Hockey|According to the head coach of the Lions, the SM league should take a model from Switzerland.
The summary is made by artificial intelligence and checked by a human.
The SM league will change starting next season, when the series will be divided into the A league and the B league from the 2027–2028 season.
At that time, 14 teams play in the A-league and ten teams in the B-league.
The head coach of the Ice Hockey Lions, Antti Pennanen, suggests that Finland should follow the example of Switzerland’s foreigner quota, in order to make the 14-team main league a high-level one.
Ice hockey The SM league will change historically from next season. The new series models were decided last Thursday at the league’s general meeting.
The meeting decided that from the 2027–2028 season, the SM league will be divided into two series. At that time, 14 teams play in the so-called A-league and 10 in the B-league.
The general meeting voted between the 14+10 team series and the 12+10 team series.
The head coach of the Lions, who returned from the North American player observation trip on Monday Antti Pennanen gave his views on the serial model reform.
“It was an expected decision. There was nothing surprising about it for me,” says Pennanen.
In the shareholders’ vote, straight ups and downs also won.
In the future, the bottom of the A-League will be relegated directly to the B-League for the next season, and the winner of the B-League will be promoted directly to the A-League for the next season.
“The sweetest thing is that there is a possibility of direct ascent. That’s what I wanted to see. It’s good that it’s there,” Pennanen announces.
Pennenen throws one proposal in the direction of the decision-makers of the SM league. Leijonaluotsi thinks it would be worthwhile to learn from Switzerland.
“Switzerland has managed to make the main series of 14 teams tough with a quota of foreigners. Yes, we must be able to do that too.”
“So now I just want to talk about how this decision can be supported. Switzerland has shown that the 14-team main league is of a tough standard with a foreigner quota, even though Switzerland has fewer hockey players than Finland.”
Pennanen emphasizes the sharpening of player development in serial model talks.
“We have to be able to make the 14-team main league high-quality and take care of the 10-team league. I believe that direct promotion will also make sure in its own way that it is possible.”
“Now we just have to work hard to get more players into the domestic league, so that in 5-10 years we have a very vibrant 14+10 series. It requires that there are enough players, and we don’t lose players in the 10-18 age group.”
Pennanen is particularly concerned about this phenomenon.
“The Olympic Committee’s publication just said that club activities are stopped at the age of 11. I don’t think hockey is its own island. Yes, we certainly lose too many players to the trip.”
Before The organization of the A and B leagues in the 2026–27 season will see a historic transition period in the SM league.
Clubs that meet the criteria for a league license play in the transition period.
The reigning champion of Mestis from last season (Jokerit) and future champion of Mestis can apply for a license. If next spring the champion is Jokerit again, another final team can apply for a license.
Team numbers will be reviewed again after 2–3 years.
Pennanen hopes for peace of mind and patience for the reform work.
“Now is probably the time for support [yhtiökokouksen] decision and try to make it the best possible with cooperation.”