Liiga

Liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. It was founded in 1992 as SM-liiga, replacing the previous SM-sarja, and was rebranded Liiga in 2013 when Liiga Oy began operating the league on behalf of the Finnish Ice Hockey Association. The league currently consists of 15 teams that compete in a regular season, typically played from September to March, followed by a postseason to determine the Finnish national champion.

During the regular season each team plays a fixed number of games, and stands are ranked by points. The playoffs feature the top teams from the regular season, with series generally conducted as best-of-seven. The playoff winner is awarded the Kanada-malja, the historic Finnish championship trophy.

Administration and structure in Liiga are organized through Liiga Oy, a company owned by the participating clubs and operating under the framework of the Finnish Ice Hockey Association. Since its licensing-based system, teams must meet financial, arena, and organizational criteria to participate; there is no automatic relegation to the second-tier Mestis. This licensing approach emphasizes stability and development within Finnish hockey.

Liiga is a major platform for player development, producing many players who advance to leagues around the world, including the National Hockey League. The league also contributes to national team success and features various domestic competitions and all-star events that showcase Finnish talent.