Vaahteraliiga

The first season of the Vaahteraliiga was played in 1980. The name Vaahteraliiga ("Maple League") comes from the name of the championship trophy Vaahteramalja ("Maple Bowl"), which was donated to the newly formed association by the embassy of Canada in Finland. Vaahteraliiga is managed by American Football Association of Finland – SAJL. It is government approved non-profit organization governing both American football and flag football activities in Finland.

The most successful team all-time are the Helsinki Roosters with a total of 17 championships, including a then-record six consecutive first-place finishes from 1995-2000. This record was tied by Porvoo Butchers as they also won six consecutive championships between 2005 and 2010. In the early years Helsinki and it surrounding towns were loaded with Maple League teams and they seemed to almost monopolize the championship. The first team outside the Helsinki metropolitan area to win the championship were the Seinäjoki Crocodiles in 2001, ending the 21-year Helsinki area supremacy. Since then, however, those teams have only won the championship twice. Turku Trojans have the most Maple Bowl losses. Having qualified for the game ten times, their only win is from their last visit in 2003.

The 2016 season of Vaahteraliiga was planned to see 8 teams competing, as Tampere Saints and Wasa Royals were promoted from 1st Division. Helsinki 69ers did not start the season, so the 2016 season had 7 teams. The 2017 season also has 7 teams, as TAFT was relegated after finishing last, and I-division winner Hämeenlinna Huskies were promoted to Maple League.

• Butchers, Porvoo
• Crocodiles, Seinäjoki
• Crusaders, Lohja
• Roosters, Helsinki
• Royals, Vaasa
• Steelers, Kuopio
• Wolverines, Helsinki

Updated for 2023 season.[1]

Vaahteraliiga has had a different number of teams during its tenure. In recent years the number has been around seven and eight. This is partly because of league license system enforced by SAJL. In addition to competitive status teams have to reach certain economical and organisational standards. This in turn means that at the end of each season it cannot be said to a certainty which teams will eventually play in the league the next year as teams need to apply for the license. SAJL checks the applications and grants licenses to maximum eight teams according to their seed in the previous season. Teams from the 1st division title game, Spaghetti Bowl, are the only division teams eligible to apply for the license.

The system was put in place largely to ensure long-term planning and sensible running of clubs. The system has already shown its cruelty as teams with no alarming difficulties in competitiveness have been relegated due to lack of management and/or economical difficulties.

• 1980 – Poli, Espoo
• 1981 – Majs, Helsinki
• 1982 – Helsinki Roosters
• 1983 – Helsinki Roosters
• 1984 – Helsinki East City Giants
• 1985 – Vantaa TAFT
• 1986 – Helsinki Roosters
• 1987 – Helsinki Roosters
• 1988 – Helsinki Roosters
• 1989 – Munkka Colts
• 1990 – Helsinki Roosters
• 1991 – Helsinki East City Giants
• 1992 – Helsinki East City Giants
• 1993 – Helsinki East City Giants
• 1994 – Helsinki East City Giants
• 1995 – Helsinki Roosters
• 1996 – Helsinki Roosters
• 1997 – Helsinki Roosters
• 1998 – Helsinki Roosters
• 1999 – Helsinki Roosters
• 2000 – Helsinki Roosters
• 2001 – Seinäjoki Crocodiles
• 2002 – Helsinki Roosters
• 2003 – Turku Trojans
• 2004 – Helsinki Roosters
• 2005 – Porvoo Butchers
• 2006 – Porvoo Butchers
• 2007 – Porvoo Butchers
• 2008 – Porvoo Butchers
• 2009 – Porvoo Butchers
• 2010 – Porvoo Butchers
• 2011 – Helsinki Wolverines
• 2012 – Helsinki Roosters
• 2013 – Helsinki Roosters
• 2014 – Helsinki Roosters
• 2015 – Helsinki Roosters
• 2016 – Helsinki Roosters
• 2017 – Helsinki Roosters
• 2018 – Helsinki Roosters
• 2019 – Helsinki Roosters
• 2020 – Kuopio Steelers
• 2021 – Kuopio Steelers
• 2022 – Kuopio Steelers
• 2023 – Porvoo Butchers

• Official website
• Vaahteraliiga at sajl.fi