Jokerit’s decision to abandon the domestic league in favour of Russia’s transnational KHL competition brought the end to regular Helsinki derbies on the Finnish ice hockey scene. The game was a special occasion, with 21,000 fans turning out in unseasonally mild weather for the inaccurately-named ’Winter Classic’ at Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium.
Saturday saw the final derby of this regular season, and potentially the last league derby ever. Before the match the score of all-time derby matches was 105-105, so HIFK’s 2-1 victory gave them the edge in the history books. Their win came courtesy of goals from Eklund and Puustinen after Steve Moses had put Jokerit ahead.
The clubs have distinct identities, with HIFK traditionally representing the Swedish-speaking community (their acronym stands for ’Helsingfors Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna), although they also now have many Finnish-speaking supporters.
Good move for hockey?
Jokerit have been the biggest, wealthiest and best-supported team in the country, drawing fans from across a wide swathe of the capital city region. They are now under partial Russian ownership, and their home, Helsinki Arena, is owned by Russian investors. Opinions on their move are divided.
"It’s good for Finnish hockey that Jokerit is going to play in the KHL, because in my opinion the KHL is a better league," said Jokerit’s retired Czech star Otakar Janecky.
Those charged with selling tickets, rather than competing on the ice, were less enthusiastic about the move.
"When Jokerit were relegated (in 1987) people were a little satisfied that we can relax now, but it wasn’t like that," said former HIFK Managing Director Tom Moberg. "But we quickly realised that it isn’t like that—we need that excitement here, it brings people to the stands and that improves the finances. We need each other but that finishes now."