Reports from Ilta-Sanomat recount a significant moment in Finnish hockey history: Harri Harkimo, the former owner of Jokerit, expressed regret over the club’s decision to join the Kontinental Hockey League back in the 2014/2015 season. His reflections suggest that the move, while ambitious at the time, did not deliver the hoped-for benefits for the team or its broader Finnish fan base. The admission carries weight because it comes from a figure closely tied to Jokerit’s direction during a pivotal era in its modern era and reflects a broader mood about cross-border league participation among Finnish clubs.
Harkimo was quoted as saying the decision was a misstep, noting that the move to the KHL proved ill-fated in hindsight. He pointed out that politics and distance from domestic competition stretched resources and altered the club’s competitive dynamics. He also stressed that his personal circumstances and the club’s strategic priorities at the time could not have perfectly anticipated the long-term consequences, even though the idea behind joining a major league appeared sound to many fans and stakeholders in that period.
By late February 2022, Jokerit and Dinamo Riga withdrew from the Kontinental Hockey League due to the evolving situation in Ukraine. The withdrawal had immediate competitive repercussions, including Moscow’s Spartak advancing to the semi-finals of the Gagarin Cup as a consequence of the Finns stepping out of the league. This development underscored the real-time impact of geopolitical tensions on professional hockey, where political events can redirect the course of championships and alter competitive futures for clubs scattered across borders.
Over the years, Finnish teams and their players have faced fluctuations in the league’s composition. Jokerit’s departure from the KHL marked a turning point, with the Finns returning to local competition and re-aligning their ambitions within the Finnish Championship. The shift was not only about travel logistics and sponsorships, but also about player development, fan engagement, and national identity within the sport. Finland’s hockey landscape has long balanced strong domestic talent with international exposure, and the KHL era offered both opportunities and challenges in equal measure.
The broader consequences of the Ukraine crisis touched many players who had joined leagues abroad. A number of legionnaires chose to leave Russia as sanctions and safety concerns grew, prompting federations and clubs to reassess participation in international leagues. Latvia also enacted a law restricting local athletes and coaches from participating in competitions hosted in Russia and Belarus, illustrating how domestic policy can ripple through the sport and influence decisions at the professional level. These pieces of legislation and policy responses contributed to a climate where loyalty to domestic leagues, national leagues, and personal career considerations all needed careful weighing.
Today, Jokerit competes in the Finnish Championship, where the team sits mid-table and remains competitive within the national framework. The season’s standings reflect a return to familiar domestic ground after years of cross-border play, with Jokerit pursuing its traditional goals of growth, development, and championship contention within Finland’s top league. The club’s journey continues to be a case study in how clubs navigate identity, competition, and allegiance across competing hockey ecosystems.
In the broader discussion about how attitudes toward foreign players and national teams have evolved in Finland, observers note a nuanced shift. While curiosity and admiration for international styles persist, there is a renewed emphasis on sustaining strong domestic pipelines and safeguarding national interests within the sport. The conversation remains active among coaches, players, and fans who weigh the value of international exposure against the benefits of a robust home league, especially in the context of geopolitical tensions that influence league eligibility and competition schedules. This ongoing dialogue reflects Finland’s resilient hockey culture and its readiness to adapt to a shifting global landscape, while continuing to celebrate the local game that has produced world-class talent over decades.