Finland has hosted the ice hockey World Championships since 1965. Hockey Hall of Fame Finland presents Fiery Lion, an exhibition about the visual expressions and atmosphere of the games. The highlight is on the beloved mascots, phenomena, logos, songs and merchandise.

The early tournaments focused more on the events inside the rink. The atmosphere was quite festive, serious and restrained. In the 1970s it started to change with hockey fans wearing the fashion of the era: wide trouser legs and long hair. The eventual tipping point were the games of 1997.

The highly popular symbol of the tournament was mascot Jello, the fiery lion. The supply and sales of merchandise increased remarkably and the fan culture became more and more carnivalesque. The logo and other visual elements remained important on the official level, while Jello’s successors Finkey with a lightning mane in 2003, Hockey Bird in 2012 and the most recent Miracleo, who adorns Northern Lights colours, are more identifiable to the crowds.