This is how the Mestis bosses commented on the League's decline: "Other leagues do interest us."

The division and potential dissolution of the SM-liiga have been the hottest topic in Finnish ice hockey on Monday. The former chairman of Tappara, Heikki Penttilä, is driving a new professional ice hockey league in Finland through his company Causabon Oy.

The new league would be two-tiered, with about 10-12 teams in both the A and B leagues.

SuomiKiekko interviewed leaders from Mestis clubs and asked for their thoughts on the Causabon Oy project. The interviewees included TUTO Hockey’s chairman Tuomas Haanpää, owner and board member of Joensuun Kiekko-Pojat Jaakko Lipponen, and Kiekko-Vantaa’s chairman Anssi Aura, who also serves as the chairman of Sarjaseurat ry, i.e., Mestis.

There were no surprises in Joensuu and Turku regarding Causabon Oy’s announcement.

– It wasn’t a surprise. This has been whispered about behind the scenes for a long time, and it has been written about in the press, Haanpää from TUTO Hockey commented.

Kiekko-Vantaa and TUTO have not been directly approached regarding the new potential hockey league. However, the Turku club is interested in participating in all discussions where the future of Finnish ice hockey is decided. Joensuun Kiekko-Pojat, on the other hand, has been contacted directly.

– There have been discussions over the last year, several times. Kiekko-Pojat is definitely interested, Lipponen states plainly.

In Turku and Joensuu, the intentions of Causabon Oy and the new Finnish professional league were met positively.

– We view all efforts to develop the Finnish ice hockey system positively, TUTO Hockey’s Haanpää says, noting that the current system has been attempted to be improved for twenty years without any results.

– Such a reform is welcomed with good spirits. Hopefully, it really happens. That’s what Finnish hockey needs: good competitive leagues to rise to and fall from. The wiser ones can then decide what the number of teams should be, assesses Kiekko-Pojat’ Lipponen.

– In Sweden, this has already been seen for many years, how it works. Even if a team is relegated one year, the next year they can invest more and aim for promotion. The clubs are doing well, and the arenas are full of people. That’s important for us clubs. There have already been 3300 spectators twice this autumn, which is probably more than in some Liiga locations.

In Joensuu, the focus is high on the future.

– We have said for a while now that we are interested in leagues other than Mestis. We have a new great arena, a growing organization, and as an economic area, Joensuu is larger than many Liiga locations, and we have a growing network of partners, Lipponen says.

In spring 2025, Pelicans and Jokerit faced off in the qualifying series. The series ended in favor of Pelicans with a match score of 4-1. Photo: All Over Press

In Vantaa, the attitude towards the new league was at least more cautious at this stage.

– I am waiting for the decisions from the Liiga’s shareholders’ meeting. Changes at the highest level of the league also affect Mestis clubs, and we will react, together with the Finnish Ice Hockey Association, to the proposed model afterwards, Aura commented via email.

What about Kiekko-Vantaa? Would they be interested in joining the new two-tier league?

– Kiekko-Vantaa is closely monitoring the outcome of the Liiga shareholders’ meeting and will make its decisions based on that information. We have publicly stated that we have a vision to play in Liiga by 2030, Aura responds.

Liiga Qualifiers Do Not Excite

The current league system with Liiga qualifiers is not sufficient for Mestis clubs. The gateway to Liiga is only seemingly open.

– At the same time, it is said that the club should be on a financially sustainable basis, but promotion would require a hell of a financial risk, Haanpää says.

Lipponen shares the same view. The mere possibility of promotion to Liiga would require enormous financial risk-taking. Kiekko-Vantaa’s and Mestis’s chairman Aura also calls for change.

– The ice hockey league system has been in need of reform for a long time. I am looking forward to the Liiga shareholders’ meeting, where there is an opportunity to make changes that improve the entire Finnish ice hockey landscape. On behalf of Mestis, I hope that promotion and relegation between the leagues will be possible. A key aspect of the reform is to create a clear vision of what the league system will look like in the future. This creates an opportunity for both Mestis and Liiga teams to prepare for the expected change, Aura comments.

TUTO Hockey, Joensuun Kiekko-Pojat, and Kiekko-Vantaa have all stated that they aim for a place in the top league in the future, as does Helsingin Jokerit, which has reportedly been involved in supporting the new league.