SM-liiga 1980/81

SM-liiga
◄ previous	1980/81 season		next ►
Master:	Kärpät Oulu
Relegated:	none
• SM-liiga |  I-divisioona ↓

The 1980/81 SM-liiga season was the sixth season of the Finnish SM-liiga . For the first time ever, Kärpät Oulu became Finnish champion .

Regular season

mode

The ten teams of the SM-liiga initially played against each other in 36 seasonal games. While the first six teams qualified for the play-offs, the last two had to play against the two best second division teams to stay in the league. Each team received two points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a defeat.

Main round

	club	Sp	S.	U	N	T	GT	Points
1.	Tappara Tampere	36	26th	2	8th	184	115	54
2.	TPS Turku	36	22nd	5	9	213	141	49
3.	Kärpät Oulu	36	23	3	10	196	129	49
4th	Ässät Pori	36	20th	2	14th	178	158	42
5.	HIFK Helsinki	36	17th	4th	15th	166	158	38
6th	Ilves Tampere	36	18th	2	16	152	152	38
7th	Kiekko-Reipas	36	15th	4th	17th	161	147	34
8th.	SaiPa	36	11	4th	21st	128	187	26th
9.	Jokerit Helsinki	36	6th	3	27	114	188	15th
10.	Lukko Rauma	36	7th	1	28	135	252	15th

Sp = games, S = wins, U = draws, N = losses, OTS = overtime wins, OTN = overtime losses, SOS = penalty wins, SON = penalty losses

Play-offs

mode

Places 1 and 2 were qualified for the semi-finals and places 3-6 for the quarter-finals of the play-offs. The winners of the semi-finals made it to the final while the losers played for third place in the small final.

The quarter-finals and the game for third place were played in “best-of-three” mode, the semi-finals and the final in “best-of-five” mode .

Tournament tree

	Quarter finals					Semifinals					final
						1	Tappara Tampere	3
	4th	Ässät Pori	0			5	HIFK Helsinki	0
	5	HIFK Helsinki	2								1	Tappara Tampere	2
											3	Kärpät Oulu	3
						2	TPS Turku	2
	3	Kärpät Oulu	2			3	Kärpät Oulu	3			3rd place match
	6th	Ilves Tampere	0								2	TPS Turku	2
											5	HIFK Helsinki	0

Finnish champion

Finnish champion Kärpät Oulu

Goalkeepers: Ari Hellgren , Ari Timosaari Defenders: Hannu Hiltunen , Juha Huikari , Hannu Jalonen , Arto Ruotanen , Reijo Ruotsalainen , Kari Suoraniemi , Veikko Torkkeli , Juha Tuohimaa Attackers: Pekka Arbelius , Kari Jalonen , Jouko Kämäräinen , Markku Kiimalainen , Jouni Koutuaniemi , Mikko Leinonen , Pekka Myllylä , Pentti Perhomaa , Kai Suikkanen , Jarmo Tauriainen , Seppo Tenhunen , Jorma Torkkeli , Pekka Tuomisto Head coach: Kari Mäkinen

SM liiga relegation

The last two placed in the SM-liiga main round and the two best second division teams played for promotion and relegation in return legs. Jokerit Helsinki and Lukko Rauma both confidently secured themselves relegation with ten points each.

table

	club	Sp	S.	U	N	T	GT	Points
1.	Jokerit Helsinki	6th	5	0	1	48	13	10
2.	Lukko Rauma	6th	5	0	1	27	27	10
3.	HPK Hämeenlinna	6th	2	0	4th	22nd	29	4th
4th	Koo-Vee	6th	0	0	6th	15th	43	0

Sp = games, S = wins, U = draws, N = losses, OTS = overtime wins, OTN = overtime losses, SOS = penalty wins, SON = penalty losses

Web links

• Official website of the SM-liiga