View source for Liiga

{{Short description|Ice hockey league in Finland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox sports league
| title           = Liiga
| current_season  = 2025–26 Liiga season
| upcoming_season = 
| logo            = Liiga logo.svg
| pixels          = 220px
| caption         = 
| formerly        = [[SM-sarja]] (1933–1975)<br>SM-liiga (1975–2013)
| sport           = Ice hockey
| founded         = {{start date and age|1975}}
| fame            = 
| motto           = ''Se on totta'' (''It's for real'')
| inaugural       = [[1975–76 SM-liiga season|1975–76]]
| teams           = 16
| level           = [[League system|Level 1]]
| country         = [[Finland]]
| champion        = [[KalPa]] (1st title)
| champ_season    = [[2024–25 Liiga season|2024–25]]
| most successful club = [[Tappara]] (13 titles)
| qualification   = 
| folded          = 
| website         = [https://www.liiga.fi/en Liiga.fi]
| ceo             = Mikko Pulkkinen
| TV              = [[Telia Company]], [[TV5 (Finland)|TV5]]
| relegation      = [[Mestis]]
| confed_cup      = [[Champions Hockey League]]
| related_comps   = [[Auroraliiga]]
| founder         = 
}}
The '''Liiga''', colloquially called the '''Finnish Elite League''' in English,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-12-02 |title=Finnish ice hockey league prepares for break |url=https://yle.fi/a/3-11677798 |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=News |language=en}}</ref> '''FM-ligan''' in Swedish,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Efterlängtade beskedet: FM-ligan i ishockey öppnas igen – kvalspel ordnas från och med våren 2025 |url=https://svenska.yle.fi/a/7-10043445 |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=svenska.yle.fi |language=sv}}</ref> and '''Jääkiekon''' '''SM-Liiga''' in Finnish is the top professional [[ice hockey]] league in [[Finland]]. The league comprises 16 teams from all around Finland with relegation and promotion between the [[Mestis]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-12 |title=Liiga aukeaa – keväästä 2025 eteenpäin pelataan karsintoja, joukkuemääräksi maksimissaan 16 joukkuetta |url=https://www.jatkoaika.com/Uutiset/Liiga-aukeaa-%E2%80%93-kev%C3%A4%C3%A4st%C3%A4-2025-eteenp%C3%A4in-pelataan-karsintoja-joukkuem%C3%A4%C3%A4r%C3%A4ksi-maksimissaan-16-joukkuetta/253473 |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=Jatkoaika.com - Kaikki jääkiekosta |language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mäkeläinen |first=Kimmo |date=2023-10-12 |title=SM-liiga aukeaa, karsinnat pelataan taas keväällä 2025 – "Tämä palauttaa vahvasti urheilullisuuden" |url=https://www.satakunnankansa.fi/urheilu/art-2000010191646.html |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=Satakunnan Kansa |language=fi}}</ref> The winner of the Liiga [[playoffs]] is awarded the [[Kanada-malja]] ("Canada Bowl") at the end of each season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-04-26 |title=SM-liigan mestaruuspytyllä värikäs historia – tiesitkö tämän Kanada-maljasta? |url=https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/sm-liigan-mestaruuspytylla-varikas-historia-tiesitko-taman-kanada-maljasta/5862128 |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=mtvuutiset.fi |language=fi}}</ref>

Teams from the Liiga participate in the [[International Ice Hockey Federation|IIHF]]'s annual [[Champions Hockey League]] (CHL), competing for the European Trophy. Participation is based on the strength of the various leagues in Europe (excluding the Eurasian [[Kontinental Hockey League]]).

The Liiga was established in 1975 to replace the former SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur competition. The Liiga is not directly overseen by the [[Finnish Ice Hockey Association]], but the league and association have an [[Contract|agreement]] of cooperation. SM is a common [[abbreviation]] for ''[[Finnish Champion|Suomen mestaruus]]'', "Finnish Championship".

==History==
The SM-liiga was established in 1975 to replace the amateur competition SM-sarja. [[Kalervo Kummola]] was elected to become the first [[chief executive officer]] of the SM-liiga, who served until 1987.<ref>{{Cite web |last=emiliarantanen |date=2021-07-01 |title=Rautakanslerin arvot menivät uusiksi |url=https://uusitie.com/rautakanslerin-arvot-menivat-uusiksi/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Uusi Tie -verkkolehti |language=fi}}</ref> The SM-liiga wasn't established under the Finnish ice Hockey Association that oversees all the other leagues and cups in the country. The [[playoffs]] were introduced in Finnish ice hockey for the first time during the inaugural SM-liiga season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jääkiekon SM-sarja ja SM-liiga vuosi vuodelta |url=https://records.finhockey.fi/historia/sm-sarja-ja-liiga-vuosi-vuodelta |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Suomi-kiekon ennätykset ja tilastot |language=fi}}</ref>

At first there were 10 clubs in the SM-liiga. The league expanded to 12 teams in the 1988–89 season. In 2000, the SM-liiga was expanded by one team, after which the league was closed so that teams could not drop out of the league or move up from a lower league. For the 2005–2006 season, the [[Mestis]] winner [[KalPa]] was promoted to the series, which met the criteria required for a place in the league.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-04-13 |title=KalPa nousi jääkiekkoliigaan |url=https://yle.fi/a/3-5970741 |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Yle Urheilu |language=fi}}</ref> The league qualifiers were brought back for the 2008–09 season. However, as a condition for promotion, the Mestis team that cleared the qualifiers should have bought the shares of the losing Liiga team at the price determined by the league. Otherwise, the losing Liiga team would have continued playing in the league.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-06-20 |title=jääkiekkoilu {{!}} SM-liigaan karsinnat keväällä 2009 |url=https://www.hs.fi/urheilu/art-2000004492012.html |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Helsingin Sanomat |language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-06-19 |title=Jääkiekon SM-liigakarsinnat pelataan keväällä 2009 |url=https://yle.fi/a/3-6014126 |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Yle Urheilu |language=fi}}</ref> Starting from the 2013–2014 season, the Liiga qualifiers were replaced by a license system where the winner of Mestis can apply for a Liiga license. If granted, the club will be promoted to the league after a transition period of one season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-19 |title=Liigakarsinnat lopetetaan - Mestis-mestari anoo jatkossa nousua |url=https://yle.fi/a/3-6994431 |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Yle Urheilu |language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-01-23 |title=Kun urheilullisuus poljettiin lopullisesti – pakina surullisesta liigakaudesta 2013-2014 |url=https://yle.fi/a/3-7047255 |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Yle Urheilu |language=fi}}</ref>[[File:Liigan paidat jääkiekkomuseossa.jpg|thumb|right|SM-liiga clubs' former jerseys]]The league changed its marketing name to just '''Liiga''' for the [[2013–14 SM-liiga season|2013–14 season]], and introduced a new logo to match.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-08-09 |title=SM-liiga muuttaa nimeään |url=https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/sm-liiga-muuttaa-nimeaan/3806138 |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=mtvuutiset.fi |language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-08-09 |title=SM-liiga vaihtaa nimensä Liigaksi |url=https://www.jatkoaika.com/Uutiset/sm-liiga-vaihtaa-nimens%C3%A4-liigaksi/150379#:~:text=SM-liiga%20muuttuu%20siis%20pelkistetymm%C3%A4ksi,nimen%20myymist%C3%A4%20mainosk%C3%A4ytt%C3%B6%C3%B6n%20jollekin%20yritykselle. |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Jatkoaika.com - Kaikki jääkiekosta |language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tässä on SM-liigan uusi logo - Katso kuva |url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/smliiga/a/2013080917352064 |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=www.iltalehti.fi |language=fi}}</ref> The 2019–20 Liiga season was terminated on March 13, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the decision, the final round of the regular season and the playoffs were not played, and the 2020 Finnish hockey championship was not awarded.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoffrén |first=Sami |date=2020-03-13 |title=SM-liigakausi päättyy välittömästi – mestaruutta ei jaeta |url=https://www.is.fi/sm-liiga/art-2000006438539.html |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Ilta-Sanomat |language=fi}}</ref>

For the 2024–25 season, [[Kiekko-Espoo]] were promoted to the Liiga as the league expanded to 16 teams.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kiekko-Espoo pääsee SM-liigaan! |url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/smliiga/a/7e51e83f-c330-450b-9bae-0816ef54ea19 |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=www.iltalehti.fi |language=fi}}</ref> The league was opened for relegation and promotion between the Mestis for the first time since 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-03 |title=SM-liigan pudotuspelit uudistuvat ja lajiväki kyseenalaistaa urheilulliset perusteet: "Tuntuu epäreilulta" |url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20086768 |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Yle Urheilu |language=fi}}</ref>

According to a 2023 article by ''The Hockey Writers'', the SM-liiga is considered one of the best leagues in Europe and the world along with the [[Swedish Hockey League]] and behind the [[Kontinental Hockey League]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Helfrick |first=Eugene |date=2023-07-03 |title=Top 10 Best Ice Hockey Leagues |url=https://thehockeywriters.com/top-10-best-ice-hockey-leagues/ |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=The Hockey Writers |language=en-us}}</ref> Going into the [[2024–25 Champions Hockey League|2024–25 CHL season]], the Liiga was [[Champions Hockey League#League ranking|ranked the No. 3 league]] in Europe, allowing them to send their top four teams to compete in the CHL.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rankings |url=https://www.championshockeyleague.com/en/rankings |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=www.championshockeyleague.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Clubs==
=== List of clubs ===
The team names are usually the traditional name of the club. All clubs are commonly known by the name of their team. ''Oy'' and ''Ab'' are the abbreviations for [[Osakeyhtiö|limited company]] in [[Finnish language|Finnish]] and [[Swedish language|Swedish]] respectively.
{{Location map+|Finland
| width = 350
| float = right
| caption = Teams in the 2024–25 Liiga season
|places = 
{{Location map~ |Finland |label=[[HIFK (ice hockey)|HIFK]] |lat=60.189 |long=24.922 |region=FI |position=right |name=HIFK}}
{{Location map~ |Finland |label=[[HPK]] |lat=60.995 |long=24.432 |region=FI |position=left |name=HPK}}
{{Location map~ |Finland |label=[[Ilves (ice hockey)|Ilves]] |lat=61.496 |long=23.824 |region=FI |position=top |name=Ilves}}
{{Location map~ |Finland |label=[[Jukurit]] |lat=61.705 |long=27.243 |region=FI |position=right |name=Jukurit}}
{{Location map~ |Finland |label=[[JYP Jyväskylä|JYP]] |lat=62.237 |long=25.722 |region=FI |position=right |name=JYP}}
{{Location map~ |Finland |label=[[KalPa]] |lat=62.895 |long=27.666 |region=FI |position=right |name=KalPa}}
{{Location map~ |Finland |label=[[Kiekko-Espoo]] |lat=60.178 |long=24.786 |position=bottom |mark=Red pog.svg |name=Kiekko-Espoo}}
{{location map~ |Finland |label=[[KooKoo (Liiga)|KooKoo]] |lat=60.872 |long=26.711 |region=FI |position=right |name=KooKoo}}
{{Location map~ |Finland |label=[[Oulun Kärpät|Kärpät]] |lat=65.008 |long=25.495 |region=FI |position=left |name=Kärpät}}
{{Location map~ |Finland |label=[[Lukko]] |lat=61.121 |long=21.503 |region=FI |position=left |name=Lukko}}
{{Location map~ |Finland |label=[[Pelicans (ice hockey)|Pelicans]] |lat=60.982 |long=25.639 |region=FI |position=bottom |name=Pelicans}}
{{Location map~ |Finland |label=[[Saimaan Pallo|SaiPa]] |lat=61.058 |long=28.229 |region=FI |position=right |name=SaiPa}}
{{Location map~ |Finland |label=[[Sport (Vaasa)|Sport]] |lat=63.080 |long=21.641 |region=FI |position=left |name=Sport}}
{{Location map~ |Finland |label=[[Tappara]] |lat=61.496 |long=23.824 |region=FI |position=right |name=Tappara}}
{{Location map~ |Finland |label=[[TPS (ice hockey)|TPS]] |lat=60.456 |long=22.187 |region=FI |position=left |name=TPS}}
{{Location map~ |Finland |label=[[Porin Ässät (men's ice hockey)|Ässät]] |lat=61.474 |long=21.765 |region=FI |position=left |name=Ässät}}
}}
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Team name
!Club's registered name
!Location
!Home venue
!Capacity
!<small>2024–25 season standing (playoffs)</small>
!Titles SM-liiga
!Titles overall
|-
|'''[[HIFK (ice hockey)|HIFK]]'''
|Oy HIFK Hockey Ab
|[[File:Helsinki.vaakuna.svg|20px]] [[Helsinki]]
|[[Helsinki Ice Hall]]
|8,200
|4th (5th)
|4
|7
|-
|'''[[HPK]]'''
|HPK Liiga Oy
|[[File:Hämeenlinna.vaakuna.svg|20px]] [[Hämeenlinna]]
|[[Ritarihalli|Patria-areena]]
|5,360
|10th (11th)
|2
|2
|-
|'''[[Ilves]]'''
|Ilves-Hockey Oy
|[[File:Tampere.vaakuna.svg|20px]] [[Tampere]]
|[[Nokia Arena (Tampere)|Nokia Arena]]
|12,700
|2nd (3rd)
|1
|16
|-
|'''[[Mikkelin Jukurit|Jukurit]]'''
|Jukurit HC Oy
|[[File:Mikkeli.vaakuna.svg|20px]] [[Mikkeli]]
|[[Kalevankankaan jäähalli|Ikioma Areena]]
|4,200
|16th (15th)
|0
|0
|-
|'''[[JYP Jyväskylä|JYP]]'''
|JYP Jyväskylä Oy
|[[File:Jyväskylä.vaakuna.svg|20px]] [[Jyväskylä]]
|[[Synergia-areena]]
|4,437
|14th (did not qualify)
|2
|2
|-
|'''[[KalPa]]'''
|KalPa Hockey Oy
|[[File:Kuopio.vaakuna.svg|20px]] [[Kuopio]]
|[[Kuopio Ice Hall|Olvi Arena]]
|5,300
|3rd (1st)
|1
|1
|-
|'''[[Kiekko-Espoo]]'''
|Kiekko-Espoo Oy
|[[File:Espoo.vaakuna.svg|20px]] [[Espoo]]
|[[Espoo Metro Areena]]
|6,982
|8th (10th)
|0
|0
|-
|'''[[KooKoo (Liiga)|KooKoo]]'''
|KooKoo Hockey Oy
|[[File:Kouvola.vaakuna.2009.svg|20px]] [[Kouvola]]
|[[Lumon arena]]
|5,950
|6th (9th)
|0
|0
|-
|'''[[Oulun Kärpät|Kärpät]]'''
|Oulun Kärpät Oy
|[[File:Oulu.vaakuna.svg|20px]] [[Oulu]]
|[[Oulun Energia Areena]]
|6,300
|13th (did not qualify)
|8
|8
|-
|'''[[Lukko]]'''
|Rauman Lukko Oy
|[[File:Rauma.vaakuna.svg|20px]] [[Rauma, Finland|Rauma]]
|[[Äijänsuo Arena|Kivikylän Areena]]
|4,500
|1st (4th)
|1
|2
|-
|'''[[Lahti Pelicans|Pelicans]]'''
|Lahden Pelicans Oy
|[[File:Lahti.vaakuna.svg|20px]] [[Lahti]]
|[[Isku Areena]]
|4,403
|15th (16th)
|0
|0
|-
|'''[[SaiPa]]'''
|Liiga-SaiPa Oy
|[[File:Lappeenranta.vaakuna.svg|20px]] [[Lappeenranta]]
|[[Kisapuisto]]
|4,820
|5th (2nd)
|0
|0
|-
|'''[[Vaasan Sport|Sport]]'''
|Hockey-Team Vaasan Sport Oy
|[[File:Vaasa.vaakuna.svg|20px]] [[Vaasa]]
|[[Vaasa Arena]]
|5,185
|11th (8th)
|0
|0
|-
|'''[[Tappara]]'''
|Tamhockey Oy
|[[File:Tampere.vaakuna.svg|20px]] [[Tampere]]
|[[Nokia Arena (Tampere)|Nokia Arena]]
|12,700
|9th (7th)
|13
|20
|-
|'''[[HC TPS|TPS]]'''
|HC TPS Turku Oy
|[[File:Turku.vaakuna.svg|20px]] [[Turku]]
|[[Gatorade Center]]
|10,500
|12th (12th)
|10
|11
|-
|'''[[Porin Ässät (men's ice hockey)|Ässät]]'''
|[[Porin Ässät ry#HC Ässät Pori Oy|HC Ässät Pori Oy]]
|[[File:Porin vaakuna.svg|20px]] [[Pori]]
|[[Isomäki Ice Hall]]
|6,150
|7th (6th)
|2
|3
|}

=== SM-liiga timeline ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! colspan="5" | 1970

! colspan="10" | 1980

! colspan="10" | 1990

! colspan="10" | 2000

! colspan="10" | 2010

! colspan="6"  | 2020

|- style="background:#f0f0f0; font-size:85%;"
|  [[1975–76 SM-liiga season|75<br>76]] ||  [[1976–77 SM-liiga season|76<br>77]] ||  [[1977–78 SM-liiga season|77<br>78]] ||  [[1978–79 SM-liiga season|78<br>79]] ||  [[1979–80 SM-liiga season|79<br>80]] ||  [[1980–81 SM-liiga season|80<br>81]] ||  [[1981–82 SM-liiga season|81<br>82]] ||  [[1982–83 SM-liiga season|82<br>83]] ||  [[1983–84 SM-liiga season|83<br>84]] ||  [[1984–85 SM-liiga season|84<br>85]] ||  [[1985–86 SM-liiga season|85<br>86]] ||  [[1986–87 SM-liiga season|86<br>87]] ||  [[1987–88 SM-liiga season|87<br>88]] ||  [[1988–89 SM-liiga season|88<br>89]] ||  [[1989–90 SM-liiga season|89<br>90]] ||  [[1990–91 SM-liiga season|90<br>91]] ||  [[1991–92 SM-liiga season|91<br>92]] ||  [[1992–93 SM-liiga season|92<br>93]] ||  [[1993–94 SM-liiga season|93<br>94]] ||  [[1994–95 SM-liiga season|94<br>95]] ||  [[1995–96 SM-liiga season|95<br>96]] ||  [[1996–97 SM-liiga season|96<br>97]] ||  [[1997–98 SM-liiga season|97<br>98]] ||  [[1998–99 SM-liiga season|98<br>99]] ||  [[1999–2000 SM-liiga season|99<br>00]] ||  [[2000–01 SM-liiga season|00<br>01]] ||  [[2001–02 SM-liiga season|01<br>02]] ||  [[2002–03 SM-liiga season|02<br>03]] ||  [[2003–04 SM-liiga season|03<br>04]] ||  [[2004–05 SM-liiga season|04<br>05]] ||  [[2005–06 SM-liiga season|05<br>06]] ||  [[2006–07 SM-liiga season|06<br>07]] ||  [[2007–08 SM-liiga season|07<br>08]] ||  [[2008–09 SM-liiga season|08<br>09]] ||  [[2009–10 SM-liiga season|09<br>10]] ||  [[2010–11 SM-liiga season|10<br>11]] ||  [[2011–12 SM-liiga season|11<br>12]] ||  [[2012–13 SM-liiga season|12<br>13]] ||  [[2013–14 SM-liiga season|13<br>14]]||[[2014–15 SM-liiga season|14<br>15]]|| [[2015–16 SM-liiga season|15<br>16]]|| [[2016–17 SM-liiga season|16<br>17]]|| [[2017–18 SM-liiga season|17<br>18]]|| [[2018–19 SM-liiga season|18<br>19]]|| [[2019–20 SM-liiga season|19<br>20]]|| [[2020–21 SM-liiga season|20<br>21]]
|[[2021–22 SM-liiga season|21<br>22]]
|[[2022–23 SM-liiga season|22<br>23]]
|[[2023–24 SM-liiga season|23<br>24]]
|[[2024–25 Liiga season|24<br>25]]

|[[2025–26 Liiga season|25<br>26]]

|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
| colspan="51" style="color:white; background:#f3d161;" | '''[[HIFK (ice hockey)|HIFK]]'''
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
| colspan="51" style="color:white; background:#f3d161;" | '''[[Ilves]]'''
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
| colspan="51" style="color:white; background:#f3d161;" | '''[[Tappara]]'''
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
| colspan="51" style="color:silver; background:#f3d161;" | '''[[HC TPS|TPS]]'''
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
| colspan="14" style="color:white; background:#f3d161;"| '''[[Porin Ässät (men's ice hockey)|Ässät]]''' ||| || colspan="36" style="color:white; background:#f3d161;" |
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
| colspan="12" style="color:white; background:#f3d161;"| '''[[Jokerit]]''' ||colspan=2 | || colspan="25" style="color:white; background:#f3d161;"| || colspan=6 | || colspan="6" |
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
| colspan="8" style="color:white; background:#f3d161;"| '''[[Lukko]]''' ||| || colspan="42" style="color:white; background:#f3d161;" |
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
| colspan="5" style="color:white; background:#f3d161;"| '''[[KOOVEE (ice hockey)|KOOVEE]]''' || colspan=10 | || colspan=10 | || colspan=10 | ||colspan=10 | || colspan="6" |
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
| style="color:white; background:#f3d161;"| '''[[Vaasan Sport|Sport]]''' || colspan=4 | || colspan=10 | ||colspan=10 | || colspan=10 | ||colspan=4 | || colspan="12" style="color:white; background:#f3d161;" |
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
| colspan="2" style="color:white; background:#f3d161;"| '''[[FPS (ice hockey)|FoPS]]''' || colspan=3 | || colspan=10 | ||colspan=10 | || colspan=10 | ||colspan=10 | || colspan="6" |
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
|| || colspan="9" style="color:white; background:#f3d161;"| '''[[Lahti Pelicans|Kiekkoreipas]]''' || colspan=5 | || style="color:white; background:#f3d161;"| <small>'''[[Lahti Pelicans|Hockey-<br />Reipas]]'''</small> || colspan="3" style="color:white; background:#f3d161;"| '''[[Lahti Pelicans|Reipas Lahti]]''' || colspan=5 | || colspan="27" style="color:white; background:#f3d161;" | '''[[Lahti Pelicans|Pelicans]]'''
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
| colspan=2 | || colspan="12" style="color:white; background:#f3d161;"| '''[[Oulun Kärpät|Kärpät]]''' ||| || colspan=10 | || colspan="26" style="color:white; background:#f3d161;" |
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
| colspan= 5 | || colspan="6" style="color:red; background:#f3d161;"| '''[[SaiPa]]''' || colspan=2 | || colspan="3" style="color:red; background:#f3d161;"| || colspan=5 | || colspan="30" style="color:red; background:#f3d161;" |
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
| colspan=5 | || colspan=3 | || style="color:red; background:#f3d161;"| '''[[HPK]]''' || colspan=4 | || colspan="38" style="color:red; background:#f3d161;" |
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
| colspan=5 | || colspan=5 | || colspan="12" style="color:red; background:#f3d161;"| '''[[JYP Jyväskylä|JyP HT]]''' || colspan="29" style="color:red; background:#f3d161;" | '''[[JYP Jyväskylä|JYP]]'''
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
| colspan=5 | || colspan=6 | || colspan="13" style="color:red; background:#f3d161;"| '''[[KalPa]]''' ||| || colspan=5 | || colspan="21" style="color:red; background:#f3d161;" |
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
| colspan=5 | || colspan=7 | || colspan="3" style="color:red; background:#f3d161;"| '''[[KooKoo (Liiga)|KooKoo]]''' || colspan=10 | ||colspan=10 | || colspan=5 | || colspan="11" style="color:red; background:#f3d161;" |
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
| colspan=5 | || colspan=9 | || style="color:red; background:#f3d161;"| '''[[Jokipojat|JoKP]]''' ||| || style="color:red; background:#f3d161;"| || colspan=8 | || colspan=10 | || colspan=10 | || colspan="6" |
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
| colspan=5 | || colspan=10 | || colspan=2 | || colspan="6" style="color:red; background:#f3d161;"| '''[[Kiekko-Espoo]]'''|| colspan="18" style="color:red; background:#f3d161;" | '''[[Kiekko-Espoo|Blues]]''' || colspan=4 | || colspan="4" |
|style="color:red; background:#f3d161;" colspan=2 | '''[[Kiekko-Espoo]]'''
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
| colspan=5 | || colspan=10 | || colspan=4 | || colspan="2" style="color:red; background:#f3d161;"| '''[[TUTO Hockey|TuTo]]''' || colspan=4 | || colspan=10 | ||colspan=10 | || colspan="6" |
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
| colspan=5 | || colspan=10 | || colspan=10 | || colspan=10| || colspan=6 | || colspan="10" style="color:red; background:#f3d161;" | '''[[Mikkelin Jukurit|Jukurit]]'''
|}

==Format==
[[File:Nokia Arenan avajaiset 2.jpg|thumb|Opening match of [[Tampere Deck Arena]]: [[Tappara]] vs. [[Ilves]] in December 2021]]
[[File:Tamin liigastudio.jpg|200px|right|thumb|SM-liiga studio in the semifinals in 2006]]
'''Regular season:''' All teams play 60 matches. Each match consists of 60 minutes regulation time, and in the event of a tie, the winner is decided by a three-on-three sudden death, 5-minute [[Overtime (sports)|overtime]]. Ties after overtime are decided by a [[Overtime (ice hockey)#Shootout|shootout]], where each team has three shooters in the beginning. If the game is tied after three shooters, the shootout will be decided by individual shooters against one another until one scores and the other does not.

''Scoring:'' A win in regulation time is worth three points, a win by sudden death overtime two points, a loss by sudden death overtime one point and a loss in regulation time zero points. Teams will be ranked by points, and teams tied by points are ranked by the greater number of wins in regulation.

'''Playoffs:''' The four best teams at the conclusion of regular season proceed directly to quarter-finals. Teams placing between fifth and twelfth (inclusive) will play preliminary play-offs best-out-of-five – the four winners take the last four slots to quarter-finals. All series since then are best-of-seven. Losers of the semi-finals play a bronze medal match. Teams are paired up for each round according to regular season results so that the highest-ranking team will play against the lowest-ranking, second highest against the second lowest, and so on. Higher-ranking teams get home advantage. Each playoff match consists of a 60-minute regulation time which in the event of a tie is followed by extra 20-minute periods of 5-on-5 sudden death overtime, in which the first team to score wins.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Liigan pudotuspelit romutetaan – Tässä ovat muutokset |url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/smliiga/a/c64ff023-3330-4f8b-b325-35792e250724 |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=www.iltalehti.fi |language=fi}}</ref>

'''Relegation:''' The 16th and 15th placed teams will play in the playout series to decide which team plays against the [[Mestis]] champion.

''Scheduling:'' The regular season begins around mid-September. It takes a one-and-half-week break around the end of October to the beginning of November, when [[Finland men's national ice hockey team|Team Finland]] competes in [[Karjala Tournament]]. There is a one-week Christmas break. During Winter Olympic years, a break is reserved for the [[Winter Olympic Games]]. The regular season is completed around mid-March and preliminary playoffs ensue almost immediately. The playoffs are completed by mid-April, so that all players are available for the [[Ice Hockey World Championships|World Championships]].

==Winner==

[[Image:Kanada-malja (Liiga) 2023.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The ''Kanada-malja'']]
{{Main|Kanada-malja}} 
The winners of the playoffs receive gold medals and the ''[[Kanada-malja]]'', the championship trophy of the Liiga.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-04-26 |title=SM-liigan mestaruuspytyllä värikäs historia – tiesitkö tämän Kanada-maljasta? |url=https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/sm-liigan-mestaruuspytylla-varikas-historia-tiesitko-taman-kanada-maljasta/5862128 |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=mtvuutiset.fi |language=fi}}</ref> The winners of the regular season receive a trophy (''[[Harry Lindbladin muistopalkinto]]'') as well,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Touru |first=Ville |date=2023-03-10 |title=SM-liigassa illalla huima taisto, rahapalkinto vedetty pois – molempien kapteenit sivuun! |url=https://www.is.fi/sm-liiga/art-2000009445464.html |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Ilta-Sanomat |language=fi}}</ref> though it is considered less prestigious than the bronze medals of the playoffs.{{According to whom|date=September 2024}}

=== Previous winners ===
{{Main|List of Finnish ice hockey champions}}
{{See also|SM-sarja#Winners}}{{div col|colwidth=20em|small=yes}}
*1976 – [[HC TPS|TPS]]
*1977 – [[Tappara]]
*1978 – [[HC Ässät Pori Oy|Ässät]]
*1979 – [[Tappara]]
*1980 – HIFK
*1981 – Kärpät
*1982 – Tappara
*1983 – [[HIFK]]
*1984 – Tappara 
*1985 – Ilves
*1986 – Tappara 
*1987 – Tappara
*1988 – Tappara
*1989 – TPS 
*1990 – TPS 
*1991 – TPS
*1992 – Jokerit
*1993 – TPS
*1994 – Jokerit
*1995 – TPS
*1996 – Jokerit
*1997 – Jokerit
*1998 – HIFK
*1999 – TPS
*2000 – TPS
*2001 – TPS
*2002 – Jokerit
*2003 – Tappara
*2004 – Kärpät
*2005 – Kärpät
*2006 – HPK
*2007 – Kärpät
*2008 – Kärpät
*2009 – [[JYP Jyväskylä|JYP]]
*2010 – TPS
*2011 – HIFK
*2012 – JYP
*2013 – Ässät
*2014 – Kärpät
*2015 – Kärpät
*2016 – Tappara
*2017 – Tappara
*2018 – Kärpät
*2019 – HPK
*2020 – Cancelled because of the [[Coronavirus pandemic]]
*2021 – [[Lukko]]
*2022 – Tappara
*2023 – Tappara
*2024 – Tappara
*2025 – [[KalPa]]{{div col end}}

==All time statistical leaders==

===Top 10 regular-season scoring leaders===
These are the top-ten regular season point-scorers in SM-liiga history. Figures are updated after each completed SM-liiga regular season.
* {{Color box|#CCFFCC|*|border=darkgray}} – current player
'''''Note:''' Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points''
<!--PLEASE DO NOT UPDATE STATISTICS MID-SEASON, AS IT CREATES MORE PROBLEMS THAN IT SOLVES, AND WIKIPEDIA'S PURPOSE IS NOT TO PROVIDE UP-TO-THE-MINUTE STATISTICS. PLEASE SAVE THE UPDATING OF STATISTICS UNTIL THE END OF THE REGULAR SEASON AND/OR PLAYOFFS.-->
{| class="wikitable"
|+ style="background:#fff; border-top:#111 5px solid; border-bottom:#acaea9 5px solid;"|Points
|- style="text-align:center; font-weight:bold; background:#ddd;"
| style="text-align:left;"| Player || Pos || GP || G || A || Pts 
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Janne Ojanen]] || C || 876 || 283 || 516 || '''799''' 
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Arto Javanainen]] || C || 688 || 462 || 330 || '''792''' 
|- 
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Ville Vahalahti]] || LW || 977 || 260 || 427 || '''687''' 
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Kristian Kuusela]] || LW || 1107 || 280 || 458 || '''738''' 
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Jari Lindroos]] || C || 649 || 230 || 432 || '''662''' 
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Esa Keskinen]] || C || 478 || 215 || 443 || '''658''' 
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Matti Hagman]] || C || 432 || 217 || 432 || '''649''' 
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Risto Jalo]] || C || 594 || 275 || 409 || '''646''' 
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Juha-Pekka Haataja]] || RW || 881 || 256 || 326 || '''582''' 
|- 
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Raimo Helminen]] || C || 751 || 161 || 420 || '''581'''  
|}

===Top 10 regular-season scoring leaders (imports)===
These are the top-ten regular season point-scorers for import players in SM-liiga history. Figures are updated after each completed SM-liiga regular season.
* {{Color box|#CCFFCC|*|border=darkgray}} – current player
'''''Note:''' Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points''
{| class="wikitable"
|+ style="background:#fff; border-top:#111 5px solid; border-bottom:#acaea9 5px solid;"|Points
|- style="text-align:center; font-weight:bold; background:#ddd;"
| style="text-align:left;"| Player || Pos || GP || G || A || Pts 
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Éric Perrin]] || C || 643 || 189 || 343 || '''532''' 
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Otakar Janecký]] || C || 450 || 133 || 346 || '''479''' 
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Alexander Barkov Sr.|Aleksandr Barkov]] || LW || 518 || 135 || 281 || '''416''' 
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Darren Boyko]] || C || 476 || 171 || 236 || '''407''' 
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Jan Čaloun]] || RW || 298 || 145 || 230 || '''375''' 
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Vjačeslavs Fanduļs]] || C || 476 || 148 || 211 || '''359''' 
|- style="background:#CCFFCC;"
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Tomáš Záborský]] || C || 468 || 170 || 182 || '''352''' 
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Allan Measures]]|| D || 619 || 100 || 238 || '''338''' 
|- 
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Shayne Toporowski]] || RW || 464 || 135 || 185 || '''320''' 
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Stefan Öhman]] || C || 419|| 104 || 160 || '''264''' 
|}

===Top 10 regular-season games played (goaltender)===
These are the top-ten most regular season games played by a goaltender in SM-liiga history. Figures are updated after each completed SM-liiga regular season.
* {{Color box|#CCFFCC|*|border=darkgray}} – current player
<!--PLEASE DO NOT UPDATE STATISTICS MID-SEASON, AS IT CREATES MORE PROBLEMS THAN IT SOLVES, AND WIKIPEDIA'S PURPOSE IS NOT TO PROVIDE UP-TO-THE-MINUTE STATISTICS. PLEASE SAVE THE UPDATING OF STATISTICS UNTIL THE END OF THE REGULAR SEASON AND/OR PLAYOFFS.-->
{| class="wikitable"
|+ style="background:#fff; border-top:#111 5px solid; border-bottom:#acaea9 5px solid;"|Leaderboard
|- style="text-align:center; font-weight:bold; background:#ddd;"
| style="text-align:left;"| Player || GP 
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Eero Kilpeläinen]]|| 518
|-style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Pasi Kuivalainen]]|| 517
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Jukka Tammi]]|| 510
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Sakari Lindfors]] || 471
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Jussi Markkanen]] || 471
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Hannu Kamppuri]] || 460
|- 
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Ari-Pekka Siekkinen]]|| 447
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Mika Lehto]] || 404
|- 
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Petri Vehanen]] || 399
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Teemu Lassila]] || 388
|}

==Trophies==
{{multiple image
 | footer = Official logos used by the SM-Liiga
 | align  = right
 | width1 = 134
 | image1 = 
 | alt1 = Portrait
 | width2 = 134
 | image2 = SM-liiga 30 years badge.jpg
 | alt2 = Portrait
 | width3 = 159
 | image3 = Liiga logo.svg
 | alt3 = Portrait
 | width4 = 125
 | image4 = 
 | alt4 = Portrait
}}
The following trophies are awarded by the SM-liiga:

* [[Harry Lindblad memorial trophy]] – SM-liiga Regular season winner
* [[Kultainen kypärä]] – best player as voted by SM-liiga players
* [[Kalevi Numminen trophy]] – best coach
* [[Jarmo Wasama memorial trophy]] – rookie of the year
* [[Matti Keinonen trophy]] – most effective player
* [[Raimo Kilpiö trophy]] – most gentlemanly player
* [[Urpo Ylönen trophy]] – best goaltender
* [[Pekka Rautakallio trophy]] – best defenseman
* [[Aarne Honkavaara trophy]] – most goals scored in the regular season ("best goal scorer")
* [[Veli-Pekka Ketola trophy]] – most points scored during the regular season
* [[Lasse Oksanen trophy]] – best player during the regular season
* [[Jari Kurri Trophy|Jari Kurri trophy]] – best player during the playoffs
* [[Unto Wiitala trophy]] – best referee during the regular season
* [[Pentti Isotalo trophy]] – best linesman during the regular season
* [[Golden whistle trophy]] – best referee of the year, voted by players

In 1995, the trophies were named after Finnish hockey legends. Before that, trophies were named after sponsors.

==Video games==
Teams from the league have appeared in [[EA Sports]]' [[NHL (video game series)|''NHL'' series]], first in ''[[NHL 2001]]'' and later on since ''[[NHL 2004]].''

==See also==
* [[List of SM-liiga seasons]]
* [[List of Finnish ice hockey champions]]
* [[Mestis]]
* [[Naisten Liiga (ice hockey)|Naisten Liiga]]
* [[SM-sarja]]
* [[Ice hockey in Finland]]
* [[Finland men's national ice hockey team|Leijonat]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
*{{Official website|https://www.liiga.fi/en/}} {{in lang|en}}
*{{Official website|http://www.liiga.fi/}} {{in lang|fi}}

{{Liiga}}
{{Top sport leagues in Finland}}
{{Ice Hockey Leagues}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:liiga}}
[[Category:Liiga| ]]
[[Category:Sports leagues established in 1975]]
[[Category:1975 establishments in Finland]]
[[Category:Professional ice hockey leagues in Finland]]
[[Category:Top-tier ice hockey leagues in Europe]]