Kanada-malja

Kanada-malja

Kanada-malja

Finnish SM-liiga championship trophy

The Kanada-malja, or Poika (Literally "Boy" or "Son"),[1] is an ice hockey club championship trophy, awarded annually to the winner of the Finnish SM-liiga playoffs. Kanada-malja is Finnish for "Canada Bowl"; the trophy is so named because it was donated by Canada's Finnish community in 1950.[2][3]

Quick Facts Sport, Awarded for ...

The Kanada-malja was originally given for the winner of the SM-sarja, but in 1975 when SM-liiga replaced the SM-sarja, the Kanada-malja has been given to the SM-liiga winner.

In 1991 a copy of the Kanada-malja was made and the original was given for display at Suomen Jääkiekkomuseo ("The Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame"). After the final game, the champion team of the playoffs is presented with the original Kanada-malja, but afterward the cup is returned to the museum and replaced with the copy.[4][5]

The original trophy is made of nickel silver and the copy is entirely made of silver.

The winner of the regular season title receives the "Harry Lindbladin muistopalkinto" (Harry Lindblad Memorial Trophy), which is not considered as prestigious as the Kanada-malja.

History

The Kanada-malja in 1951, the first year it was awarded

The Kanada-malja was donated by Canada's Finnish community in 1950 and it was first awarded in 1951 to the champion of the SM-sarja. The first champions were Ilves Tampere. The most Kanada-malja champions are held by Tappara Tampere, with 19 championships.

Engraving

From 1951 to 1975, only the name of the club and the year of the championship were engraved into the trophy, but after the establishment of the SM-liiga, players names have been engraved on it. New layers to the trophy have been added two times.[5][3]

Past champions

Ilves team after winning Finnish champion in 1971-72 season
Porin Karhut player holding the Kanada-malja after winning the Finnish Championship of ice hockey in 1965

This list only includes the SM-liiga champions. The trophy has also been awarded in the SM-sarja.

More information Year, Champion ...

Teams by number of wins

More information Team, No. Wins ...

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Kanada-maljaa on runnottu juhlissa vuosikymmeniä, Poika on ollut jopa polttopuina". Hämeen Sanomat (in Finnish). 2019-05-11. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  2. [2]
    A to Z Encyclopedia of Ice Hockey: Ka Archived 2007-06-07 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
  3. [3]
    "Kanada-malja on Suomen arvokkain kiertopalkinto". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). 2013-04-25. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  4. [4]
    (in Finnish)
  5. [5]
    "SM-liigan mestaruuspytyllä värikäs historia – tiesitkö tämän Kanada-maljasta?". mtvuutiset.fi (in Finnish). 2016-04-26. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
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