The matter is settled – Jokerit will play in Mestis next season: “The budget will be financially sustainable”

Jokerit makes a comeback to the Finnish series system. The ice hockey association has approved the Helsinki club’s application to play in Mestis next season.

Jokerit left the Finnish ice hockey league in 2014 to play in the KHL. When Russia began the war of aggression against Ukraine, the club announced that it was abandoning the Russian league.

The goal of returning to the Finnish league turned out to be unrealistic. After many rounds about Jokerit’s ownership structure, the new club management submitted a license application to play in Mestis.

The Finnish Ice Hockey Federation approved thirteen license applications today, including Jokerits.

– The squad will largely consist of Jokerit’s own juniors. Then we complete the team with some reinforcements. We will not be wasteful, the player budget will be financially sustainable. But our goal is to have a competitive team already next season, says Jokerit’s majority owner Mikko Saarni in a press release.

Home matches in Kervo and Helsinki

Jokerit’s plan is to play fifteen home games in Kervo and the remaining nine in the Helsinki ice rink. Playing in the Helsinki Arena was out of the question given that the hall is owned by Gennadi Timtjenko and Roman Rotenberg. The EU and the US have imposed sanctions on them.

The ice hockey association rejected Pelitaat’s license application. The tax administration applies for bankruptcy for Heinolaklubben due to unpaid taxes and other bills.

Latvian Zemgale, who played in Mestis last season, also does not continue in the series.

The article updated at 10.54 with Mikko Saarni’s comment.