The SM-liiga announced that Helsinki's Jokerit has been awarded a license to compete in the top Finnish ice hockey league for the next season. This decision was made public on Tuesday, and it marks a significant step for Jokerit, who had excelled in the Mestis league last year by winning the championship. SM-liiga's CEO Mikko Pulkkinen expressed a warm welcome to Jokerit, emphasizing the importance of integrating the team into the league's ecosystem after completing the licensing process.

The announcement also indicated that there will be another licensing window opening later in the spring, providing the opportunity for a total of 18 teams in a super league format for the next season. Should Jokerit win the Mestis championship again this year, it would give the team an option to apply for a license that could be awarded to the team that finishes as the runner-up in the Mestis finals. This means that the final number of teams in the SM-liiga will not be confirmed until spring, adding some intrigue to the league's upcoming season.

This development is an important moment for Jokerit as they make their return to Finland's highest league, where they will compete among 16 other teams that have also secured their licenses for the next season. The return of Jokerit is anticipated to bolster the competitive nature of the SM-liiga, with fans eager to see how the team performs after its time in the lower division. The forthcoming seasons could potentially reshape the landscape of Finnish ice hockey, especially if more teams join the league from Mestis in the future.