The Jokerit logo features a winking jester face — one of ice hockey’s most iconic emblems — rendered in black (#231f20), red (#ed1c24), yellow (#fff200), and white, adapted from playing card joker designs.
The Jokerit emblem depicts a stylized jester (joker) face in profile, winking with a sly grin, wearing a traditional three-pointed jester’s cap with bells. The design was adapted from joker cards found in various playing card decks and drawn by Finnish graphic artist Jorma Hinkka when the club was founded in 1967. In 1997, The Hockey News ranked it the best team logo in the world. The mark’s playful yet menacing expression captures the dual nature of the joker archetype — clever trickster and dangerous opponent. During the KHL era, the primary colors shifted to black and yellow with red accents, giving the jester a bold, high-contrast presence on dark jerseys.
Jokerit was founded on October 27, 1967, in Helsinki, Finland, and became one of the most successful clubs in Finnish hockey history, winning six SM-liiga championships (1973, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2002). In 2014, the club made the historic move to join the KHL’s Bobrov Division, making Finland the first Nordic country represented in the league. Jokerit played home games at Hartwall Arena (capacity 13,500) throughout their KHL tenure. The club withdrew from the KHL in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and subsequently returned to Finnish hockey.
Meaning and Symbolism
- Black (#231f20): The dominant jersey color during the KHL era, providing a bold, intimidating backdrop that makes the jester emblem stand out
- Red (#ed1c24): Represents passion, aggression, and competitive fire — used in the jester’s cap and as an accent color
- Yellow (#fff200): A signature highlight color that adds vibrancy and visibility, prominently featured in the jester’s face and cap bells
- White (#ffffff): Provides contrast and detail within the jester illustration
- Winking jester: The joker/jester archetype conveys cleverness, unpredictability, and a fearless willingness to take risks — qualities valued in hockey
- Overall composition: One of the most recognizable and enduring logos in world hockey, balancing playfulness with competitive edge
Design and History
The original jester logo was created by graphic designer Jorma Hinkka at the club’s founding in 1967. Hinkka adapted the winking joker face from various playing card decks, creating a distinctive mascot that would become synonymous with Helsinki hockey. Notably, Hinkka received free tickets to Jokerit games as compensation for the design but never used them — he had no interest in ice hockey.
The club’s colors changed dramatically over the decades: blue and white at founding, red from 1973, blue again in 1981, then various combinations including green-and-blue, green-and-white, and green-and-purple, before returning to blue and white in 1997-98. In 1983, a redesigned logo with Canadian-style speed lines was introduced, but the club reverted to Hinkka’s original jester by 1988, recognizing its timeless appeal. For the KHL era beginning in 2014, the palette settled on black, red, and yellow, with the jester prominently displayed. In 2019-20, the team shifted to yellow-and-black jerseys that further highlighted the classic jester mark.
Typography
The “JOKERIT” wordmark uses a bold, angular sans-serif typeface that complements the sharp lines of the jester illustration. The letterforms are heavy and condensed, designed to read clearly on jerseys, arena boards, and broadcast graphics. The typography projects strength and modernity while deferring to the jester emblem as the primary visual element.
FAQ
Q: Who designed the Jokerit jester logo?
A: Finnish graphic artist Jorma Hinkka created the winking jester logo in 1967, adapting it from joker figures found in various playing card decks. He received free game tickets as payment but never used them because he had no interest in hockey.
Q: Why did Jokerit leave the KHL?
A: Jokerit withdrew from the KHL in 2022 in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The club chose not to participate in the KHL playoffs and subsequently announced its complete departure from the league, returning to Finnish hockey competition.
Q: Where is Jokerit based?
A: Jokerit is based in Helsinki, Finland. The club was founded in 1967 and played in the KHL from 2014 to 2022, with home games at Hartwall Arena. The team has since returned to Finnish domestic competition.
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