Jortikka warns SM-liiga is training less despite rising budgets

Hannu Jortikka, the most successful coach in SM-liiga history, has criticised the Finnish ice hockey league’s development and warned that players may not be available for all 17 teams in the future, Yle reported.

The combined player budgets of the league’s teams will exceed 50 million euros for the first time this season. Jortikka said it was worrying that spending was increasing while training was being reduced.

Teams were allowed to train for only four weeks before the season began. Jortikka said training should be increased substantially if players were being paid more.

He also compared the players’ summer break with teachers’ holidays, saying even the best players, including those who reach the final, have more than 12 weeks off while continuing to receive their salaries.

SM-liiga will have a record 17 teams this season, with Jokerit returning to Finland’s highest level after a long absence. The season will also include more games than ever before.

Concern over shortage of Finnish players

Jortikka said he was not sure whether relegating three teams would be enough to address the league’s expansion. At the end of the season, the three weakest teams in the regular season will drop directly to the B-liiga, a lower division being established beneath SM-liiga.

He warned that Finnish players might not be available for every team, particularly if teams began to use between 10 and 12 foreign players each.

Jortikka said the league’s changes would eventually be reflected in national team games. He called for better junior and young players from Finland who could move to North America to play, warning that otherwise Finland would fall behind.

Jortikka questions demand for more games

The season will start earlier this autumn and feature more games than ever. Jortikka questioned whether Finnish spectators would continue going to arenas to watch them, noting that games are also broadcast on television.

He said he did not believe spectators would attend three games a week while paying at the ticket office. Rising ticket prices have already prompted discussion and fan boycotts. The cheapest ticket for the first local match hosted by Jokerit costs 75 euros.

Jortikka also criticised prices that change according to demand. He said tickets should have fixed prices, suggesting a minimum price of 20 to 30 euros and a price of 10 euros for young people.