The Ice Hockey Association is moving into the newest premises – the former Hartwall arena will be left behind

Ice Hockey Federation is not going to return to its old premises in the former Hartwall arena, says the association’s CEO Sami Kauhanen.

The association’s office was located in the annex of the arena.

“No, actually yesterday we already had time to move the furniture elsewhere. We are moving to new premises. At least with these prospects, it is not in the office’s plans to return there,” says Kauhanen.

The electricity to the Helsinki hall was cut off at the beginning of September, after which the hall company has maintained critical functions with the help of backup power.

At the time, the Ice Hockey Association said that its facilities have been out of use since the power went out, and temporary workspaces were arranged for the staff.

The Ice Hockey Association also said that it is surveying new premises. The new home was found a couple of kilometers away in a familiar place in Helsinki’s Käpylä.

“We’re going back to the old place, that is, where we moved to the arena, that is, to the old Amer house. We have just had the furniture taken there,” says Kauhanen.

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Plastic Lions home? Kauhanen cannot assess that yet.

The arena was the home of the Lions from its completion in 1997 until the beginning of 2022, when Russia started a war of aggression in Ukraine.

The last time Leijonat performed in Areena, now known as Helsinki Hall, was in November 2021.

“The news is so recent that we haven’t had time to think about such things. We are now satisfied that if the matter goes through, we will be able to organize events in the former Hartwall arena in the future”, says Kauhanen.

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In fact, yesterday we already had time to take the furniture elsewhere. We are moving to new premises.

The World Cup 2022 was played in Tampere’s Nokia Arena and Helsinki’s old ice rink, which is known as HIFK’s home arena.

The 2023 World Cup was also played in Tampere.

Last weekend, Leijonat hosted the Karelia tournament at the Helsinki ice hall.

According to Kauhanen, the last few years have been “in a floating situation, so to speak”.

“Karelia tournament, women’s EHT, possible future competitions. This again offers a new framework [verrattuna] to what it has been possible to choose here for a few years”, says Kauhanen about the venues.

“Of course, always sticking to something is the best possible thing. Of course it matters”, he answers the question about whether the Lions miss one home.

Areena shop like many others, he is happy about the solution.

“Of course, it’s good that the matter was resolved. I hope that all the approvals will still be received. It’s great that this finally came to an end.”