is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman, an alternate captain for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League...

, and Ossi Väänänen
Ossi Väänänen
Ossi Väänänen is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for Jokerit of the Finnish SM-liiga, with whom he was won two silver medals as runner-up for the Kanada-malja in 2000 and 2005...

 returned to his hometown team from the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...

 in December. Teemu Selänne
Teemu Selänne
Teemu Ilmari Selänne nicknamed "The Finnish Flash" is a Finnish professional ice hockey winger, an alternate captain of the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League . An offensive player known for his skill and speed, Selanne has led the NHL in goal-scoring three times and has been named to...

 officially joined the Jokerit lineup in December, but he spent the spring rehabbing his injured knee and was unable to play any games for the team. With a strong team, Jokerit looked set to win the regular season and take the championship when an inexplicable late-season collapse allowed Kärpät
Kärpät
Oulun Kärpät is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga based in Oulu, Finland. Their logo features a stoat ; "kärpät" is Finnish for stoats or ermines. The team has won five league championships .-History:...

 to take and keep the regular season lead. The two teams faced off in the finals, with Jokerit losing three games to one and having to settle for the silver.

After the NHL lockout

When the NHL lockout ended in 2005, many players were lost to NHL teams and to other teams in Europe: Campbell, Väänänen, Selänne, Metropolit, Pasi Häkkinen
Pasi Häkkinen
Pasi Häkkinen is a Finnish ice hockey goaltender, he currently plays for Dresdner Eislöwen.- Career :...

, Valtteri Filppula
Valtteri Filppula
Valtteri Filppula is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward, currently playing for the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL...

 and Tomi Mäki
Tomi Mäki
Tomi Mäki is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward currently playing for Jokerit.-Playing career:Mäki was drafted by the Calgary Flames as their fourth-round pick, 108th overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft...

. The last departure occurred just one day before regular season play started, when goaltender Tim Thomas
Tim Thomas (ice hockey)
Timothy James Thomas, Jr. is an American professional ice hockey goaltender with the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League . Raised in Davison, MI, Thomas played college hockey for the University of Vermont for four years, from 1993–1997, during which he was drafted 217th overall by the...

 signed with the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...

. Jokerit tried to replace the loss of Thomas with goalkeeper Karl Goehring
Karl Goehring
Karl Goehring is a retired American professional ice hockey goaltender, who is currently an assistant coach with the Syracuse Crunch. He led Apple Valley High School to a win in the 1996 Minnesota State High School League Boys' Hockey Tournament...

 but Goehring was released soon and replaced by ex-NHL'er Steve Passmore
Steve Passmore
Steve Passmore is a former Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques as their ninth-round pick in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft....

. Passmore was paired mid-season with HIFK (ice hockey)
HIFK (ice hockey)
HIFK is an ice hockey team based in Helsinki, Finland. The team plays at Helsinki Ice Hall. It was founded in 1897...

's Tom Askey
Tom Askey
Tom Askey is an American professional ice hockey goaltender. He was drafted by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim as their eighth-round pick, #186 overall, in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft.-Playing career:...

 but none of the three was able to fill the empty spot of Tim Thomas. Jokerit also had players like Eric Beaudoin
Eric Beaudoin
Eric Beaudoin is a professional ice hockey forward, currently with Elitserien team Rögle BK after concluding a one-year contract with Linköpings HC of the Swedish Elite League.-Playing career:...

 and Justin Mapletoft
Justin Mapletoft
Justin Mapletoft is a Canadian ice hockey centre. He was drafted by the New York Islanders in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft as their fifth-round pick, number 130 overall....

 but neither of them made a positive impact during the season. The spree of departures, combined with rookie coach Waltteri Immonen
Waltteri Immonen
Waltteri Immonen is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman and former coach of SM-liiga team Jokerit.-Playing career:...

's coaching debut, led Jokerit to an abysmal early season, with a win-loss-tie record of 5-11-4 after 20 games. Immonen, a long-time Jokerit player but a rookie head coach, was moved from the job in November and Curt Lindström
Curt Lindström
Curt "Curre" Lindström is a Swedish ice hockey coach.-Career on international level:He coached Team Finland from 1993 to 1997, winning Finland's first Ice Hockey World Championships gold medal in 1995, and a silver world championships medal as well as Olympic bronze...

 was hired to salvage the team. Mr. Lindström could not change the course of the team and for the first time in 16 years, Jokerit did not qualify for the play-offs.

The Shedden Era

After their worst season ranking in decades Jokerit acquired the services of HIFK (ice hockey)
HIFK (ice hockey)
HIFK is an ice hockey team based in Helsinki, Finland. The team plays at Helsinki Ice Hall. It was founded in 1897...

 head coach and former NHL'er Doug Shedden
Doug Shedden
Douglas Arthur Shedden is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. He coached Team Finland to a bronze medal in 2008 World Championships...

. Shedden brought in a key player from HIFK, Kim Hirschovits
Kim Hirschovits
Kim Hirschovits is a professional ice hockey forward. He was drafted by the New York Rangers as their sixth-round pick, #194 overall, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He is 6'1" tall and weighs 183 lbs.-Career:...

, who had gained responsibility under Shedden in his former team. The refreshed team also featured Jyrki Louhi
Jyrki Louhi
Jyrki Louhi is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for HPK of the SM-liiga.-External links:...

 from the 2005–06 champions HPK
HPK
HPK is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga. They play in Hämeenlinna, Finland at the Hämeenlinnan jäähalli. HPK was established in 1929. The full name of the club is HPK-Edustusjääkiekko Ry and the team is sometimes promoted as the "Hockey Playing Knights", with the logo representing a knight...

 and Juuso Riksman
Juuso Riksman
Juuso Riksman is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender.Riksman played junior hockey in the HIFK organization, but started his pro career with Hermes of Kokkola, then in the 1st division. After a visit to Kiruna in the Swedish 1st division, Riksman returned to HIFK...

 from Ässät
Ässät
Ässät is an ice hockey team in the Finnish elite league, SM-liiga. They play in Pori, Finland at the Porin jäähalli.-Team history:...

, the second placed team of 2006. Jokerit acquired some scoring talent in the form of Tim Stapleton
Tim Stapleton
Timothy Gabriel Stapleton is an American professional ice hockey center who is currently playing for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...

 and some NHL-experience as Shedden's former protege from Toronto-era Clarke Wilm
Clarke Wilm
Clarke Wilm is a Canadian ice hockey centre. Wilm was drafted 150th overall by the Calgary Flames in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. He established himself in the NHL in the 1997–98 season after two seasons spent in Calgary's AHL affiliate. Was an avid deer hunter as a teenager...

 moved to Jokerit mid-season. Shedden's first Jokerit season was good as the team returned to the play-offs and infamously defeated the reigning champions HPK
HPK
HPK is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga. They play in Hämeenlinna, Finland at the Hämeenlinnan jäähalli. HPK was established in 1929. The full name of the club is HPK-Edustusjääkiekko Ry and the team is sometimes promoted as the "Hockey Playing Knights", with the logo representing a knight...

 in the semi-finals to advance to the finals against Kärpät
Kärpät
Oulun Kärpät is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga based in Oulu, Finland. Their logo features a stoat ; "kärpät" is Finnish for stoats or ermines. The team has won five league championships .-History:...

. Although Jokerit lost to Kärpät in the finals, the 2006–07 season was a good start for Shedden in Jokerit. During the 2007–08 season Jokerit celebrated their 40th anniversary and on October 27 Jokerit retired the jersey of former alumni Jari Kurri
Jari Kurri
Jari Pekka Kurri is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey right winger and a five-time Stanley Cup champion. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001. He is currently the general manager of Team Finland....

. Jokerit strengthened their goaltending department by acquiring former NHL and Finnish national team Goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...

 Jussi Markkanen
Jussi Markkanen
Jussi Markkanen is an ice hockey goaltender for EV Zug of the National League A .-Playing career:Markkanen has played extensively in various European professional leagues as well as the NHL...

 to replace Scott Langkow
Scott Langkow
Scott Langkow is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing in Europe with the Krefeld Pinguine of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.- Playing career :...

 before the season and added more NHL experience by contracting former Atlanta Thrashers
Atlanta Thrashers
The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season...

 and Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...

 center
Centre (ice hockey)
The centre in ice hockey is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice, away from the side boards. Centres have more flexibility in their positioning and are expected to cover more ice surface than any other player...

 Tommi Santala
Tommi Santala
Tommi Santala is a Finnish ice hockey player, currently representing the Kloten Flyers of Switzerland's National League A.-Playing career:...

 after the season had started. During the 2007–2008 SM-Liiga season, Doug Shedden announced that he had been contracted to the Swiss team EV Zug
EV Zug
EV Zug is a professional men's ice hockey team from Zug, Switzerland. They are a current member of National League A and play their home games at Bossard Arena.-History:EV Zug won its lone championship in the 1997–98 season....

 and was leaving Jokerit after the season. After a while, it was announced that Shedden's job as the head coach of the team would be taken over by ex-NHL head coach Glen Hanlon
Glen Hanlon
Glen A. Hanlon is a retired Canadian National Hockey League goaltender and a former head coach of the Washington Capitals of the NHL, Dynamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League , and the Belarusian national ice hockey team. He was a goaltender scout for the Vancouver Canucks...

 after Shedden's contract was to expire. Shedden's last season as the head coach of Jokerit ended worse than expected. Although Jokerit were predicted to be championship contenders, they lost a 3–1 lead in the series against Espoo Blues and lost the series 3 to 4. Jokerit was dropped to the bronze medal game where they lost to Tappara
Tappara
Tappara is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga. They play in Tampere, Finland at Tampereen jäähalli. The team have won 15 league championships ....

, thus finishing fourth in SM-liiga for the 2007–08 season. Along with Shedden, Jokerit also lost the services of assistant coach Waltteri Immonen
Waltteri Immonen
Waltteri Immonen is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman and former coach of SM-liiga team Jokerit.-Playing career:...

 as he followed Shedden to EV Zug.

Glen Hanlon takes over

The former head coach of the Belarus national team and the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...

, Glen Hanlon
Glen Hanlon
Glen A. Hanlon is a retired Canadian National Hockey League goaltender and a former head coach of the Washington Capitals of the NHL, Dynamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League , and the Belarusian national ice hockey team. He was a goaltender scout for the Vancouver Canucks...

, followed Doug Shedden as the head coach for Jokerit at the start of the 2008–09 season. Although fresh from SM-liiga Playoffs, Jokerit announced several signings for the season. Jokerit contracted former Jokerit and Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...

-player Juha Lind
Juha Lind
Juha Lind is a Finnish ice hockey forward currently playing Jokerit in the SM-liiga.Lind started his career with Jokerit his hometown team. He was drafted 178th overall by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. He remained with Jokerit until 1997 when he joined the Dallas Stars...

, former AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...

'ers Janne Lahti
Janne Lahti
Janne Lahti is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing for the Jokerit in the SM-liiga.On June 1, 2007, Lahti signed a one-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens, and he played the 2007–08 season in the American Hockey League with the Hamilton Bulldogs.-External links:...

 along with Tomi Mäki
Tomi Mäki
Tomi Mäki is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward currently playing for Jokerit.-Playing career:Mäki was drafted by the Calgary Flames as their fourth-round pick, 108th overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft...

 and enforcer and fighter Pasi Nielikäinen
Pasi Nielikäinen
Pasi Nielikäinen is professional ice hockey player currently contracted to Jokerit in the Finnish SM-liiga.-Playing career:...

. Former Jokerit and Frölunda HC
Frölunda HC
Frölunda Hockey Club, also known as the Frölunda Indians, are a Swedish professional ice hockey club based in Gothenburg. They are currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Elitserien, where they have played the majority of the seasons during its existence. The last time they played in the...

 defenseman Tom Koivisto
Tom Koivisto
Tomas Koivisto is a Finnish ice hockey defenceman for Jokerit in the SM-liiga. He was drafted by the St. Louis Blues as their eighth-round pick, 253rd overall, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He played parts of ten seasons in the SM-liiga before coming to North America in 2002...

 was signed to add some offensive touch to the Jokerit defence and Antti Hulkkonen was signed for his experience. The goalkeeper Juuso Riksman
Juuso Riksman
Juuso Riksman is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender.Riksman played junior hockey in the HIFK organization, but started his pro career with Hermes of Kokkola, then in the 1st division. After a visit to Kiruna in the Swedish 1st division, Riksman returned to HIFK...

 returned to Jokerit after a one-year visit to North America and the AHL, replacing Jussi Markkanen who joined HC CSKA Moscow
HC CSKA Moscow
HC CSKA Moscow is a Russian ice hockey club that plays in the Kontinental Hockey League. It is referred to in the West as "Central Red Army" or the "Red Army Team" for its past affiliation with the Soviet Army, popularly known as the Red Army...

 of the RSL
Russian Superleague
The Russian Superleague , commonly abbreviated as RSL, was the highest division of the main professional ice hockey league in Russia. It was considered the second best league in the world, after the National Hockey League of North America...

.

The team organization of Jokerit also had some changes after 2007–08 season. The team's general manager Matti Virmanen
Matti Virmanen
Matti Virmanen is a retired Ice hockey player and a current scout for the Edmonton Oilers.-Jokerit:During his playing career, Virmanen played his only SM-liiga games for Jokerit. Virmanen played 4 games for Jokerit in 1980/81 SM-liiga season...

 was moved to work as the director of sports activities for Jokerit, and was replaced as the general manager by former Jokerit-alumni and Finnish international player, Keijo Säilynoja
Keijo Säilynoja
Keijo Säilynoja is a retired Finnish ice hockey player-Jokerit :Säilynoja started his career for Jokerit in 1988, while the team was playing in Finnish First Division...

, who started as the GM for Jokerit on June 15, 2008. Jokerit lost their 2008 preseason game against the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins by a 4–1 score. This was the second time Jokerit had faced an NHL-team, the first being the 2003–04 game against the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

.

Signings, season 2009-2010

Jokerit announced that Hanlon would not be coaching the team, but a former Jokerit head coach from 1993–1996, Hannu Aravirta
Hannu Aravirta
Hannu Aravirta is a Finnish ice hockey player and an ice hockey coach for the Finnish national men's team, SM-liiga and Elitserien.-Career as player:...

, took over again. The season started badly and they were placed last for some time. Pretty quickly after season start, Jokerit started the 2009-10 season buy acquiring Fredrik Bremberg
Fredrik Bremberg
Per Fredrik Bremberg is a Swedish professional ice hockey player, currently uncontracted. He was drafted in the third round, 55th overall, by the New Jersey Devils in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft...

, Alex Brooks, Michael Nylander
Michael Nylander
Michael Nylander is a Swedish professional ice hockey centre who is currently a free agent.- Playing career :Nylander was drafted by the Hartford Whalers in the third round in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft...

 and Bates Battaglia
Bates Battaglia
-International:-Personal life:Battaglia lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, the home of his former team, the Carolina Hurricanes. He owns a neighborhood bar called "Lucky B's Around The Corner," located in the heart of Raleigh's Glenwood South District. He is the grandson of Chicago Outfit loanshark...

. On November 25, Aravirta was sacked and replaced by Hannu Jortikka
Hannu Jortikka
Hannu Jortikka is a former Finnish ice hockey player and current coach.Jortikka spent most of his playing career in TPS. He was a part of the championship-winning TPS team in 1976. He had to retire in 1983 due to injury....

, who had coached the team in 2003-05. Jortikka also failed and Jokerit was the last team to qualify playoffs' wild card -round. Jokerit's season ended rapidly losing wild card series 1-2 for Tappara
Tappara
Tappara is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga. They play in Tampere, Finland at Tampereen jäähalli. The team have won 15 league championships ....

.

Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, OTW = Overtime or shootout wins, OTL = Overtime of shootout losses, L = Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes
Season GP W OTW OTL L Pts GF GA PIM Finish Playoffs
2002-03 56 32 3 6 15 76 154 108 757 2nd Lost bronze medal game
2003-04 56 23 4 10 19 64 131 120 869 7th Lost in 2nd round
2004-05 56 34 3 4 15 113 163 96 743 2nd Lost final series (silver medal)
2005-06 56 19 4 4 29 69 149 190 1303 11th Out of playoffs
2006-07 56 32 6 3 15 111 194 144 1243 2nd Lost final series (silver medal)
2007-08 56 29 5 8 14 105 179 152 1128 3rd Lost bronze medal game
2008-09 58 28 4 6 18 98 134 132 996 4th Lost in 1st round
2009-10 58 22 4 4 28 78 144 157 901 10th Lost in wild card -round

Achievements

  • Finnish championship 1973, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2002
    • silver 1971, 1983, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2007 and bronze 1998
  • European Cup 1995, 1996
    • bronze 1993
  • Continental Cup
    Continental Cup
    The Continental Cup is an ice hockey tournament for European clubs, begun in 1997 after the discontinuing of the European Cup. It was intended for teams from countries without representatives in the European Hockey League, with participating teams chosen by the countries' respective ice hockey...

     2003
  • Junior Finnish championships:
    • A-juniors (20-year-olds) 1988, 1996, 1999, 2000
      • four times silver
    • B-juniors (18-year-olds) 1976, 1999, 2003, 2008
      • five times silver and six times bronze
    • C-juniors (16-year-olds) 1976, 1977, 1978, 1997, 2000, 2006, 2010
      • four times silver and four times bronze


Other awards for the club:
  • Aaro Kivilinnan muistopalkinto (best Finnish club age classes combined, since 1973): 1976, 1996, 1997 (shared), 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003


Personal awards by SM-sarja
SM-sarja
SM-Sarja was the top level of ice hockey in Finland from 1928 to 1975. SM-sarja is a common abbreviation for Suomen mestaruussarja, "Finnish Championship Series"....

 and SM-liiga
SM-liiga
The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice...

:
  • Best player (Kultainen kypärä, since 1987): Teemu Selänne
    Teemu Selänne
    Teemu Ilmari Selänne nicknamed "The Finnish Flash" is a Finnish professional ice hockey winger, an alternate captain of the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League . An offensive player known for his skill and speed, Selanne has led the NHL in goal-scoring three times and has been named to...

     1991, Tim Thomas
    Tim Thomas (ice hockey)
    Timothy James Thomas, Jr. is an American professional ice hockey goaltender with the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League . Raised in Davison, MI, Thomas played college hockey for the University of Vermont for four years, from 1993–1997, during which he was drafted 217th overall by the...

     2005, Ville Leino
    Ville Leino
    Ville Leino is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who plays for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League .-Finland:Leino started playing hockey at age 17 for his hometown team SaPKo in the Suomi-sarja...

     2008, Juuso Riksman
    Juuso Riksman
    Juuso Riksman is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender.Riksman played junior hockey in the HIFK organization, but started his pro career with Hermes of Kokkola, then in the 1st division. After a visit to Kiruna in the Swedish 1st division, Riksman returned to HIFK...

     2009
  • Best goaltender
    Goaltender
    In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...

     (since 1978): Rauli Sohlman 1983, Ari Sulander
    Ari Sulander
    Ari Sulander, also nicknamed Sulo , is a professional ice hockey goaltender.-Career in Finland:...

     1996, Kari Lehtonen
    Kari Lehtonen
    Kari Lehtonen is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League...

     2002 and 2003, Juuso Riksman
    Juuso Riksman
    Juuso Riksman is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender.Riksman played junior hockey in the HIFK organization, but started his pro career with Hermes of Kokkola, then in the 1st division. After a visit to Kiruna in the Swedish 1st division, Riksman returned to HIFK...

     2009
  • Best defenceman
    Defenceman (ice hockey)
    Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...

     (since 1978): Nikolai Makarov
    Nikolai Makarov
    Nikolai Makarov is a retired ice hockey player who played in the Soviet Hockey League. He played for Traktor Chelyabinsk. He is the elder brother of the Soviet hockey legend Sergei Makarov....

     1983, Erik Hämäläinen
    Erik Hämäläinen
    Vesa Erik Hämäläinen is a left-handed retired Finnish ice hockey defenceman. Hämäläinen currently is an Ice hockey coach, employed by SM-liiga team Lukko-Early career:...

     1993, Mika Strömberg
    Mika Strömberg
    Mika Strömberg is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman. He was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques as their eleventh-round pick, #211 overall, in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft....

     1996
  • Most points in regular season: Timo Turunen
    Timo Turunen
    Timo Mikko Juhani Turunen is a Finnish retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga. He played for Jokerit. He was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004.-Playing career:...

     1973, Timo Sutinen
    Timo Sutinen
    Timo Sutinen is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga. He played for KooVee, Jokerit, and FoPS. He was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991.-External links:*...

     1974 and 1975, Petri Varis
    Petri Varis
    Petri Varis is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey forward. He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks as their 7th-round pick in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft.-Playing career:...

     1997 and 2001
  • Most goals
    Goal (ice hockey)
    In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to...

     in regular season: Timo Turunen
    Timo Turunen
    Timo Mikko Juhani Turunen is a Finnish retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga. He played for Jokerit. He was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004.-Playing career:...

     1973 and 1974 (shared), Teemu Selänne
    Teemu Selänne
    Teemu Ilmari Selänne nicknamed "The Finnish Flash" is a Finnish professional ice hockey winger, an alternate captain of the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League . An offensive player known for his skill and speed, Selanne has led the NHL in goal-scoring three times and has been named to...

     1992, Petri Varis
    Petri Varis
    Petri Varis is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey forward. He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks as their 7th-round pick in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft.-Playing career:...

     1997, Pasi Saarela
    Pasi Saarela
    Pasi Saarela is a professional Finnish ice hockey player. Pasi Saarela won the Aarne Honkavaara trophy for best goal scorer in 2005 with the team, Lukko and in 1999 with Jokerit. He has won Sm-liiga championships with Jokerit in 1996 and 1997. He has also played in Switzerland's and Sweden's...

     1999, Jani Rita
    Jani Rita
    Jani Rita is a professional ice hockey winger.-Playing career:Despite limited NHL experience, Rita has played extensively in the American Hockey League and in the SM-liiga in his native Finland. Rita started his hockeycareer in a youth team of EKS...

     2007, Jukka Hentunen
    Jukka Hentunen
    Jukka Hentunen is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward, who plays for KalPa.- Draft :He was drafted by the Calgary Flames as their sixth-round pick, #176 overall, in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft....

     2010 (shared)
  • Gentleman player (since 1954): Jari Kapanen 1975, Teemu Selänne
    Teemu Selänne
    Teemu Ilmari Selänne nicknamed "The Finnish Flash" is a Finnish professional ice hockey winger, an alternate captain of the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League . An offensive player known for his skill and speed, Selanne has led the NHL in goal-scoring three times and has been named to...

     1991, Keijo Säilynoja
    Keijo Säilynoja
    Keijo Säilynoja is a retired Finnish ice hockey player-Jokerit :Säilynoja started his career for Jokerit in 1988, while the team was playing in Finnish First Division...

     1992, Waltteri Immonen
    Waltteri Immonen
    Waltteri Immonen is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman and former coach of SM-liiga team Jokerit.-Playing career:...

     1996, Ville Peltonen
    Ville Peltonen
    Ville Peltonen is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the HIFK of the SM-liiga . He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks as their third round pick, 58th overall, in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft....

     2003
  • Best plus/minus (since 1978): Arto Sirviö
    Arto Sirviö
    Arto Tapio Ilmari Sirviö is a retired professional Finnish ice hockey player. Currently he is the General Manager of Kouvolan Kiekko-65 who play in Mestis, the second highest league in Finland....

     1984, Waltteri Immonen
    Waltteri Immonen
    Waltteri Immonen is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman and former coach of SM-liiga team Jokerit.-Playing career:...

     1992, Erik Hämäläinen
    Erik Hämäläinen
    Vesa Erik Hämäläinen is a left-handed retired Finnish ice hockey defenceman. Hämäläinen currently is an Ice hockey coach, employed by SM-liiga team Lukko-Early career:...

     1993, Petri Varis
    Petri Varis
    Petri Varis is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey forward. He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks as their 7th-round pick in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft.-Playing career:...

     1996, Martti Järventie
    Martti Järventie
    Martti Järventie is a professional ice hockey player currently playing for Ilves in the SM-liiga.Järventie began his career with Ilves where he spent a total of nine years, beginning at junior level in 1992. In 1995 he had spells with KOO-VEE and Lukko before returning to Ilves. In 2001, he...

     2007
  • Best coach (since 1978): Reino Ruotsalainen 1983, Raimo Summanen
    Raimo Summanen
    Raimo Olavi Summanen , is a former professional ice hockey forward and also a former coach of the Finnish national team. He was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the sixth round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft, 125th overall, and spent his NHL career with Edmonton and the Vancouver Canucks...

     2002


Other achievements:
  • In the 2004-05 season, Tim Thomas
    Tim Thomas (ice hockey)
    Timothy James Thomas, Jr. is an American professional ice hockey goaltender with the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League . Raised in Davison, MI, Thomas played college hockey for the University of Vermont for four years, from 1993–1997, during which he was drafted 217th overall by the...

     broke the SM-liiga shutout record with 15 shutouts during the regular season.
  • Nine European players in the history of the National Hockey League
    National Hockey League
    The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...

     have scored 1,000 career points; two of these nine, and the only Finns, Jari Kurri
    Jari Kurri
    Jari Pekka Kurri is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey right winger and a five-time Stanley Cup champion. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001. He is currently the general manager of Team Finland....

     and Teemu Selänne
    Teemu Selänne
    Teemu Ilmari Selänne nicknamed "The Finnish Flash" is a Finnish professional ice hockey winger, an alternate captain of the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League . An offensive player known for his skill and speed, Selanne has led the NHL in goal-scoring three times and has been named to...

    , started their pro careers in Jokerit.

2011/12 squad

Updated October 29th, 2011
Goaltenders
Number Nationality |Player Glovehand Contract Length Birthplace
30   Frans Tuohimaa
Frans Tuohimaa
Frans Tuohimaa is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing for Jokerit in the SM-liiga. He was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the 7th round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.-External links:...

L 2012 Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...

, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

35   Eero Kilpeläinen
Eero Kilpeläinen
Eero Kilpeläinen is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender who currently plays for Jokerit of the SM-liiga. He was selected by the Dallas Stars in the 5th round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.-External links:...

L 2012 Juva
Juva
Juva is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Southern Savonia region some North-East of Helsinki. It was founded on 19 January 1442, and is the oldest parish/municipality in Finland whose exact date of birth is known...

, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...


Defencemen
Number Nationality |Player Left/Right Handed Contract Length Birthplace
2   Jeremy Dehner
Jeremy Dehner
Jeremy Dehner is an American professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for Jokerit of the SM-liiga.-External links:...

L 2011 Madison
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....

, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...

4   Ossi Väänänen
Ossi Väänänen
Ossi Väänänen is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for Jokerit of the Finnish SM-liiga, with whom he was won two silver medals as runner-up for the Kanada-malja in 2000 and 2005...

 "C"
L 2013 Vantaa
Vantaa
Vantaa is a city and municipality in Finland. Helsinki, Vantaa, Espoo and Kauniainen make up the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.Vantaa, with its population of , is the fourth most populated city of Finland. The biggest airport in Finland, the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, is located there...

, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

7   Antti-Jussi Niemi
Antti-Jussi Niemi
Antti-Jussi Jormanpoika Niemi is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman playing for Jokerit of the SM-Liiga.- Draft :...

 "A"
L 2012 Vantaa
Vantaa
Vantaa is a city and municipality in Finland. Helsinki, Vantaa, Espoo and Kauniainen make up the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.Vantaa, with its population of , is the fourth most populated city of Finland. The biggest airport in Finland, the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, is located there...

, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

10   John Klingberg
John Klingberg
John Klingberg is a Swedish ice hockey defenceman, currently playing for Jokerit in the SM-liiga. John was drafted 131st overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars...

R 2011 Lerum
Lerum
Lerum is a locality and the seat of Lerum Municipality in Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 15,819 inhabitants in 2005.-Overview:Lerum has a station on the Gothenburg commuter rail system and is a suburb of Gothenburg....

, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....

21   Teemu Eronen
Teemu Eronen
Teemu Eronen is a professional ice hockey defenceman. He currently plays for Jokerit in Finnish SM-Liiga. He was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the 7th round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft....

L 2012 Vantaa
Vantaa
Vantaa is a city and municipality in Finland. Helsinki, Vantaa, Espoo and Kauniainen make up the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.Vantaa, with its population of , is the fourth most populated city of Finland. The biggest airport in Finland, the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, is located there...

, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

00   Tommi Kivistö
Tommi Kivistö
Tommi Kivistö is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for Jokerit in SM-liiga. He was drafted 208th overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes.-Career statistics:-External links:...

L 2011 Vantaa
Vantaa
Vantaa is a city and municipality in Finland. Helsinki, Vantaa, Espoo and Kauniainen make up the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.Vantaa, with its population of , is the fourth most populated city of Finland. The biggest airport in Finland, the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, is located there...

, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

40   Markus Nordlund
Markus Nordlund
Markus Nordlund is a Finnish ice hockey player who currently plays professionally in Finland for TPS of the SM-liiga.-External links:...

L 2011 Eurajoki
Eurajoki
Eurajoki is a municipality of Finland located in the region of Satakunta in the province of Western Finland. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....

, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...


Forwards
Number Nationality |Player Left/Right Handed Position Contract Length Birthplace
6   Teemu Pulkkinen
Teemu Pulkkinen
Teemu Pulkkinen is a Finnish professional ice hockey winger who currently players for Jokerit of the Finnish SM-Liiga. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2010 NHL Draft by the Detroit Red Wings.-Career:...

R RW 2013 Vantaa
Vantaa
Vantaa is a city and municipality in Finland. Helsinki, Vantaa, Espoo and Kauniainen make up the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.Vantaa, with its population of , is the fourth most populated city of Finland. The biggest airport in Finland, the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, is located there...

, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

14   Tomi Mäki
Tomi Mäki
Tomi Mäki is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward currently playing for Jokerit.-Playing career:Mäki was drafted by the Calgary Flames as their fourth-round pick, 108th overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft...

L C 2012 Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...

, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

18   Semir Ben-Amor
Semir Ben-Amor
Semir Ben-Amor is a Finnish professional ice hockey player who currently plays for Jokerit of the SM-liiga.-External links:...

L F 2012 Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...

, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

25   Jarkko Ruutu
Jarkko Ruutu
Jarkko Ruutu ; born August 23, 1975) is a Finnish professional ice hockey player. Ruutu is currently playing for SM-Liiga team Jokerit. He is the brother of Tuomo Ruutu, currently playing in the NHL on the Carolina Hurricanes, and retired player Mikko Ruutu....

L F 2011 Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...

, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

28   Jani Rita
Jani Rita
Jani Rita is a professional ice hockey winger.-Playing career:Despite limited NHL experience, Rita has played extensively in the American Hockey League and in the SM-liiga in his native Finland. Rita started his hockeycareer in a youth team of EKS...

L RW 2011 Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...

, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

32   Riku Hahl
Riku Hahl
Riku Markus Hahl is a Finnish professional ice hockey centre, currently playing for Jokerit in the Finnish SM-liiga.-Playing career:Hahl was drafted 183rd overall in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche....

L C 2012 Hämeenlinna
Hämeenlinna
Hämeenlinna is a city and municipality of about inhabitants in the heart of the historical province of Häme in the south of Finland and is the birthplace of composer Jean Sibelius. Today, it belongs to the region of Tavastia Proper, and until 2010 it was the residence city for the Governor of the...

, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

42   Ben Eaves
Ben Eaves
Benjamin Coel Eaves is an American ice hockey center, currently playing for the Jokerit of the SM-Liiga. He is the son of retired NHL player Mike Eaves, and brother of Patrick Eaves of the Detroit Red Wings.- Playing career :...

R C 2011 Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...

44   Antti Kerälä
Antti Kerälä
Antti Kerälä is a Finnish professional ice hockey player who currently plays for Jokerit of the SM-liiga.-External links:...

L C 2012 Hattula
Hattula
Hattula is a municipality of Finland. Its seat is in Parola.It is part of the Tavastia Proper region and until 2010 it was located in the province of Southern Finland. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water...

, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

47   Janne Lahti
Janne Lahti
Janne Lahti is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing for the Jokerit in the SM-liiga.On June 1, 2007, Lahti signed a one-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens, and he played the 2007–08 season in the American Hockey League with the Hamilton Bulldogs.-External links:...

L LW 2013 Riihimäki
Riihimäki
Riihimäki is a town and municipality in the south of Finland, about north of Helsinki and southeast of Tampere. It is somewhat of a railway junction, since the railway tracks going from different parts of the nation to Helsinki merge there. Sako, Ltd...

, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

81   Ilari Filppula
Ilari Filppula
Ilari Filppula is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the SM-liiga team Jokerit. He is the older brother of Valtteri Filppula of the Detroit Red Wings.-Playing career:...

L F 2011 Vantaa
Vantaa
Vantaa is a city and municipality in Finland. Helsinki, Vantaa, Espoo and Kauniainen make up the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.Vantaa, with its population of , is the fourth most populated city of Finland. The biggest airport in Finland, the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, is located there...

, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...



C = Captain, A = Alternate Captain

2009-10 team staff

Coaching Staff
Name Position
Erkka Westerlund
Erkka Westerlund
Erkka Westerlund was the head coach of the Finnish national men's ice hockey team. He was appointed head coach on November 1, 2004, and his contract ended in May 2007, after winning World Championship Silver in Moscow's World Championship tournament...

Head Coach
Sami Ranta Assistant Coach
Jami Kauppi Assistant Coach

Misc. Staff
Name Position
Lars Lindström Equipment Manager
Timo Lounio Physio
Niko Toivonen Masseur
Peter Åström Medical
Jammu Öunap Medical
Tuomas Brinck Medical

Team captains

  • Osmo Kuusisto (1968–69)
  • Erkki Mononen (1969–71)
  • Timo Turunen
    Timo Turunen
    Timo Mikko Juhani Turunen is a Finnish retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga. He played for Jokerit. He was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004.-Playing career:...

     (1971–76, 1978)
  • Pentti Hiiros (1976–78)
  • Jari Kapanen (1978–80)
  • Henry Leppä
    Henry Leppä
    Henry Leppä is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga. He played for Jokerit and TuTo. He was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996. Leppä was born in Turku, Finland.-External links:*...

     (1980–81)
  • Jussi Lepistö (1981–82, 1987)
  • Risto Kerminen (1982–84)
  • Markus Lehto (1984–85)
  • Jari Lindroos
    Jari Lindroos
    Jari Lindroos is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga. He played for JYP, Jokerit and Kärpät. He was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 2005.-External links:*...

     (1985–87)
  • Jarmo Koskinen (1987–89)
  • Anssi Melametsä
    Anssi Melametsä
    Anssi Ilari Melametsä is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League and SM-Liiga. He played for Jokerit, HIFK, and Winnipeg Jets.- External links :...

     (1989–90)
  • Waltteri Immonen
    Waltteri Immonen
    Waltteri Immonen is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman and former coach of SM-liiga team Jokerit.-Playing career:...

     (1991–99)
  • Antti-Jussi Niemi
    Antti-Jussi Niemi
    Antti-Jussi Jormanpoika Niemi is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman playing for Jokerit of the SM-Liiga.- Draft :...

     (1999–2000)
  • Antti Törmänen
    Antti Törmänen
    Antti Törmänen is a retired professional ice hockey player and current head coach of SC Bern in Switzerland's National League A...

     (2000–2002)
  • Ville Peltonen
    Ville Peltonen
    Ville Peltonen is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the HIFK of the SM-liiga . He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks as their third round pick, 58th overall, in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft....

     (2002–2003)
  • Sami Helenius
    Sami Helenius
    Sami "Helge" Helenius is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman currently in a dual player and coaching role with HC Keski Uusimaa of the Suomi-sarja.-Playing career:...

     (2003–04)
  • Juha Lind
    Juha Lind
    Juha Lind is a Finnish ice hockey forward currently playing Jokerit in the SM-liiga.Lind started his career with Jokerit his hometown team. He was drafted 178th overall by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. He remained with Jokerit until 1997 when he joined the Dallas Stars...

     (2004–2005)
  • Petri Varis
    Petri Varis
    Petri Varis is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey forward. He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks as their 7th-round pick in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft.-Playing career:...

     (September–November 2005)
  • Marko Jantunen
    Marko Jantunen
    Marko Jantunen is a Finnish ice hockey forward. He was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft as their 11th round pick, 239th overall.-Playing career:...

     (November 2005-January 2006)
  • Petri Varis
    Petri Varis
    Petri Varis is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey forward. He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks as their 7th-round pick in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft.-Playing career:...

     (January 2006-2009)
  • Antti-Jussi Niemi
    Antti-Jussi Niemi
    Antti-Jussi Jormanpoika Niemi is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman playing for Jokerit of the SM-Liiga.- Draft :...

     (2009–2010)
  • Ossi Väänänen
    Ossi Väänänen
    Ossi Väänänen is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for Jokerit of the Finnish SM-liiga, with whom he was won two silver medals as runner-up for the Kanada-malja in 2000 and 2005...

     (2010-)

Retired numbers

  • 5 - Esa Tikkanen
    Esa Tikkanen
    Esa Tikkanen is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey forward. He played for the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, St...

  • 17 - Jari Kurri
    Jari Kurri
    Jari Pekka Kurri is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey right winger and a five-time Stanley Cup champion. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001. He is currently the general manager of Team Finland....

  • 24 - Waltteri Immonen
    Waltteri Immonen
    Waltteri Immonen is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman and former coach of SM-liiga team Jokerit.-Playing career:...

  • 91 - Otakar Janecký
    Otakar Janecký
    Otakar Janecký is a retired Czech ice hockey forward.In his homeland Janecký represented HC Pardubice, his birthcity team for his entire Czechoslovak Extraliga and Czech Extraliga career....


Jokerit NHL alumni

This is a list of current or past NHL players who played junior hockey with the Jokerit organization.
  • Jari Kurri
    Jari Kurri
    Jari Pekka Kurri is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey right winger and a five-time Stanley Cup champion. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001. He is currently the general manager of Team Finland....

     (Jokerit 1977-80, 94; Edmonton Oilers
    Edmonton Oilers
    The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....

     4th round pick in the 1980 draft
    1980 NHL Entry Draft
    The 1980 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Montreal Forum. This was the first time that an NHL arena hosted the draft. The National Hockey League teams selected 210 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1979–80 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the...

    , #69 overall)
  • Teemu Selänne
    Teemu Selänne
    Teemu Ilmari Selänne nicknamed "The Finnish Flash" is a Finnish professional ice hockey winger, an alternate captain of the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League . An offensive player known for his skill and speed, Selanne has led the NHL in goal-scoring three times and has been named to...

     (Jokerit 1988-92, 94; Winnipeg Jets 1st round pick in the 1988 draft
    1988 NHL Entry Draft
    The 1988 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Forum in Montreal, Quebec.-Selections by round:Below are listed the selections in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft...

    , #10 overall)
  • Sami Helenius
    Sami Helenius
    Sami "Helge" Helenius is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman currently in a dual player and coaching role with HC Keski Uusimaa of the Suomi-sarja.-Playing career:...

     (Jokerit 1992-93, 04, Present; Calgary Flames
    Calgary Flames
    The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...

     5th round pick in the 1992 draft
    1992 NHL Entry Draft
    The 1992 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 20 at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. A total of 264 players were drafted.-Selections by round:Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:...

    , #102 overall)
  • Ossi Väänänen
    Ossi Väänänen
    Ossi Väänänen is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for Jokerit of the Finnish SM-liiga, with whom he was won two silver medals as runner-up for the Kanada-malja in 2000 and 2005...

     (Jokerit 1996-2000; Phoenix Coyotes
    Phoenix Coyotes
    The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....

     2nd round pick in the 1998 draft
    1998 NHL Entry Draft
    The 1998 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 27 at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York. A total of 258 players were drafted.- Selections by round :Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.- Round one :- Round two :...

    , #43 overall)
  • Jani Rita
    Jani Rita
    Jani Rita is a professional ice hockey winger.-Playing career:Despite limited NHL experience, Rita has played extensively in the American Hockey League and in the SM-liiga in his native Finland. Rita started his hockeycareer in a youth team of EKS...

     (Jokerit 1998-01, Present; Edmonton Oilers 1st round pick in the 1999 draft
    1999 NHL Entry Draft
    The 1999 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 26 at the FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts. According to Sports Illustrated and other sports news agencies, at the time the 1999 draft was considered one of the deepest in talent in years, headed by Patrik Stefan and the Sedin twins. However, the...

    , #13 overall)
  • Kari Lehtonen
    Kari Lehtonen
    Kari Lehtonen is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League...

     (Jokerit 1999-2003; Atlanta Thrashers
    Atlanta Thrashers
    The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season...

     1st round pick in the 2002 draft
    2002 NHL Entry Draft
    The 2002 NHL Entry Draft was held June 22–23 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. 291 players were drafted in total: 35 from the OHL; 23 from the QMJHL; 43 from the WHL; 41 from the NCAA; 6 from U.S high schools and 110 from outside North America....

    , #2 overall)
  • Sean Bergenheim
    Sean Bergenheim
    Sean Bergenheim is a Finnish professional ice hockey winger, currently playing for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League .- Playing career :...

     (Jokerit 2001-2004; New York Islanders
    New York Islanders
    The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

     1st round pick in the 2002 draft, #22 overall)
  • Tomi Mäki
    Tomi Mäki
    Tomi Mäki is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward currently playing for Jokerit.-Playing career:Mäki was drafted by the Calgary Flames as their fourth-round pick, 108th overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft...

     (Jokerit 2001-05; Calgary Flames 4th round pick in the 2001 draft
    2001 NHL Entry Draft
    The 2001 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 23–24, 2001 at the National Car Rental Center in Sunrise, Florida.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:...

    , #108 overall)
  • Valtteri Filppula
    Valtteri Filppula
    Valtteri Filppula is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward, currently playing for the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL...

     (Jokerit 2003-05; Detroit Red Wings
    Detroit Red Wings
    The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...

     3rd round pick in the 2002 draft, #95 overall)
  • Tim Thomas
    Tim Thomas (ice hockey)
    Timothy James Thomas, Jr. is an American professional ice hockey goaltender with the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League . Raised in Davison, MI, Thomas played college hockey for the University of Vermont for four years, from 1993–1997, during which he was drafted 217th overall by the...

     (Jokerit 2004-05; Boston Bruins
    Boston Bruins
    The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...

     9th round pick in the 1994 draft, #217 overall)
  • Bjorn Fruendenthal (Jokerit 1988-90)

Other notable players

  • Brian Campbell
    Brian Campbell
    Brian Wesley Campbell is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman, an alternate captain for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League...

     (2004–05)
  • Nikolai Makarov
    Nikolai Makarov
    Nikolai Makarov is a retired ice hockey player who played in the Soviet Hockey League. He played for Traktor Chelyabinsk. He is the elder brother of the Soviet hockey legend Sergei Makarov....

     (1982–84)
  • Tomek Valtonen
    Tomek Valtonen
    Tomek Valtonen is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward for Jokerit. He was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings as their second-round draft pick in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, #56 overall....

     (1999–2007, 2008–09)
  • Tuomo Ruutu
    Tuomo Ruutu
    Tuomo Iisakki Ruutu is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who plays for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League...

     (2000–02)
  • Ville Peltonen
    Ville Peltonen
    Ville Peltonen is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the HIFK of the SM-liiga . He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks as their third round pick, 58th overall, in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft....

     (2001–03)
  • Glen Metropolit
    Glen Metropolit
    Glen Metropolit is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for EV Zug in the Swiss National League A.-Early years:...

     (2003–05)
  • Ville Leino
    Ville Leino
    Ville Leino is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who plays for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League .-Finland:Leino started playing hockey at age 17 for his hometown team SaPKo in the Suomi-sarja...

     (2007–08)
  • Phil Verchota
    Phil Verchota
    Phillip John Verchota is a retired American ice hockey forward. He is best known for being a member of the Miracle on Ice 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team won the gold medal...

    (1980–81)

List of head coaches

  • Jorma Kyntölä 1968-1969
  • Aulis Hirvonen 1969-1970
  • Matti Lampainen
    Matti Lampainen
    Matti Veikko Lampainen is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga. He played for Tappara and Ilves. He was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985.-External links:*...

     1970-1973
  • Rauli Virtanen
    Rauli Virtanen
    Rauli Virtanen is a Finnish freelance journalist and television producer. He has covered wars and conflicts since the days of Vietnam in more than 30 countries. He was a roving correspondent based in New York and London before having his own program "This is Rauli Virtanen reporting" on MTV3 in...

     1973
  • Matti Lampainen
    Matti Lampainen
    Matti Veikko Lampainen is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga. He played for Tappara and Ilves. He was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985.-External links:*...

     1973-1974
  • Boris Majorov 1974-1976
  • Jorma Borgström 1976-1977
  • Pentti Katainen 1977-1978
  • Timo Turunen
    Timo Turunen
    Timo Mikko Juhani Turunen is a Finnish retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga. He played for Jokerit. He was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004.-Playing career:...

     1978
  • Matti Väisänen
    Matti Väisänen
    Matti Väisänen is a Finnish ski-orienteering competitor. He won a relay silver medal and an individual bronze medal at the 1980 World Ski Orienteering Championships.-See also:Finnish orienteers* List of orienteers...

     1978-1980
  • Olli Hietanen 1980-1982
  • Reino Ruotsalainen 1982-1985
  • Matti Väisänen
    Matti Väisänen
    Matti Väisänen is a Finnish ski-orienteering competitor. He won a relay silver medal and an individual bronze medal at the 1980 World Ski Orienteering Championships.-See also:Finnish orienteers* List of orienteers...

     1985-1987
  • Henry Leppä
    Henry Leppä
    Henry Leppä is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga. He played for Jokerit and TuTo. He was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996. Leppä was born in Turku, Finland.-External links:*...

     1987-1988
  • Kari Mäkinen
    Kari Mäkinen
    Kari Mäkinen is the archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. On 11 March 2010 he was elected the 14th Archbishop of Turku and Finland, and he succeeded Jukka Paarma in that position on 6 June 2010...

     1988-1990
  • Boris Majorov 1990-1993
  • Alpo Suhonen
    Alpo Suhonen
    Alpo Suhonen was the first European-born NHL head coach in 50 years when he took over the Chicago Blackhawks on 22 May 2000.- Coaching career :...

     1993
  • Hannu Aravirta
    Hannu Aravirta
    Hannu Aravirta is a Finnish ice hockey player and an ice hockey coach for the Finnish national men's team, SM-liiga and Elitserien.-Career as player:...

     1993-1996
  • Curt Lundmark 1996-1997
  • Sakari Pietilä 1997
  • Curt Lundmark 1997-1998
  • Hannu Kapanen
    Hannu Kapanen
    Hannu Kapanen is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga. He played for Jokerit and HIFK...

     1998-1999
  • Timo Lahtinen
    Timo Lahtinen
    Timo Lahtinen is a retired Finnish ice hockey player, now working as an ice hockey coach for the Romanian team of HC Csíkszereda.-Merits:* As player** Ilves 1964-1970** HJK 1970-1973* As coach** Södertälje SK** Malmö IF...

     1999
  • Erkka Westerlund
    Erkka Westerlund
    Erkka Westerlund was the head coach of the Finnish national men's ice hockey team. He was appointed head coach on November 1, 2004, and his contract ended in May 2007, after winning World Championship Silver in Moscow's World Championship tournament...

     1999-2001
  • Raimo Summanen
    Raimo Summanen
    Raimo Olavi Summanen , is a former professional ice hockey forward and also a former coach of the Finnish national team. He was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the sixth round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft, 125th overall, and spent his NHL career with Edmonton and the Vancouver Canucks...

     2001-2003
  • Hannu Jortikka
    Hannu Jortikka
    Hannu Jortikka is a former Finnish ice hockey player and current coach.Jortikka spent most of his playing career in TPS. He was a part of the championship-winning TPS team in 1976. He had to retire in 1983 due to injury....

     2003-2005
  • Waltteri Immonen
    Waltteri Immonen
    Waltteri Immonen is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman and former coach of SM-liiga team Jokerit.-Playing career:...

     2005
  • Curt Lindström
    Curt Lindström
    Curt "Curre" Lindström is a Swedish ice hockey coach.-Career on international level:He coached Team Finland from 1993 to 1997, winning Finland's first Ice Hockey World Championships gold medal in 1995, and a silver world championships medal as well as Olympic bronze...

     2005-2006
  • Doug Shedden
    Doug Shedden
    Douglas Arthur Shedden is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. He coached Team Finland to a bronze medal in 2008 World Championships...

     2006-2008
  • Glen Hanlon
    Glen Hanlon
    Glen A. Hanlon is a retired Canadian National Hockey League goaltender and a former head coach of the Washington Capitals of the NHL, Dynamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League , and the Belarusian national ice hockey team. He was a goaltender scout for the Vancouver Canucks...

     2008-2009
  • Hannu Aravirta
    Hannu Aravirta
    Hannu Aravirta is a Finnish ice hockey player and an ice hockey coach for the Finnish national men's team, SM-liiga and Elitserien.-Career as player:...

     2009
  • Hannu Jortikka
    Hannu Jortikka
    Hannu Jortikka is a former Finnish ice hockey player and current coach.Jortikka spent most of his playing career in TPS. He was a part of the championship-winning TPS team in 1976. He had to retire in 1983 due to injury....

     2009-2010
  • Erkka Westerlund
    Erkka Westerlund
    Erkka Westerlund was the head coach of the Finnish national men's ice hockey team. He was appointed head coach on November 1, 2004, and his contract ended in May 2007, after winning World Championship Silver in Moscow's World Championship tournament...

     2010-

See also

  • :Category:Jokerit players
  • Jokerit roster 2005-06
  • Jokerit roster 2004-05
  • Jokerit roster 2003-04

External links

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