JOKERIT 2020-2021 (GOING ALL IN?)

[Whiskey In the Jar]

That's a tough spot Jokerit and many others teams are in currently. But it's the same with all sports leagues it's just a mess right now. I dont think teams very lightly move to play home games in Russia it may be out of question. Playing in finnish league is probably not even remotely an option. If jokerit and few other khl teams skip this season that would be disaster too, i think it could mean end of jokerit in khl and probably end of the team as it currently stands. It's not financially feasable to move to play finnish league right now, would probably take several years at minimum to sort all things out. And did not just two or three years ago neighboring team Espoo Blues go bankrupt in Finnish league ...and was not moving khl partly due to financial reasons at the first place?

 

[vorky]

That's a tough spot Jokerit and many others teams are in currently. But it's the same with all sports leagues it's just a mess right now. I dont think teams very lightly move to play home games in Russia it may be out of question. Playing in finnish league is probably not even remotely an option. If jokerit and few other khl teams skip this season that would be disaster too, i think it could mean end of jokerit in khl and probably end of the team as it currently stands. It's not financially feasable to move to play finnish league right now, would probably take several years at minimum to sort all things out. And did not just two or three years ago neighboring team Espoo Blues go bankrupt in Finnish league ...and was not moving khl partly due to financial reasons at the first place?

Just curious what is a source of that bold information. I mean the reliable source, the official one, not journalists gossips & malevolent wishes.

Guessing you mean all non-Russian teams ...

 

[Albatros]

That's a tough spot Jokerit and many others teams are in currently. But it's the same with all sports leagues it's just a mess right now. I dont think teams very lightly move to play home games in Russia it may be out of question. Playing in finnish league is probably not even remotely an option. If jokerit and few other khl teams skip this season that would be disaster too, i think it could mean end of jokerit in khl and probably end of the team as it currently stands. It's not financially feasable to move to play finnish league right now, would probably take several years at minimum to sort all things out. And did not just two or three years ago neighboring team Espoo Blues go bankrupt in Finnish league ...and was not moving khl partly due to financial reasons at the first place?

The Blues never had a fan base, whereas the Jokerit brand is one of the strongest in all of Finnish sports. I seriously doubt that it will disappear even when the KHL adventure comes to its end, be it now or in ten years. For Liiga it's too valuable to miss as well.

 

[vorky]

 

[vorky]

 

[Jussi]

I'm not sure Lehtonen will play get to play that much if any with Jokerit. Way too much stuff up in the air. Would probably get to play more in Liiga, SHL or NLA.

 

[vorky]

Yeah, Toronto Maple Leafs GM, Jokerit GM, the NHL & the KHL management, all players etc are fools knowing nothing about the game of hockey in 2020.

Like really?

Because some dude on the internet knows more about the game of hockey!!

 

[Jussi]

Yeah, because knowing the Coronavirus situation in Russia has SOOOOO much to do with knowing the game of hockey...

When even Jokerit want the season start to be delayed, you know they have a problem in Russia.

 

[Barclay Donaldson]

Yeah, Toronto Maple Leafs GM, Jokerit GM, the NHL & the KHL management, all players etc are fools knowing nothing about the game of hockey in 2020.

Like really?

Because some dude on the internet knows more about the game of hockey!!

Said by another dude on the internet. All Teeth No Brains.

 

[Albatros]

I'm not sure Lehtonen will play get to play that much if any with Jokerit. Way too much stuff up in the air. Would probably get to play more in Liiga, SHL or NLA.

I'd imagine the Leafs don't even want him to play big minutes in another league, just to have a safe training environment until the next NHL season.

 

[Kshahdoo]

Yeah, because knowing the Coronavirus situation in Russia has SOOOOO much to do with knowing the game of hockey...

When even Jokerit want the season start to be delayed, you know they have a problem in Russia.

The RPL season was finished with some cases, but most teams did ok. All Moscow ones and Zenit, for example. And they are from most dangerous regions.

 

[Jussi]

The RPL season was finished with some cases, but most teams did ok. All Moscow ones and Zenit, for example. And they are from most dangerous regions.

3 KHL teams have about 40 cases according to Morozov. There's no way Russian teams will be allowed to travel to Finland anytime soon. At least without a two week quarantine.

 

[Kshahdoo]

3 KHL teams have about 40 cases according to Morozov. There's no way Russian teams will be allowed to travel to Finland anytime soon. At least without a two week quarantine.

The season is going to start in a month. The situation can be improved. And if Jokerit plays 1st month on the road, it's another month.

 

[Albatros]

The way things are trending now the travel restrictions won't be lifted before January, and that's optimistic.

 

[vorky]

 

[Exarz]

The first season game will be played September 3 in Minsk. First home game September 9 against Neftekhimik. Nothing stated where the home game will be located, as I still see it quite doubtful that Russian teams will be able to enter Finland in such short notice...

 

[Jussi]

Clueless Kurri...

Hallitus tiukensi koronarajoituksia – Jari Kurri uskoo, että Jokerit pelaa kotiottelunsa Helsingissä: ”Me elämme vieläkin siinä toivossa” - KHL - Ilta-Sanomat

Kurri kertoo, ettei Jokereilla ole olemassa varasuunnitelmaa, jos kotipelejä ei pystytä pelaamaan Helsingissä.

No back-up plan if they can't play home games in Helsinki. Also hoping for some miracle despite governement tightening travel restrictions for people coming in to the country from non-safe countries. Mandatory testing and two week quarantine with potential fines or even 3 month jail sentence for violating it.

 

[Exarz]

Clueless Kurri...

Hallitus tiukensi koronarajoituksia – Jari Kurri uskoo, että Jokerit pelaa kotiottelunsa Helsingissä: ”Me elämme vieläkin siinä toivossa” - KHL - Ilta-Sanomat



No back-up plan if they can't play home games in Helsinki. Also hoping for some miracle despite governement tightening travel restrictions for people coming in to the country from non-safe countries. Mandatory testing and two week quarantine with potential fines or even 3 month jail sentence for violating it.

The only light in this tunnel is the statement the statement that athletes might not be under the same restrictions as their risk of infection is considered lower. But I don't really see this matter when half the season contains travelling back and forth a high-risk country.

 

[mkev400]

The only light in this tunnel is the statement the statement that athletes might not be under the same restrictions as their risk of infection is considered lower. But I don't really see this matter when half the season contains travelling back and forth a high-risk country.

Im curious as to why Athletes risks might be considered lower?

 

[Jussi]

Im curious as to why Athletes risks might be considered lower?

I think he implies the risks of them getting sick are lower but they can just as easily be carriers.

 

[Jussi]

Jokerit players, coach and organizations are not exactly doing a good job of removing the stereotype people might have of athletes being "stupid jocks":

Jokerit valmistautuu epätietoisuuden vallassa KHL-kauteen – avauspeli Valko-Venäjän kriisipesäkkeessä: "Ei tämä ideaali tilanne ole"

Lehtonen especially...

Annetaan heidän mellakoida keskenään

"Let them riot among each other"

 

[Jaska]

The negative press in Finland will be massive, if Kurri doesn't pull Jokerit out of the game in Minsk. Unbelievable he is bending over for the KHL. When did his backbone snap?

 

[Jussi]

The negative press in Finland will be massive, if Kurri doesn't pull Jokerit out of the game in Minsk. Unbelievable he is bending over for the KHL. When did his backbone snap?

I mean the reaction among fans is already almost unanimously negative towards playing there. At Jatkoaika, a KHL fan boy started a thread on the subject and he's very much against playing there and the comments by Jokerit coach and players (especially Mikko Lehtonen's) have been received very negatively by almost every Jokerit fans posting on the thread. Even main stream media is questioning the awareness of the organization.

 

[Jaska]

One of Jokerit's fan organizations is opposing playing in Minsk:

Tiedotteet | etelapaaty

"Fanclub of Jokerit HC, Eteläpääty Association opposes the upcoming game between Jokerit HC and Dinamo Minsk on 3.9.2020.

In such a situation, Dinamo Minsk should at least be able to postpone the match to another time. The transfer of matches is not exceptional in the KHL, nor in other series. In our opinion, the current situation in the country provides all the conditions to demand the postponement of the match.

Eteläpääty will support the team's decision if the team decides not to go to Minsk and gives a direct surrender win to the opponent.

The fan group of Dinamo Minsk has also announced that they will boycott the team's matches. Dinamo fans are demanding that the club condemn the violence, demand the release of illegally detained civilians, publicly declare the past elections illegitimate, and call for new elections with an honest and transparent vote count. Eteläpääty wants to show its support to its competitors' fans with their demands."

 

[Exarz]

The fan group of Dinamo Minsk has also announced that they will boycott the team's matches. Dinamo fans are demanding that the club condemn the violence, demand the release of illegally detained civilians, publicly declare the past elections illegitimate, and call for new elections with an honest and transparent vote count. Eteläpääty wants to show its support to its competitors' fans with their demands."

That's a bit surprising, considering that Dinamo Minsk is directly under Lukashenko's payroll and wouldn't exist without him. I thought the fans would be more loyal towards him, but I guess everything has its limits taking into account how the political spectrum has developed in Belarus.