Olli Jokinen explains – this is how the difference between Sweden and Finland can be seen in practice

in the SM league no less than 60 matches are played in the Regular Series – nowadays between 16 teams. The series is still not purely fourfold, but the teams are in groups.

From the major European ice hockey leagues, for example in the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Germany and Sweden, a quadruple series of 14 teams, 52 matches, is played.

A more athletic approach and a smaller number of matches allow for better training and better games.

This has also been experienced by the Timråta pilot in the SHL, who stood behind the Jukurei bench for the last three seasons Olli Jokinen.

Jokin estimates that there is time left for training one extra day per week.

“Of course, the trips to games are longer. Traveling sometimes affects how you can exercise. During the two-game weeks, you can practice high-quality as a team from Monday to Wednesday,” says Jokinen.

On Mondays and Tuesdays, there is another extra ice practice in Timrå, where young players and everyone who wants to participate.

“We will play on Thursday. Depending on where the game is, the goal is to be light on the ice on Friday. We will play again on Saturday.”

“In the weeks of the three games, one team practice is canceled. You can train and plan it very well here.”

A river adds that the monthly and weekly structure can of course be well planned everywhere. But in Sweden, the game calendar for the next season will soon be ready. In Finland, the calendar for the coming season will not be ready until much later.

“In May, when the work started, the calendar was ready and the players could already be told when they have days off and when they train. This has been different in many ways.”

“In this series, sports and games come first, which is great,” says Jokinen, who also emphasizes the competition, the even series and the smaller number of teams.

Jokinen also states that the way the team fared against their group opponents was decisive in terms of Jukurie’s league ranking last season.

“We were in the top six because the record against KalPa and JYP was really good. We played 12 matches against them.”

Jukurit took a total of 27 points from KalPa and JYP last season, or a whopping 2.25 points per game.

Strongly Timrå, who started the season, is currently third in the SHL.

Last Saturday there was a 4–2 win over Skellefteå. The match was Timrå’s second of the week and Skellefteå’s third. Someone says that the load was visible from the opponent.

“They have had three games every week because they are in the CHL.”

“There’s been a lot of discussion here that it’s a bit too strict, even though there aren’t even games on consecutive days. It’s a pity for Ilves and others. I saw it in Jukurei when there were four-game weeks because of the CHL.”

Jokinen is happy that there are no games on consecutive days in Sweden. The starting points are also more even, as there are never matches where one person comes to having rested the night before and the other having played.

“Nevertheless, there were many games like that in Finland. I remember when we could leave Mikkeli for an away game the day before, and the next day’s opponent was still somewhere on an away trip and came to his own game place later than us. And correspondingly, it was like the opponent was already waiting in Mikkeli when we were elsewhere.”