Perspective: The Stadin derby revealed a harsh truth

The ice hockey community of Helsinki finally got back something it had been waiting for over 12 years on Thursday. Jokerit and HIFK faced each other again in the Liiga, although despite the final result, two very different teams were seen on the ice.

With a well-deserved 3–2 overtime victory for Stadin, Jokerit skated onto the ice with tremendous energy. The home team’s skates were swift, there was determination in their battling play, and it was clear they wanted to show who truly rules in Helsinki.

HIFK’s performance, on the other hand, was surprisingly sluggish despite the enormous stakes. The visiting team appeared at times to be downright slow and could not match Jokerit’s pace.

If anyone from HIFK was awake for the evening’s challenge, it was goalkeeper Hugo Alnefelt. The Swede was clearly his team’s most important player and kept HIFK in the game with his saves.

This is where the harsh coaching truth lies for Olli Jokinen‘s team.

The two major hockey clubs in Helsinki have started their season anything but convincingly. However, on Thursday, Jokerit showed that a difficult start to the season has not taken away the team’s fighting spirit.

In HIFK’s case, the question is significantly more concerning: how can the team perform so sluggishly in one of the season’s most anticipated matches?

All eyes inevitably turn to Jokinen’s coaching style.

There was a stir in the stands even before the match

There was famously plenty of talk surrounding the historic encounter, even outside the rink. Jokerit’s decision to price the cheapest adult tickets for the match at 75 euros sparked strong criticism.

The chairman of the Jokerit, Mikko Saarni, justified the high pricing in an intermission interview with MTV Katsomo by citing the exceptional value of the match and the club’s financial needs. The idea is that higher ticket revenues from major matches help enable cheaper tickets for other games.

Saarni even compared the Stadin derby to an NHL match between the Carolina Hurricanes and Seattle Kraken to be played at the Veikkaus Arena in November.

For the next local match hosted by Jokerit in January, the cheapest adult tickets will only cost 39 euros.

The economic reasoning can be understood, but at the same time, one thing should be remembered: the greatest resource of Finnish ice hockey is found in the stands. A historic local match should not become just a privilege for those who can afford it.

Thursday reminded us above all why the Stadin derby has been missed. The local clash in Helsinki evokes emotions in a way that only the Lions can achieve on the Finnish sports map.

At the same time, it starkly showed how much work HIFK has to do with their game. Is there a new gear to be found under Jokinen? The question is becoming urgent.

The local victories of Stadin teams throughout history are now tied at 105–105. The teams will meet again on November 11 at “Nordis.”

Markus Nuutinen