Joker supporters celebrate the return to the home arena – “We belong here”

However, not all fans seem to be in the mood to talk. At least when a journalist approaches and asks for an interview.

“Go to hell,” says a man dressed in a black hoodie, who is tuning his props to the Veikkaus-arena supporter’s end.

The atmosphere in the corridors of the arena is different.

“This is a great evening. Festive feeling, absolutely amazing. We belong here”, Jonna Kytöniemi-Hyttinen rejoices.

Kytöniemi-Hyttinen has supported the Jokers for a long time.

“I’ve been a fan since the 80s. It started in middle school,” he says.

Spouse standing next to you Antti Hyttinen nods.

“Forty years. In that time, you’ve seen so much of everything that nothing really feels like anything anymore,” laughs Hyttinen.

Jokers left Finland for the Russian KHL league in the fall of 2014 and left there in February 2022, when Russia started a war of aggression in Ukraine. In the 2022–23 season, the club’s representative team did not play in any series.

“Well, it was a bit of a test of faith, but once you’re a Joker, you’re always a Joker,” Kytöniemi-Hyttinen recalls a season when fans didn’t have a team to support.

“There have been twists and turns. We have changed countries, leagues and league levels. Twice now we have seen promotion to the league. First from the then divari (now Mestis) and then again. It’s nice to live together,” says her husband.

The couple is strongly of the opinion that Joker’s place is precisely in the SM league. They also went to watch games during the KHL.

“The logo always comes first, but there was no similar feeling. The other teams were unknown, the players were also unknown. There are clear love-hate relationships in the league,” says Antti Hyttinen.

That big love-hate relationship is of course the most important for Joker fans.

“The last time I watched a Jokerit-HIFK match was in the 90s. That was when I almost got a turpa when I was in the company of IFK supporters,” laughs Kytöniemi-Hyttinen.

“That’s already expected here. Finland’s largest economic area and two teams, nothing but a plus for ice hockey in the country,” Hyttinen enthuses.

“And the Jokerit also fills the halls in the periphery. It is to the advantage of the entire league that we are here now.”

Julius Saarela is now seeing the Joker’s SC league match for the first time.

“During the KHL and Mestis, we did go to watch the games,” his father Jarkko Saarela tells.

Julius has a clear favorite player in clown shirts.

”(Patrick) Curry.”

Why Curry?

“Strike skills and good moves.”

Jarkko Saarela has noticed that some fans have used vulgar language in the away matches of the Jokers this season.

“That kind of common sense would be good to keep in mind when there is even a younger crowd than this. And there’s no need for any slights, even outside the halls. We’d rather enjoy great game performances,” he hopes.

Father and son are looking forward to Jokeri’s home opener.

“The feeling is really good, but the start of the season could have been a little better,” says Jarkko Saarela.

Jokerit has not won a single match this season. After three games, the Helsinki team has only one series point.

Jokerit will face JYP in their first home game of the season.