The 1938–39 SM‑sarja season was the ninth edition of the SM‑sarja, the premier level of men’s ice hockey in Finland prior to the formation of the SM‑liiga in 1975. The competition ran from late 1938 through early 1939 and determined the Finnish national champion for that year.
Competition format
- The season was contested as a single‑round robin league.
- Six clubs participated, each playing the others once for a total of five games per team.
- Points were awarded using the traditional two‑point win system (two points for a win, one point for a tie, none for a loss).
- The team with the highest point total at the conclusion of the round robin was declared the Finnish champion.
Participating clubs
- Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi (HJK) – Helsinki
- Ilves – Tampere
- TaPa (Tampereen Palloilijat) – Tampere
- Turun Palloseura (TPS) – Turku
- Kullervo – Vyborg (then part of Finland)
- Vesa – Viipuri
Season outcome
- Champion: Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi (HJK) secured the title by finishing atop the final standings.
- Runner‑up: Ilves placed second, trailing HJK by a narrow margin.
Historical context
- This season was played shortly before the outbreak of World War II, which subsequently disrupted Finnish sport.
- The SM‑sarja format of a small, regional league reflected the developmental stage of ice hockey in Finland during the late 1930s.
Legacy
- The 1938–39 championship contributed to HJK’s early dominance in Finnish ice hockey, adding to the club’s collection of national titles earned during the 1930s.
- The season is recorded in Finnish ice‑hockey historiography as part of the pre‑professional era that laid the groundwork for the later expansion and commercialization of the sport in Finland.
