Liiga: substance abuse and mental health treatments are mentioned in the player contract for the first time

The section on occupational health care in both the general and player contracts has been clarified. A sentence has been added to both, which reads: “The parties consider it important that occupational health care also includes mental health and substance abuse treatments.”

The section previously talked about doctor’s prescriptions and the prevention of health hazards only on a general level.

The players’ association would have liked to oblige the clubs to undergo treatment, but the historical mention is also a step in the right direction.

Some of the clubs have already paid for these treatments in the past, but SJRY does not have exact information on the amounts.

Ice hockey players substance abuse and mental health problems are a taboo that has been broken more and more in the 2020s.

Marko Jantunen and Jere Karalahten drug fiends have encouraged men to speak out, and for example a multiple World Cup medalist Petri Kontiola told about his substance abuse treatment in October 2023.

Probably the most famous mental health case of a hockey player in the country Patrik Laine. The NHL forward applied for the dollar league’s treatment program in January 2024.

Major some of the contract changes were small details, but the elimination of practice matches is probably worth mentioning.

The player may only play in six matches before the start of the regular season. The same limit was, depending on age, eight or ten matches in last season’s papers.

CHL matches are included in the quota, and even shorter matches are counted in halves.

So, for example, a traditional Lace Tournament accumulates a maximum of two matches, because the teams in the final match play four matches and the playing time is twice 15 or 20 minutes.

As many as 17 teams will compete in the league next season. The top 14 remain at the highest league level after the super season.