HIFK Hockey

Lore & Background

HIFK was founded in 1897 and began ice hockey in 1928. The team won three SM-sarja championships (1969, 1970, 1974) and four SM-liiga championships (1980, 1983, 1998, 2011). A major influence was NHL veteran Carl Brewer, hired as playing coach in 1968, who introduced a North American style that persisted and led to his posthumous induction into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003. The 1998 championship team is widely recognized as one of the best in Finnish top-flight history, featuring numerous future and former NHL players including Tim Thomas, Olli Jokinen, Brian Rafalski, and Kimmo Timonen.

The team's logo has evolved: originally a shield with a four-pointed star and text 'I.F.K.' and '1897', it changed to a five-pointed star for 1993–94, then to a red big cat on a blue circle (the 'beast logo') in 1996. The shield logo returned as primary in 2008–09, with the beast logo becoming shoulder patches until its elimination after 2017–18. HIFK plays at Helsinki Ice Hall, opened in 1966, which was shared with rival Jokerit until 1997; Jokerit returned for the 2024–2025 season. The club is known for playing classic hard rock music, with goal song 'Flamethrower' by The J. Geils Band.

HIFK's rivalry with Jokerit was among the fiercest in Nordic ice hockey, with games often sold out. After Jokerit left Liiga for the KHL in 2014, the teams did not face each other for over a decade; HIFK led the all-time series 106–105 after a 2–1 outdoor win in March 2014. They are scheduled to meet again in the 2026–27 Liiga season following Jokerit's promotion from Mestis.

Reader's Guide

HIFK Hockey holds a significant place in Finnish ice hockey as one of the wealthiest clubs with the highest attendance in the SM-liiga. Its seven national championships span both the SM-sarja and SM-liiga eras, reflecting sustained success. The club's identity is deeply tied to the influence of Carl Brewer, whose North American coaching style in 1968 left a lasting mark on HIFK and Finnish hockey, earning him posthumous Hall of Fame recognition. The 1998 championship team is celebrated as one of the greatest in Finnish top-flight history, featuring a remarkable roster of NHL talent. HIFK's branding evolution—from the original shield logo to the controversial beast logo and back—illustrates its efforts to modernize while honoring tradition. The team's home arena, Helsinki Ice Hall, has been a shared venue with rival Jokerit, and the rivalry itself is historically intense, with HIFK claiming a narrow series lead before a decade-long hiatus. The club's musical traditions, including specific goal, opening, and penalty songs, contribute to its distinctive game-day atmosphere. HIFK also has a bandy subdivision, reflecting its broader sporting heritage.

Did You Know?

• HIFK's 1998 championship team included 13 future or former NHL players, such as Tim Thomas, Olli Jokinen, and Kimmo Timonen.
• The club's 'beast logo' (a red big cat on a blue circle) was used from 1996 until it was eliminated from jerseys after the 2017–18 season.
• HIFK's goal song is 'Flamethrower' by The J. Geils Band, and their opening songs include 'Hail To The King' by Avenged Sevenfold.