SM-liiga

SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. It was constituted in 1975 to replace SM-sarja, which was fundementally an amateur league. SM-liiga has an agreement of cooperation with Finnish ice hockey federation Suomen Jääkiekkoliitto. SM is a common abbreviation for suomenmestaruus, "Finnish championship".

Related Topics:
Professional - Ice hockey - League - Finland - 1975 - SM-sarja - Amateur - Agreement - Cooperation - Suomen Jääkiekkoliitto - Abbreviation

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At the moment, there are 14 teams. SM-liiga was closed in 2000 so that no team can be relegated to or promoted from the lower leagues without approval of the board of SM-liiga. The board have committed themselves to promote the first winner of Mestis (the second highest competition) that meets certain standards.

Related Topics:
Teams - 2000 - Mestis

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In 2004, all of the SM-Liiga's 13 teams were put into an American-based ice hockey video game, NHL 2004, along with Sweden's Elitserien and Germany's DEL.

Related Topics:
Elitserien - DEL

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• Chairman of the board: Timo Rajala
• Managing director: Urpo Helkovaara
 
SM-liiga: Currently participating clubs ►