Liiga

The Liiga (until 2013 SM- liiga ) is the highest Finnish ice hockey league. It was founded in 1975 as SM- liiga to replace the amateur league SM- sarja. 2013, it was renamed for marketing reasons in Liiga. "SM", which was until 2013 part of their name is an acronym for suomenmestaruus ( German: Finnish Championship). The Liiga cooperates with the Finnish Ice Hockey Federation Suomen Jääkiekkoliitto.

Currently, 14 teams play in the league. In 2000, the League was initially closed, so no team descend without the consent of the Committee in a lower league or could ascend from a lower league. In July 2007 it was decided to open the league from the season 2009/10 so that teams from the Mestis ( second highest Finnish ice hockey league ) can ascend easier again.

Mode

A season in the Liiga is divided into the season and the play-offs. In the high season, each team must play four times against every other team in the league and two or four times in addition to a locally nearby team. Each game consists of 3 times 20 minutes. If it is after regular time are undecided, five minutes overtime will be played. The first goal in overtime decided the game for the team that scored the goal. In the event that after the overtime is found still no winner, the game is decided by a penalty shootout.

Scoring: A win in the season will be rewarded with three points, a victory after overtime or penalty shootout is worth two points and one defeat after overtime or penalty shootout worth one point. In the ranking of the teams will be ranked by points. For teams with equal points, the goal difference. If the goal difference also be the same, the teams are sorted by goals scored.

The rankings after the top six teams have qualified directly for the quarter-finals of the play-offs. The seven places up to and including ten play each other in the best-of -three mode to the two remaining places in the quarterfinals. The quarter - and semi-final and the final will be played in best- of-seven - mode. In the round for 3rd place, a game is only played. The respective opponents will be compiled so that the highest placed after the regular season team plays the worst, the second best, second-worst against, and so on. The better -placed team has home advantage, which changes after every game in the first game. A game lasts as in the high season, 3 times for 20 minutes. After the regular time Over Times played 20 minutes in length. The team that scores the first goal wins.

Current Teams

Former teams: teams that have renamed themselves, or have been returned to

  • FoPS were set back in 1977 and are today FPS
  • JoKP were transported back to 1992 and are now Jokipojat
  • JYP HT today Jyp
  • Kiekko - Espoo Blues are today
  • Viipurin Reipas, Lahti Reipas, Kiekko - Reipas, hockey Reipas, Reipas Lahti are former name of the Pelicans
  • Rose Lewin Urheilijat -38 and porin Karhut are former name of Ässät
  • KooKoo Kouvola were transported back to 1990
  • Koo -Vee were transported back to 1980
  • Vaasan sports were transported back to 1976
  • TuTo were transported back to 1996

Winner

The winner of the play-offs receives the gold medal and the Canada - Malja, the trophy of Liiga. The winner of the season will receive a trophy named Harry Lindbladin muistopalkinto that is less appreciated by the teams as the bronze medal.

See also: Finnish Champion ( Hockey )

Trophies

The following trophies will be awarded by the Liiga:

  • Aarne - Honkavaara Trophy - most goals in the season
  • Harry Lindbladin Memorial Trophy - winner of the regular season
  • Jari Kurri - Trophy - the best player during the playoffs
  • Jarmo - Wasama Memorial Trophy - Rookie of the Year
  • Kalevi Numminen - Trophy - best coach
  • Kultainen kypärä - best player, is elected by the SM- liiga players
  • Canada Malja - winner of the play-offs
  • Lasse - Oksanen trophy - the best player during the season
  • Matti - Keinonen Trophy - the most effective player on the plus / minus statistic
  • Pekka - Rautakallio Trophy - best defender
  • Pentti Isotalo - Trophy - Best Linesman
  • Raimo - Kilpiö trophy - the fairest player
  • Unto Wiitala Trophy - Best Referee
  • Urpo - Ylönen trophy - best goalkeeper
  • Veli -Pekka Ketola trophy - - most points during the season
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