Jokerit

Helsingin Jokerit (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈjokerit], English: Jokers or Jesters of Helsinki) is a professional ice hockey team based in Helsinki, Finland. They currently compete in the top-tier Liiga for the 2026–27 season. Jokerit plays its home games at the Veikkaus Arena in Helsinki. Founded in 1967, the team has a rich history of success, having secured six league championships as a prominent member of the Finnish SM-liiga in the years 1973, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, and 2002. Additionally, Jokerit has three European championships to its name, having triumphed in the IIHF European Cup in 1994 and 1995, as well as the IIHF Continental Cup in 2003. Starting in the 2014–15 season, Jokerit became part of the Bobrov Division of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) Western Conference, marking Finland as the first Nordic country to have a team competing in this international league. However, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Jokerit made the decision to withdraw from the 2022 KHL playoffs. This move was followed by the termination of several team sponsor and supplier contracts, including the home arena's name rights holder Hartwall, as a response to the invasion. As a result, on 5 April 2022, Jokerit officially announced their decision to withdraw from the league entirely. After three seasons in the second-tier Mestis (2023–2026), during which the club successfully rebuilt its fan base and financial operations, it was announced on 10 February 2026 that Jokerit had been granted a league license to rejoin Liiga. The club is scheduled to begin play in the top division starting in the 2026–2027 season, marking their return to the top flight for the first time since 2014.