Here is the captain of the Jokerit in the league's return season: "A matter of honor"

The returning Jokerit to the league has announced its captaincy for the 2026-27 season. The team’s new captain for the upcoming season is Markus Hännikäinen.

Hännikäinen, 33, returned to Jokerit for the upcoming season with a three-year contract. He has represented the club in juniors, in the league, and later also in the KHL.

– It is an honor to be the captain of Jokerit. Even as a little kid, I looked up to the captains, the captaincy, and the players of Jokerit. It feels really great to be there now, Hännikäinen says in Jokerit’s statement.

– When you are chosen for this, you get the feeling that you have been able to do things right and to be the kind of example you have wanted and strived to be. However, the most important thing is to be yourself, and for the people around to see me as someone who would be good for this role and task. Gratitude definitely comes to mind.

The captaincy of Jokerit is completed by the appointed alternate captains Aleksi Elorinne, Saku Forsblom, and Patrick Curry. Among them, Forsblom has been part of Jokerit’s captaincy for the last three seasons, serving as captain for two of those seasons.

Elorinne also served as Jokerit’s alternate captain last season in Mestis. For Curry, the upcoming season will be his first with Jokerit.