Perspective: The league's format reform was a tasteless mess - yet the hockey fan has reason to smile

The league’s shareholders’ meeting turned into quite a mess.

There was no agreement, and the meeting stretched over five hours. Despite the long confusion, the outcome was rather tasteless and lukewarm.

The 12+10 model hoped for by many hockey fans and experts did not materialize. Instead, a 14+10 model was adopted, which significantly lowers the level of the lower league. This is Mestis with a little extra spice. How a financially sensible solution can be achieved for this league remains to be seen.

Despite this disappointment, there were also many good aspects in the decisions of the shareholders’ meeting. There will be continuous movement between the A and B leagues, as the last team in the A league automatically drops down, and the B league champion rises without playoffs. Every spring, the biggest moments of excitement can be experienced at the bottom of the A league standings rather than at the top.

The 2026-27 season is also set to be an extremely exciting hockey spectacle. During the transition period, 17-18 teams will play in the league, with the top 12 from the regular season advancing to the playoffs. The teams finishing in places 13-16 will compete to determine which teams will retain their spots in the A league next season. Two teams will stay up, and two will drop down. The teams finishing in places 17 and 18 will automatically drop to the B league. What drama!

It was also a good decision that the matter can be revisited in two or three years, allowing for decisions to be made with better information. It is possible that by then, the financial distress of the B league will have become clear, and corrections will be made.

Although many hockey fans did not get everything they wanted, there is now reason to celebrate. The league is finally genuinely open and at least reasonably sized.