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Liiga Team Rosters
1996-1997
1996-1997 Season
Jokerit finished first in the 1996-97 SM-liiga standings with 74 points. TPS (71 points) and HPK (63 points) followed.
1996-1997 SM-liiga Standings
| # | Team | GP | W | T | L | OTW | OTL | GF | GA | +/- | TP | PPG | Postseason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Jokerit | 50 | 35 | 4 | 11 | - | - | 192 | 116 | 76 | 74 | 1.48 | Champion |
| 2. | TPS | 50 | 32 | 7 | 11 | - | - | 191 | 105 | 86 | 71 | 1.42 | Final loss |
| 3. | HPK | 50 | 28 | 7 | 15 | - | - | 191 | 143 | 48 | 63 | 1.26 | Bronze game win |
| 4. | Ilves | 50 | 26 | 7 | 17 | - | - | 183 | 147 | 36 | 59 | 1.18 | Bronze game loss |
| 5. | JyP HT | 50 | 25 | 6 | 19 | - | - | 163 | 136 | 27 | 56 | 1.12 | Quarterfinal loss |
| 6. | Kiekko-Espoo | 50 | 25 | 6 | 19 | - | - | 154 | 163 | -9 | 51 | 1.02 | Quarterfinal loss |
| 7. | Ässät | 50 | 19 | 10 | 21 | - | - | 171 | 182 | -11 | 48 | 0.96 | Quarterfinal loss |
| 8. | Tappara | 50 | 18 | 8 | 24 | - | - | 139 | 171 | -32 | 44 | 0.88 | Quarterfinal loss |
| 9. | HIFK | 50 | 17 | 8 | 25 | - | - | 159 | 171 | -12 | 42 | 0.84 | Did not make playoffs |
| 10. | Lukko | 50 | 16 | 5 | 29 | - | - | 136 | 170 | -34 | 37 | 0.74 | Did not make playoffs |
| 11. | SaiPa | 50 | 13 | 8 | 29 | - | - | 118 | 181 | -63 | 34 | 0.68 | Did not make playoffs |
| 12. | KalPa | 50 | 8 | 5 | 37 | - | - | 116 | 228 | -112 | 21 | 0.42 | Saved in relegation |
1996-1997 SM-liiga Player Stats
| # | Player | GP | G | A | TP | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |  Petri Varis (F) | 50 | 36 | 23 | 59 | 38 |
| 2. |  Vladimir Vujtek (F) | 50 | 27 | 31 | 58 | 48 |
| 3. | Kimmo Rintanen (F) | 46 | 25 | 28 | 53 | 20 |
| 4. | Mika Arvaja (F) | 50 | 22 | 30 | 52 | 52 |
| 5. |  Thomas Sjögren (F) | 40 | 31 | 20 | 51 | 24 |
1996-1997 SM-liiga Goalie Stats
| # | Player | GP | GAA | SVP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Jani Hurme (G) | 48 | 2.08 | .925 |
| 2. | Ari Sulander (G) | 43 | 2.18 | .924 |
| 3. |  Andrew Verner (G) | 40 | 2.58 | .922 |
| 4. | Marko Leinonen (G) | 41 | 2.63 | .910 |
| 5. | Markus Hätinen (G) | 15 | 2.77 | .908 |
Liiga Stories
Insights and analysis from EP Editorial team
1996-1997 SM-liiga Demographics
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Liiga Games
| date | home | visiting | score |
|---|---|---|---|
 HPK |  HIFK | - | |
 Kiekko-Espoo | HIFK | 0 - 3 | |
 Lukko |  TPS | 4 - 1 | |
 Sport |  SaiPa | 3 - 5 | |
 Kärpät |  KalPa | 5 - 2 |
Liiga Transactions
| Date | Status | Player | From | To | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Confirmed | Rasmus Lahnaviik (F) | Jokerit | Kiekko-Vantaa | ||
| Confirmed | Antti Tyrväinen (F) | JYP | Pelicans | ||
| Confirmed | Kyle Crnkovic (F) | San Jose Barracuda | KalPa | ||
| Confirmed | Emil Sylvegård (F) | Tappara | Malmö Redhawks | ||
| Confirmed | Jonne Tammela (F) | Tappara | KalPa |
2026-2027 Liiga Free Agents
| Team | Player |
|---|---|
| Lukko | Éric Gélinas (D) |
| Jukurit | Alexander Ruuttu (F) |
| HPK | Teemu Rautiainen (F) |
| Pelicans | Konsta Hirvonen (F) |
| Pelicans | Patrik Carlsson (F) |
2027-2028 Liiga Free Agents
| Team | Player |
|---|---|
| HIFK | Daniel Mäkiaho (F) |
| Ilves | Luke Henman (F) |
| TPS | Lukas Wernblom (F) |
| TPS |  Lukas Haudum (F) |
| HPK | Sami Päivärinta (F) |
Liiga Team Comparison (Averages)
| # | Team | Players | Experience | Height | Weight | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | HIFK | 33 | 3 754 | 6'0" | 192 lbs | 24.85 |
| 2. | HPK | 31 | 3 988 | 5'11" | 187 lbs | 23.55 |
| 3. | Ilves | 28 | 4 616 | 6'0" | 192 lbs | 25.36 |
| 4. | JYP | 26 | 2 970 | 5'11" | 185 lbs | 24.08 |
| 5. | Jokerit | 28 | 7 632 | 6'0" | 190 lbs | 24.64 |
| 6. | KalPa | 32 | 2 526 | 5'11" | 187 lbs | 23.19 |
| 7. | Kiekko-Espoo | 35 | 3 045 | 6'0" | 192 lbs | 23.77 |
| 8. | Lukko | 38 | 5 835 | 6'0" | 190 lbs | 23.61 |
| 9. | SaiPa | 30 | 2 750 | 6'0" | 190 lbs | 24.93 |
| 10. | TPS | 30 | 6 057 | 6'0" | 192 lbs | 23.63 |
| 11. | Tappara | 30 | 3 887 | 5'11" | 192 lbs | 24.73 |
| 12. | Ässät | 31 | 3 937 | 6'0" | 192 lbs | 25.39 |
Where Are They Now?
Played in the league during season
| # | player | season | team | league | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |  Tyler Kelleher (F) | 2026-2027 | Leksands IF | HockeyAllsvenskan | 14 | 11 | 17 | 28 | 8 |
| 2. | Anton Holm (F) | 2026-2027 | Elbolaget | IAHL | 6 | 14 | 12 | 26 | - |
| 3. | Camilo Miettinen (F) | 2026-2027 | Colombia | - | 4 | 12 | 14 | 26 | 2 |
| 4. | Eppu Varjamo (F) | 2026-2027 | Rockets | II-divisioona | 8 | 7 | 17 | 24 | 2 |
| 5. |  Yegor Chizhikov (F) | 2026-2027 | Shakhter Soligorsk | Belarus | 14 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 10 |
| 6. | Tomi Purmola (F) | 2026-2027 | Shakers | II-divisioona | 7 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 6 |
| 7. | Michael Keränen (F) | 2026-2027 | Tölzer Löwen | Oberliga | 12 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 6 |
| 8. | Emil Järventie (F) | 2026-2027 | Tappara U20 | U20 SM-sarja | 14 | 16 | 4 | 20 | 10 |
| 9. | Roby Järventie (F) | 2026-2027 | HC Ambrì-Piotta | NL | 14 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 8 |
| 10. | Kristian Tanus (F) | 2026-2027 | HC Ajoie | NL | 15 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 4 |
Regular Season
Liiga All-Time Points
| # | Player | GP | G | A | TP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Janne Ojanen (F) | 876 | 283 | 516 | 799 |
| 2. | Arto Javanainen (F) | 668 | 462 | 330 | 792 |
| 3. | Kristian Kuusela (F) | 1107 | 280 | 458 | 738 |
| 4. | Ville Vahalahti (F) | 977 | 260 | 427 | 687 |
| 5. | Jari Lindroos (F) | 649 | 230 | 432 | 662 |
Liiga All-Time Goals
| # | Player | GP | G | A | TP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Arto Javanainen (F) | 668 | 462 | 330 | 792 |
| 2. | Vesa Viitakoski (F) | 803 | 296 | 244 | 540 |
| 3. | Timo Susi (F) | 552 | 295 | 245 | 540 |
| 4. | Janne Ojanen (F) | 876 | 283 | 516 | 799 |
| 5. | Kari Makkonen (F) | 529 | 281 | 285 | 566 |
Liiga All-Time Assists
| # | Player | GP | G | A | TP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Janne Ojanen (F) | 876 | 283 | 516 | 799 |
| 2. | Kristian Kuusela (F) | 1107 | 280 | 458 | 738 |
| 3. | Esa Keskinen (F) | 478 | 215 | 443 | 658 |
| 4. | Jari Lindroos (F) | 649 | 230 | 432 | 662 |
| 5. | Matti Hagman (F) | 432 | 217 | 432 | 649 |
Liiga All-Time Penalty Min.
| # | Player | GP | G | TP | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Markus Kankaanperä (D) | 1054 | 55 | 187 | 2129 |
| 2. | Pasi Peltonen (D) | 827 | 69 | 234 | 1402 |
| 3. | Toni Mäkiaho (F) | 635 | 148 | 310 | 1348 |
| 4. | Jyri Marttinen (D) | 758 | 75 | 199 | 1165 |
| 5. | Pauli Levokari (D) | 497 | 27 | 74 | 1101 |
Liiga All-Time Games Played
| # | Player | GP | G | A | TP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Jan Latvala (D) | 1230 | 115 | 317 | 432 |
| 2. | Kristian Kuusela (F) | 1107 | 280 | 458 | 738 |
| 3. | Markus Kankaanperä (D) | 1054 | 55 | 132 | 187 |
| 4. | Arto Laatikainen (D) | 1024 | 83 | 256 | 339 |
| 5. | Erik Hämäläinen (D) | 1001 | 163 | 240 | 403 |
Liiga All-Time Points Per Game
| # | Player | GP | G | TP | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Janne Ståhl (F) | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2.00 |
| 2. |  Jan Jasko (F) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2.00 |
| 3. | Veli-Pekka Ketola (F) | 144 | 95 | 250 | 1.74 |
| 4. |  Mariusz Czerkawski (F) | 7 | 9 | 12 | 1.71 |
| 5. | Theo Fleury (F) | 10 | 8 | 17 | 1.70 |
Liiga All-Time Points Per Season
| # | Player | Season | League | GP | G | A | TP | PPG | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Kari Jalonen (F) | 1986-1987 | SM-liiga | 44 | 29 | 64 | 93 | 2.11 | 30 |
| 2. | Matti Hagman (F) | 1979-1980 | SM-liiga | 35 | 37 | 50 | 87 | 2.49 | 28 |
| 3. | Raimo Summanen (F) | 1988-1989 | SM-liiga | 44 | 35 | 46 | 81 | 1.84 | 22 |
| 4. | Jan Caloun (F) | 1998-1999 | SM-liiga | 51 | 24 | 57 | 81 | 1.59 | 95 |
| 5. | Kai Nurminen (F) | 1999-2000 | SM-liiga | 54 | 41 | 37 | 78 | 1.44 | 40 |
Liiga All-Time Goals Per Season
| # | Player | Season | League | GP | G | A | TP | PPG | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Arto Javanainen (F) | 1987-1988 | SM-liiga | 44 | 47 | 20 | 67 | 1.52 | 42 |
| 2. | Raimo Summanen (F) | 1982-1983 | SM-liiga | 36 | 45 | 15 | 60 | 1.67 | 36 |
| 3. | Arto Javanainen (F) | 1985-1986 | SM-liiga | 36 | 44 | 27 | 71 | 1.97 | 26 |
| 4. | Jukka Vilander (F) | 1988-1989 | SM-liiga | 42 | 43 | 23 | 66 | 1.57 | 6 |
| 5. | Kai Nurminen (F) | 1999-2000 | SM-liiga | 54 | 41 | 37 | 78 | 1.44 | 40 |
Liiga All-Time Assists Per Season
| # | Player | Season | League | GP | G | A | TP | PPG | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Kari Jalonen (F) | 1986-1987 | SM-liiga | 44 | 29 | 64 | 93 | 2.11 | 30 |
| 2. | Jan Caloun (F) | 1998-1999 | SM-liiga | 51 | 24 | 57 | 81 | 1.59 | 95 |
| 3. | Kari Jalonen (F) | 1988-1989 | SM-liiga | 44 | 18 | 56 | 74 | 1.68 | 40 |
| 4. | Esa Keskinen (F) | 1987-1988 | SM-liiga | 44 | 14 | 55 | 69 | 1.57 | 14 |
| 5. | Pekka Järvelä (F) | 1986-1987 | SM-liiga | 41 | 17 | 54 | 71 | 1.73 | 32 |
Liiga All-Time Penalty Min. Per Season
| # | Player | Season | League | GP | G | A | TP | PPG | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Matt Nickerson (D) | 2005-2006 | SM-liiga | 36 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 0.36 | 236 |
| 2. | Kristian Kudroc (D) | 2005-2006 | SM-liiga | 48 | 10 | 12 | 22 | 0.46 | 227 |
| 3. | Jarkko Ruutu (F) | 2004-2005 | SM-liiga | 50 | 10 | 18 | 28 | 0.56 | 215 |
| 4. | Ben Blood (D) | 2017-2018 | Liiga | 57 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 0.18 | 207 |
| 5. | Sami Helenius (D) | 2007-2008 | SM-liiga | 49 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 0.14 | 198 |
Player Nationalities Throughout History
List of Liiga Champions
Liiga Awards
- Liiga All-Star Team
- Liiga Best Defenseman (Pekka Rautakallio Award)
- Liiga Best GAA
- Liiga Best Goaltender (Urpo Ylönen Award)
- Liiga Best Player in Playoffs (Jari Kurri Award)
- Liiga Best Player of Regular Season (Lasse Oksanen Award)
- Liiga Best Plus/Minus (Matti Keinonen Trophy)
- Liiga Best SVS%
- Liiga Bronze Medal
- Liiga Champion
- Liiga Coach of the Year (Kalevi Numminen Trophy)
- Liiga Gentleman of the Year
- Liiga Golden Helmet
- Liiga Lynces Academici Defenseman Award
- Liiga Lynces Academici Forward Award
- Liiga Lynces Academici Goalie Award
- Liiga Most Assists
- Liiga Most Assists by Defenseman
- Liiga Most Assists by Rookie
- Liiga Most Goals (Aarne Honkavaara Trophy)
- Liiga Most Goals by Defenseman (Juha Rantasila Trophy)
- Liiga Most Goals by Rookie
- Liiga Most Penalized Player
- Liiga Most Points (Veli-Pekka Ketola Trophy)
- Liiga Most Points by Defenseman
- Liiga Most Points by Junior
- Liiga Most Points by Rookie
- Liiga Most Points by U18 Junior
- Liiga Player of the Month
- Liiga Playoffs Best Plus/Minus
- Liiga Playoffs Most Assists
- Liiga Playoffs Most Goals
- Liiga Playoffs Most Penalized Player
- Liiga Playoffs Most Points
- Liiga Rookie of the Year
- Liiga Silver Medal