The pioneer of Finnish ice hockey Kalervo Kummola has commented on the plans of some Liiga clubs to establish a new top league.

Kummola, who will turn 80 in November, understands both sides of the issue: the clubs criticizing the rigid management of the Liiga and the current leadership of the top league.

– I would say it would be really unfortunate if an agreement is not reached. But I somewhat understand both sides, Kummola commented to Ilta-Sanomat.

– I have never understood the whole shareholder agreement. Why did the SM-liiga even have to change to a limited company? And it was done secretly by the federation, Kummola, who served as the chairman of the Ice Hockey Federation until 2016, wonders about the operational principles of the top league that became a limited company in 2000.

– The whole shareholder agreement thing has been a bit mysterious, closed circle business. There is no limited company anywhere else in the world.

– Even the NHL is not a limited company, Kummola reminds.

On one thing, the “Iron Chancellor” has a clear opinion, whether a new top league comes or not.

– Reducing the number of teams would at least be beneficial to raise the level, Kummola states.

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