Finland’s 2021 Maple League season set to kick off May 13th

The Finnish Federation of American Football, SAJL (Suomen Amerikkalaisen Jalkapallon Liitto) has announced its Maple League ((Vaahteraliiga) schedule for the 2021 season.

The Maple League was one of the few leagues throughout the world to complete a schedule of games in 2020 with a season that opened on July 30 and culminated with a championship final, the Maple Bowl, on September 12. The Kuopio Steelers won their first ever Finnish championship, defeating the Helsinki Wolverines 21-0 in the final.

The new 2021 season is scheduled to start May 13 and finish with the Maple Bowl on September 11.

The Maple League will have seven teams, each facing each other twice playing 42 regular season games with game days Thursday, Friday and Saturday. All games will be broadcast on AFI.tv outside of Finland and on the Ruutu channel in Finland.

The league will not play during the Midsummer weekend (June 24-27) which is a national holiday in Finland, and also on the first weekend of August, when the Finnish men’s national team is scheduled to face Sweden in the European Championship semifinals.

The reigning champion Kuopio Steelers will start the season chased by six challengers. Five of the six are the Helsinki Roosters, Helsinki Wolverines, Wasa Royals, Seinäjoki Crocodiles and Porvoo Butchers and they will be joined by the United Newland Crusaders who were promoted from Finland’s Division 1.

Week 1

Thursday May 13, 18:30: . Helsinki Roosters v. Porvoo Butchers
Friday May 14, 18:30: Wasa Royals v. Seinäjoki Crocodiles
Saturday May 15, 16:30: Helsinki Wolverines v. Kuopio Steelers

Week 2

Thursday May 20, 18:30: United Newland Crusaders  v. Helsinki Roosters
Friday May 21, 18:30:  Seinäjoki Crocodiles v. Helsinki Wolverines
Saturday May 21, 16:30: Wasa Royals v. Kuopio Steelers

Here is the link to the full schedule: Maple League 2021