SM-sarja
Encyclopedia
SM-Sarja was the top level of ice hockey in Finland from 1928 to 1975. SM-sarja is a common abbreviation
for Suomen mestaruussarja, "Finnish Championship Series".
There was variable number of teams playing for the Finnish championship during the time of SM-sarja. Lowest number of participating teams was during the 1935 SM-sarja season
when there was 3 teams. The most common number of participating teams was 12.
Since 1944-45 SM-sarja season there was relegations for lowest ranking teams of each season. In the relegations the lowest ranking teams either faced the winner of the 1. Divisioona
(1st Division) or was straightly relegated from SM-sarja.
was the winning team and they became the first Finnish ice hockey champions. SM-sarja was cancelled in 1930 because of bad winter in Finland. SM-sarja was also cancelled in 1940, 1942 and during the 1944 season because of the Winter War
and the Continuation War
SM-sarja was played in amateur principles so the clubs were not supposed to pay their players beyond compensation for lost wages. However as Ice Hockey evolved in Finland some teams were started to be handled like businesses
. In 1960's, two leading Finnish household machine factories UPO
and Rosenlew
established their own Ice Hockey teams, Upon Pallo and Rosenlewin Urheilijat-38. These teams were run by the money of the owning companies and the players were bought from the neighbouring teams. This would be the first steps towards professionalism.
By 1970's the concept of Amateur ice hockey was turning out of date as there was commercials on players uniforms and bigger money involved in teams and in 1975 SM-sarja played its last season and was replaced by SM-liiga
for 1976
season.
The last team to win the Finnish championship under SM-sarja was Tappara
After 1933 SM-sarja was contested as a league. In 1951 SM-sarja was divided to 2 groups and the Play Offs were introduced.
The SM-sarja moved back to one group play in 1959 though the two group-system returned for 1965–66 SM-sarja season
.
.
("Canada Cup") as the official rotating award of SM-sarja.
Abbreviation
An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase. Usually, but not always, it consists of a letter or group of letters taken from the word or phrase...
for Suomen mestaruussarja, "Finnish Championship Series".
There was variable number of teams playing for the Finnish championship during the time of SM-sarja. Lowest number of participating teams was during the 1935 SM-sarja season
1934-35 SM-sarja season
The 1934-1935 SM-sarja season was played between 3 Teams from 2 cities.Each team played 4 games each. The winner of the championship was decided during the season.- SM-sarja championship :...
when there was 3 teams. The most common number of participating teams was 12.
Since 1944-45 SM-sarja season there was relegations for lowest ranking teams of each season. In the relegations the lowest ranking teams either faced the winner of the 1. Divisioona
Mestis
Mestis, , is the second-highest ice hockey league in Finland.The league was established in 2000 to replace the first division. Since 2000, Mestis has been the highest hockey league in Finland that can be reached with playing merits only; the SM-liiga was closed in 2000...
(1st Division) or was straightly relegated from SM-sarja.
History
The first SM-sarja season took place in 1928. The first championship was competed as a cup. Viipurin ReipasViipurin Reipas
Viipurin Reipas was an ice hockey team from Vyborg. Reipas played in the SM-sarja on two seasons, .- Reipas in SM-Sarja :Reipas won the first SM-sarja season back in 1928...
was the winning team and they became the first Finnish ice hockey champions. SM-sarja was cancelled in 1930 because of bad winter in Finland. SM-sarja was also cancelled in 1940, 1942 and during the 1944 season because of the Winter War
Winter War
The Winter War was a military conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland. It began with a Soviet offensive on 30 November 1939 – three months after the start of World War II and the Soviet invasion of Poland – and ended on 13 March 1940 with the Moscow Peace Treaty...
and the Continuation War
Continuation War
The Continuation War was the second of two wars fought between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II.At the time of the war, the Finnish side used the name to make clear its perceived relationship to the preceding Winter War...
SM-sarja was played in amateur principles so the clubs were not supposed to pay their players beyond compensation for lost wages. However as Ice Hockey evolved in Finland some teams were started to be handled like businesses
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
. In 1960's, two leading Finnish household machine factories UPO
UPO
UPO may stand for:*UPO - Pablo de Olavide University, Spanish public university in Seville*UPO A Finnish white goods brand name, now owned by Gorenje, a Slovenian manufacturer of white goods...
and Rosenlew
Rosenlew
Rosenlew is an Electrolux owned home appliance brand available in Finland. Electrolux stopped the manufacturing of fridges in Pori, Finland, in 1998...
established their own Ice Hockey teams, Upon Pallo and Rosenlewin Urheilijat-38. These teams were run by the money of the owning companies and the players were bought from the neighbouring teams. This would be the first steps towards professionalism.
By 1970's the concept of Amateur ice hockey was turning out of date as there was commercials on players uniforms and bigger money involved in teams and in 1975 SM-sarja played its last season and was replaced by SM-liiga
SM-liiga
The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice...
for 1976
1975-76 SM-liiga season
The 1975–76 SM-liiga season was the inaugural season for the new top level series of ice hockey in Finland, SM-liiga. The season featured 10 teams who played 36 game regular season followed by play offs for top 4 teams...
season.
The last team to win the Finnish championship under SM-sarja was Tappara
Tappara
Tappara is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga. They play in Tampere, Finland at Tampereen jäähalli. The team have won 15 league championships ....
Formats
Between 1928 and 1933 SM-sarja Championship was contested under Cup rules.After 1933 SM-sarja was contested as a league. In 1951 SM-sarja was divided to 2 groups and the Play Offs were introduced.
The SM-sarja moved back to one group play in 1959 though the two group-system returned for 1965–66 SM-sarja season
1965–66 SM-sarja season
- Group A :- Group B :- Final round :- Qualification round :- External links :* on hockeyarchives.info...
.
SM-sarja Teams
Teams in bold still play in SM-liigaSM-liiga
The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice...
.
- HPSHelsingin PalloseuraHelsingin Palloseura is a sports club from Helsinki, Finland established in 1917. HPS has been active in several sports including Ice hockey, Football, Handball and Basketball. Historically, HPS is one of the most successful football teams in Finland, winning nine national championships during...
- TaPaTampereen Palloilijat-History:TaPa played in the first SM-sarja season. TaPa played a total of 4 seasons in the SM-sarja .The best result for TaPa was the winning of SM-sarja in 1931...
- Viipurin ReipasViipurin ReipasViipurin Reipas was an ice hockey team from Vyborg. Reipas played in the SM-sarja on two seasons, .- Reipas in SM-Sarja :Reipas won the first SM-sarja season back in 1928...
- HJK
- KIF
- HIFKHIFKIdrottsföreningen Kamraterna i Helsingfors is a sports club from Helsinki, Finland. Formed in 1897 HIFK is the oldest IFK club in Finland. The club has activities in many sports, including football, ice hockey, bandy, floorball, handball, athletics and bowling. HIFK Soccer ry is part of the...
- Tampereen PyrintöTampereen PyrintöTampereen Pyrintö is a Finnish basketball team from Tampere. It is the basketball branch of a club with the same name, which is known besides its basketball team, its successful athletics and orienteering branches...
- ÅIFK
- ViPS
- Turun Riento
- IlvesIlvesIlves is a Finnish sports club nowadays mostly known for their youth work. The ice hockey team plays in the SM-liiga at the Tampereen jäähalli in Hakametsä...
- HSKHelsingfors SkridskoklubbHelsingfors Skridskoklubb , in Finnish Helsingin Luistinklubi, is the oldest figure skating club in Finland. It was founded in Helsinki in 1875...
- Tarmo
- TPSTPS (ice hockey)TPS or Turun Palloseura is an ice hockey team and 11-time champion of SM-liiga. They play in Turku, Finland at the HK Arena. In terms of championships, TPS is the most successful team in SM-liiga history.-Team history:...
- TBK/TapparaTapparaTappara is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga. They play in Tampere, Finland at Tampereen jäähalli. The team have won 15 league championships ....
- Karhu-Kissat
- TuPK
- Arsenal
- HPKHPKHPK is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga. They play in Hämeenlinna, Finland at the Hämeenlinnan jäähalli. HPK was established in 1929. The full name of the club is HPK-Edustusjääkiekko Ry and the team is sometimes promoted as the "Hockey Playing Knights", with the logo representing a knight...
- LukkoLukkoLukko is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga, formed 1936. The full name of the club is Rauman Lukko. They play in Rauma, Finland at the Äijänsuo Arena. They have won the national championship once, in 1963...
- TP-VTampereen Pallo-VeikotTampereen Pallo-Veikot or TPV is a Finnish football club, based in Tampere. The club plays in the Kakkonen, the third highest level of football in Finland. It is the second largest football club in the Pirkanmaa region in terms of active members, with 1,600 members in 2005.-History:The club was...
- KuPSKuPSKuopion Palloseura is a Finnish football club, based in the 8th most populated city of Finland, Kuopio. KuPS plays in Finland's Premier League, Veikkausliiga. The team plays its home matches at Kuopion keskuskenttä...
- KyPa
- Töölön Vesa
- Jymy-Kiekko
- KalPaKalPaThe Kalevan Pallo is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga. They play in Kuopio, Finland at the Niiralan monttu.-Team history:Established in 1929, the full name of the company that runs the representative team is KalPa Hockey Oy. The majority of the company is owned by NHL players Sami Kapanen and...
- KooVee
- SaiPaSaiPaSaimaan Pallo is an ice hockey team in the Finnish SM-liiga. They play their home games at Kisapuisto in Lappeenranta, Finland.-History:The team's best achievement is from the 1965-1966 season, when they won bronze medals for placing third...
- KärpätKärpätOulun Kärpät is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga based in Oulu, Finland. Their logo features a stoat ; "kärpät" is Finnish for stoats or ermines. The team has won five league championships .-History:...
- Karhut
- WU
- RU-38
- Reipas
- TuToTuToTuTo is a Finnish ice hockey team based at the new Kupittaan jäähalli , Turku. Established in 1929. TuTo plays in Turku, Finland, and is one of two clubs in that city . Full name of the club is TuTo Hockey...
- SaPKoSaPKoSavonlinnan Pallokerho is an ice hockey team from Savonlinna, Finland, playing in the Mestis league. It plays its home matches in Talvisalon jäähalli.The sports club Savonlinnan Pallokerho was founded in 1929...
- Hermes
- Upon Pallo
- VehU
- ÄssätÄssätÄssät is an ice hockey team in the Finnish elite league, SM-liiga. They play in Pori, Finland at the Porin jäähalli.-Team history:...
- JokeritJokeritJokerit is an ice-hockey team from Helsinki, Finland, playing in the Finnish Elite League, SM-liiga. The team has won 6 league championships...
- Hilpara
Winners
Until 1955 the Winner of the SM-sarja received the Aaro Kivilinna memorial award. After 1955 the winner was given the Kanada-maljaKanada-malja
The Kanada-malja is an ice hockey club championship trophy, awarded annually to the SM-liiga playoffs champion. Kanada-malja is Finnish for "Canada Cup", and is so named because it was donated by Canada's Finnish community in 1951....
("Canada Cup") as the official rotating award of SM-sarja.
| year | champions |
| 1928 1927-28 SM-sarja season The 1927–28 SM-sarja season was actually an Ice hockey tournament set up by the Finnish Ball Association. The first ever Finnish ice hockey championships featured 6 teams from 3 cities.-First round:-Second round:... |
Reipas |
| 1929 1928-29 SM-sarja season The 1928-1929 SM-Sarja season was the second season of the Finnish SM-sarja. Like the season before the 1928-29 season was played as a cup. This time there was 7 teams from 4 cities.- Qualifications :- Semi-Finals :... |
HJK |
| 1931 1930-31 SM-sarja season The 1930-1931 SM-Sarja Season Was played in Cup-format with 5 Teams from 3 cities participating.-First round:TaPa and Riento through to Semifinals-Semifinals:TaPa and HJK to Final-Final:... |
TaPa Tampereen Palloilijat -History:TaPa played in the first SM-sarja season. TaPa played a total of 4 seasons in the SM-sarja .The best result for TaPa was the winning of SM-sarja in 1931... |
| 1932 1931-32 SM-sarja season -First round:TaPa and HPS through to Semifinals-Semifinals:HPS and HJK through to Final-Final:Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi wins the 1931-1932 Finnish ice hockey championship.-References:*... |
HJK |
| 1933 1932-33 SM-sarja season The 1932-1933 SM-sarja season would become the last one played as a Cup series. The season also had the smallest number of participating teams as there was 4 teams from 2 cities.- Semifinals :HSK and HJK advance to Final- Final :... |
HSK Helsingfors Skridskoklubb Helsingfors Skridskoklubb , in Finnish Helsingin Luistinklubi, is the oldest figure skating club in Finland. It was founded in Helsinki in 1875... |
| 1934 1933-34 SM-sarja season The 1933-1934 SM-sarja season was the first one to be played as a League rather than a Cup. There was 4 Teams from 2 cities participating.The 4 teams played 3 games each. The team who wins the regular season wins the championship- SM-sarja Championship :... |
HSK Helsingfors Skridskoklubb Helsingfors Skridskoklubb , in Finnish Helsingin Luistinklubi, is the oldest figure skating club in Finland. It was founded in Helsinki in 1875... |
| 1935 1934-35 SM-sarja season The 1934-1935 SM-sarja season was played between 3 Teams from 2 cities.Each team played 4 games each. The winner of the championship was decided during the season.- SM-sarja championship :... |
HJK |
| 1936 1935-36 SM-sarja season The 1935-1936 SM-sarja season was played between 4 teams from 2 cities. For the first time there was straight relegation facing the team who would finish the lowest. The teams played 6 games each.- SM-sarja championship :... |
Ilves Ilves Ilves is a Finnish sports club nowadays mostly known for their youth work. The ice hockey team plays in the SM-liiga at the Tampereen jäähalli in Hakametsä... |
| 1937 1936-37 SM-sarja season The 1936-1937 SM-Sarja Season was played between 4 Teams from 3 cities. Each team played 6 games each and the best ranking team wins the championship. This season there was no relegation.- SM-Sarja Championship :... |
Ilves Ilves Ilves is a Finnish sports club nowadays mostly known for their youth work. The ice hockey team plays in the SM-liiga at the Tampereen jäähalli in Hakametsä... |
| 1938 1937-38 SM-sarja season The 1937–38 SM-sarja season was played between 5 teams from 3 cities. Each team played 4 games.- SM-sarja Championship :Ilves wins the 1937-38 SM-sarja championship... |
Ilves Ilves Ilves is a Finnish sports club nowadays mostly known for their youth work. The ice hockey team plays in the SM-liiga at the Tampereen jäähalli in Hakametsä... |
| 1939 1938-39 SM-sarja season The 1938-1939 SM-Sarja season was played 7 teams from 4 cities making it the largest competition yet. Each team played 6 games each.- SM-Sarja Championship :KIF wins the 1938-1939 SM-sarja championship... |
KIF |
| 1941 1940-41 SM-sarja season The 1940-1941 SM-sarja season was played between 8 teams from 4 cities. Each team played 7 games.- SM-Sarja championship :KIF Wins the 1940-1941 SM-sarja championship.... |
KIF |
| 1943 1942-43 SM-sarja season The 1942-1943 SM-sarja season took place even though the Continuation War raged on. The season featured 8 teams from 4 cities. Again teams played 7 games each.- SM-sarja championship :KIF Wins the 1942-1943 SM-sarja championship.... |
KIF |
| 1945 | Ilves Ilves Ilves is a Finnish sports club nowadays mostly known for their youth work. The ice hockey team plays in the SM-liiga at the Tampereen jäähalli in Hakametsä... |
| 1946 1945–46 SM-sarja season -Regular season:- External Links :* on hockeyarchives.info... |
Ilves Ilves Ilves is a Finnish sports club nowadays mostly known for their youth work. The ice hockey team plays in the SM-liiga at the Tampereen jäähalli in Hakametsä... |
| 1947 1946–47 SM-sarja season -Regular season:... |
Ilves Ilves Ilves is a Finnish sports club nowadays mostly known for their youth work. The ice hockey team plays in the SM-liiga at the Tampereen jäähalli in Hakametsä... |
| 1948 1947–48 SM-sarja season -Regular season:- External Links :* on hockeyarchives.info... |
Tarmo |
| 1949 1948–49 SM-sarja season -Regular season:- External Links :* on hockeyarchives.info... |
Tarmo |
| 1950 1949–50 SM-sarja season -Regular season:- External Links :* on hockeyarchives.info... |
Ilves Ilves Ilves is a Finnish sports club nowadays mostly known for their youth work. The ice hockey team plays in the SM-liiga at the Tampereen jäähalli in Hakametsä... |
| 1951 1950–51 SM-sarja season - Group A :- Group B :- Final :* Ilves Tampere - Tarmo Hämeenlinna 1:1/4:3- External Links :* on hockeyarchives.info... |
Ilves Ilves Ilves is a Finnish sports club nowadays mostly known for their youth work. The ice hockey team plays in the SM-liiga at the Tampereen jäähalli in Hakametsä... |
| 1952 | Ilves Ilves Ilves is a Finnish sports club nowadays mostly known for their youth work. The ice hockey team plays in the SM-liiga at the Tampereen jäähalli in Hakametsä... |
| 1953 1952–53 SM-sarja season - Group A :- Group B :- Final :* TBK Tampere - Tarmo Hämeenlinna 5:4/3:2- External Links :* on hockeyarchives.info... |
TBK Tappara Tappara is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga. They play in Tampere, Finland at Tampereen jäähalli. The team have won 15 league championships .... |
| 1954 1953–54 SM-sarja season - Group A :- Group B :- Qualification for final :* TBK Tampere - HPK Hämeenlinna 6:2- 3rd place :* HPK Hämeenlinna - TPS Turku 6:5/5:5 n.V.- External Links :* on hockeyarchives.info... |
TBK Tappara Tappara is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga. They play in Tampere, Finland at Tampereen jäähalli. The team have won 15 league championships .... |
| 1955 1954–55 SM-sarja season - Group A :- Group B :- External Links :* on hockeyarchives.info... |
TBK Tappara Tappara is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga. They play in Tampere, Finland at Tampereen jäähalli. The team have won 15 league championships .... |
| 1956 1955–56 SM-sarja season - Group A :- 4th place :* HPK Hämeenlinna - HIFK Helsinki 7:4- Group B :- Final :* TPS Turku - Tarmo Hämeenlinna 7:2/9:3- External Links :* bei hockeyarchives.info... |
TPS TPS (ice hockey) TPS or Turun Palloseura is an ice hockey team and 11-time champion of SM-liiga. They play in Turku, Finland at the HK Arena. In terms of championships, TPS is the most successful team in SM-liiga history.-Team history:... |
| 1957 1956–57 SM-sarja season - Group A :- Group B :- Qualification for final :* TPS Turku - Tappara Tampere 8:1- 3rd place:* Tarmo Hämeenlinna - Tappara Tampere 1:6/3:1- External Links :* on hockeyarchives.info... |
Ilves Ilves Ilves is a Finnish sports club nowadays mostly known for their youth work. The ice hockey team plays in the SM-liiga at the Tampereen jäähalli in Hakametsä... |
| 1958 1957–58 SM-sarja season - Group A :- Group B :- 3rd place :* Tarmo Hämeenlinna - TPS Turku 3:3/4:1- Final:* Ilves Tampere - Tappara Tampere 2:1 - External Links :* on hockeyarchives.info... |
Ilves Ilves Ilves is a Finnish sports club nowadays mostly known for their youth work. The ice hockey team plays in the SM-liiga at the Tampereen jäähalli in Hakametsä... |
| 1959 1958–59 SM-sarja season -Regular season:- External Links :* on hockeyarchives.info... |
Tappara Tappara Tappara is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga. They play in Tampere, Finland at Tampereen jäähalli. The team have won 15 league championships .... |
| 1960 1959–60 SM-sarja season -Regular season:- External Links :* on hockeyarchives.info... |
Ilves Ilves Ilves is a Finnish sports club nowadays mostly known for their youth work. The ice hockey team plays in the SM-liiga at the Tampereen jäähalli in Hakametsä... |
| 1961 1960–61 SM-sarja season -Regular season:- External links :* on hockeyarchives.info... |
Tappara Tappara Tappara is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga. They play in Tampere, Finland at Tampereen jäähalli. The team have won 15 league championships .... |
| 1962 1961–62 SM-sarja season -Regular season:- External Links :* on hockeyarchives.info... |
Ilves Ilves Ilves is a Finnish sports club nowadays mostly known for their youth work. The ice hockey team plays in the SM-liiga at the Tampereen jäähalli in Hakametsä... |
| 1963 1962–63 SM-sarja season -Regular season:- External Links :* on hockeyarchives.info... |
Lukko Lukko Lukko is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga, formed 1936. The full name of the club is Rauman Lukko. They play in Rauma, Finland at the Äijänsuo Arena. They have won the national championship once, in 1963... |
| 1964 1963–64 SM-sarja season -Regular season:- External links :* on hockeyarchives.info... |
Tappara Tappara Tappara is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga. They play in Tampere, Finland at Tampereen jäähalli. The team have won 15 league championships .... |
| 1965 1964–65 SM-sarja season -Regular season:- External Links :* on hockeyarchives.info... |
Karhut |
| 1966 1965–66 SM-sarja season - Group A :- Group B :- Final round :- Qualification round :- External links :* on hockeyarchives.info... |
Ilves Ilves Ilves is a Finnish sports club nowadays mostly known for their youth work. The ice hockey team plays in the SM-liiga at the Tampereen jäähalli in Hakametsä... |
| 1967 1966–67 SM-sarja season -Regular season:- External Links :* on hockeyarchives.info... |
RU-38 |
| 1968 1967–68 SM-sarja season -Regular season:- External Links :* on hockeyarchives.info... |
KooVee |
| 1969 1968–69 SM-sarja season -Regular season:- External Links :* on hockeyarchives.info... |
HIFK HIFK (ice hockey) HIFK is an ice hockey team based in Helsinki, Finland. The team plays at Helsinki Ice Hall. It was founded in 1897... |
| 1970 1969–70 SM-sarja season -Regular season:- External Links :* on hockeyarchives.info... |
HIFK HIFK (ice hockey) HIFK is an ice hockey team based in Helsinki, Finland. The team plays at Helsinki Ice Hall. It was founded in 1897... |
| 1971 1970–71 SM-sarja season -First round:- Final round :- External Links :* on hockeyarchives.info... |
Ässät Ässät Ässät is an ice hockey team in the Finnish elite league, SM-liiga. They play in Pori, Finland at the Porin jäähalli.-Team history:... |
| 1972 1971–72 SM-sarja season -First round:- Final round :- Qualification round :- External Links :* on hockeyarchives.info... |
Ilves Ilves Ilves is a Finnish sports club nowadays mostly known for their youth work. The ice hockey team plays in the SM-liiga at the Tampereen jäähalli in Hakametsä... |
| 1973 1972–73 SM-sarja season -Regular season:- External Links :* on hockeyarchives.info... |
Jokerit Jokerit Jokerit is an ice-hockey team from Helsinki, Finland, playing in the Finnish Elite League, SM-liiga. The team has won 6 league championships... |
| 1974 1973–74 SM-sarja season -Regular season:- External Links :* on hockeyarchives.info... |
HIFK HIFK (ice hockey) HIFK is an ice hockey team based in Helsinki, Finland. The team plays at Helsinki Ice Hall. It was founded in 1897... |
| 1975 1974–75 SM-sarja season -Regular season:- External Links :* on hockeyarchives.info... |
Tappara Tappara Tappara is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga. They play in Tampere, Finland at Tampereen jäähalli. The team have won 15 league championships .... |