The 2019–20 SM-liiga season was the 45th season of the SM-liiga, the top level of ice hockey in Finland, since the league's formation in 1975. The last two game days (12 and 14 March 2020) of the regular season were scheduled to be played in front of an empty arena due to the Finnish government advising that all public events with more than 500 attendees would be cancelled or postponed. On 13 March, the rest of the season, which included the final round of the regular season and all of playoffs, was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Finnish championship was not awarded for the first time since 1944 when the 1943–44 SM-sarja season was cancelled due to the Continuation War.
Teams
Team City Head coach Arena Capacity Captain HIFK Helsinki Jarno Pikkarainen Helsingin jäähalli Lennart Petrell14 Nov 2019Jere Sallinen HPK Hämeenlinna Antti Pennanen Patria-areena Niklas Friman Ilves Tampere Karri Kivi30 Sep 2019Jouko Myrrä Tampereen jäähalli Eemeli Suomi Jukurit Mikkeli Pekka Kangasalusta6 Jan 2020Marko Kauppinen Kalevankankaan jäähalli Miika Roine JYP Pekka Tirkkonen Synergia-areena Juuso Vainio KalPa Kuopio Tommi Miettinen Niiralan monttu Tommi Jokinen KooKoo Kouvola Jussi Ahokas Lumon arena Alexander Bonsaksen Kärpät Oulu Mikko Manner Oulun Energia Areena Lasse Kukkonen Lukko Rauma Pekka Virta Äijänsuo Arena Tapio Laakso Pelicans Lahti Ville Nieminen30 Nov 2019Jesse Welling Isku Areena Hannes Björninen SaiPa Lappeenranta Tero Lehterä Kisapuisto Elmeri Kaksonen Sport Vaasa Ari-Pekka Pajuluoma23 Nov 2019Risto Dufva Vaasa Arena Erik Riska Tappara Tampere Jukka Rautakorpi Tampereen jäähalli Kristian Kuusela TPS Turku Kalle Kaskinen1 Nov 2019Marko Virtanen HK Arena Lauri Korpikoski Pori Ari-Pekka Selin Porin jäähalli Niklas Appelgren
Regular season
Usually the top six advance straight to quarter-finals, while teams between 7th and 10th positions play wild card round for the final two spots. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the last game day of the season was not played and no playoffs were held. The top 4 teams of the unfinished regular season qualified for the Champions Hockey League and the 5th team to the Spengler Cup. The SM-liiga is a closed series and thus there is no relegation.
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) 3-point wins 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points.
Scoring leaders The following players led the league in regular season points. PlayerTeamJustin DanforthLukko56273360 +2626Eemeli SuomiIlves Tampere57263157 +2342Julius NattinenJYP54332255 +1922Jesse PuljujarviKarpat56242953 +3052Kristian KuuselaTappara55203353 +1916
See also 2019–20 Mestis season
References
External links Official site