Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada to compete, with the provision that the Stanley Cup winners were to be recognized as "World's Champions". The phrase was repeatedly engraved on the Cup, and continued to be used, when the NHL began admitting American franchises. When the NHL assumed formal control of the Cup in 1947, the resulting agreement required "that the winners of this trophy shall be the acknowledged World's Professional Hockey Champions" (in contrast to the IIHF's Ice Hockey World Championships, at the time contested only by amateurs). When the World Hockey Association commenced play in the 1970s, they sought to challenge for the Stanley Cup,
Lasse Oksanen trophy Peltonen (HIFK) 2011-12: Tomas Zaborsky (Ässät) 2012-13: Antti Raanta (Ässät) 2013-14: Michael Keränen (Ilves) 2014-15: Kim Hirschovits (Blues) 2015-16: Kristian Kuusela (Tappara) 2016-17: Mika Pyörälä (Kärpät) 2017-18: Julius Junttila (Kärpät) Lasse Oksanen trophy The Lasse Oksanen trophy is an ice hockey trophy awarded by the Finnish Liiga to the best player of the season during regular season play. Trophy winners: 1993-94: Esa Keskinen (TPS) 1994-95: Saku Koivu (TPS) 1995-96: Juha Riihijärvi (Lukko) 1996-97: Jani Hurme (TPS) 1997-98: Raimo Helminen (Ilves) 1998-99: Jan Caloun (HIFK) 1999-00: Kai Nurminen (TPS) 2000-01: Tony Virta (TPS) 2001-02: Janne Ojanen (Tappara) 2002-03: Antti Miettinen (HPK)