Story Summary
Ismo Lehkonen has named Helsinki Ice Hall, commonly known as Nordis, as his favourite arena in Liiga, placing Pori second and Hämeenlinna third.
The Finnish hockey figure gave his ranking while discussing the league’s venues. His choices favoured buildings with established character over newer, larger arena settings. Tampere’s Nokia Arena, Helsinki’s Veikkaus Arena and Turku’s Gatorade Center were all absent from Lehkonen’s top three.
For Lehkonen, Nordenskiöld Arena’s appeal lies in its direct connection to the sport’s past. He described it as a place where hockey can be felt immediately on arrival and where the presence of past legends still seems to linger.
Key Facts
- Ismo Lehkonen ranked Helsinki Ice Hall, or Nordis, as the best arena in Liiga.
- Lehkonen placed Pori second in his personal list of Liiga’s best arenas.
- Hämeenlinna was Lehkonen’s third choice, despite his own past as both a player and coach there.
- Lehkonen said the atmosphere at Nordenskiöld Arena makes it feel as though “hockey is in the air”.
- Nokia Arena, Veikkaus Arena and Gatorade Center did not feature in Lehkonen’s top three.
IHM Discussion
Lehkonen’s list is a judgement of atmosphere rather than a measure of modern facilities. His preference for Nordis, Pori and Hämeenlinna points towards the elements supporters often associate with an enduring hockey venue: history, familiarity and a distinctive match-night identity.
His comments on Hämeenlinna also gave the ranking a personal dimension. Lehkonen acknowledged his own playing and coaching links to the city, but said the building had made an impression on him even as a visiting player. He singled out its classic goal song as part of that identity.
The omission of three of Liiga’s most prominent modern arenas underlines the subjective nature of the exercise. Bigger capacity and newer infrastructure were not the qualities that carried the most weight in Lehkonen’s selections.
Why It Matters
Arena identity remains a meaningful part of Finnish hockey culture. Lehkonen’s choices highlight how a venue can be remembered for its sound, history and feeling as much as for its size or modernity.
The ranking also puts attention on longstanding Liiga buildings whose appeal is rooted in the experience around the ice. For supporters, players and visiting teams, those details can form part of what makes an away trip or home game memorable.