Jokerit has been my favorite team since early 90's.
Jokerit and HIFK shared same hockey arena and it was called Helsingin jäähalli.
There was always some rivaly between these two teams. Both are from Helsinki and have same arena.
First game I went to see in 1992 and there was few players who were different from the others. One was Otakar
Janecky and the second one was Teemu Selänne.
Since then they become my favorite players. After that I have gone now and then to the games, first season
ticket I got for my birhtday gift in 1996. After that I have had every season.
1996-97 was immemorial, because Jokerit won the cup and all the celebration and it was just great!
The season was great and one of the nicest things was to go to away game with other fans by bus and get to know
them better.
The atmosphere was always good there, even Jokerit had lost their game. I usually went with my brother and mom
to the trips.
1997-98 was the first season when Jokerit played in their own arena Hartwall Areena and it is
located in Ilmala.
The season didnt start very well and everybody had huge expectations from Jokerit and they tought that Jokerit
will be at the finals. On the papper Jokerit had the best team, but they didnt get it to work on the ice.
Jokerit made to playoff, but in the second roud they lost and played bronz game against Kiekko-Espoo and that
game Jokerit won 5-0 and they got the bronz medals.
1998-99 was pretty much the same. Got to the playoffs, but lost after first round and was in
the end 5th.
1999-2000 was good season and there was much changes to last season and it was good.
To Jokerit came also SM-leagues first German player Jan Benda from Ässät, Pori.
I didnt expect from this season much of anthing, because the last season didnt go well at all, but in my mind
was that hopefully this season will come succes.
This season turn out to good and Jokerit made to finals, but lost the serie 3-1 to TPS, turku.
I was pretty satisfied to the result, of course you feel bad when you loose at the finals, but still silver is
good.
2000-01 This season everybody expected that Jokerit will win the cup. Everything went well and Jokerit
won the regular season and in the play offs they played against Kärpät from Oulu and that went serie went to 5th game and
Jokerit lost the last game and they were out and that was big lost for Jokerit.
2001-2002 After last seasons big lost Jokerit built new team and it look pretty good on the papper and
after all it was on the ice as well.
First opponent in the quaterfinals was Kärpät and to everybody came mind the memories of the last season, but
luckyly it didnt happend and Jokerit won 3-1. In the semifinals came HPK, hämeenlinna and that was really tuff opponent, but
Jokerit did won 3-1 and in the finals came Tappara from Tampere and it was probably the easyest opponent in the play offs.
We went to see nealy all play offs games by our car, exept the one game to Oulu, too far. It was fun.
Jokerit then won the cup finally!
It was great and the celebration was different this time, I was older and new arena. It was great feeling and
great night what you dont for get quickly.
2002-2003 This seasons expectation is to keep the cup at Hartwall Areena. So far the season has gone
pretty well. Jokerit is now second in the league.
This season was then the first time after two years when I went by bus to see away games. It was fun and
nice to get to know to other fans. It was kind of different, but the atmosphere was pretty much the same.
Lets hope the best for the end of the season!
