KalPa, who missed out on the playoffs last season, starts its season in the SM league today on Wednesday. Head coach Tommi Miettinen is satisfied with the preparation for the series.
Jukka Eskanen,
Helmi Nykänen
KalPa from Kuopio is aiming for a playoff spot in the hockey SM league. Last spring was a disappointment for KalPa, when the team’s season ended with a losing streak and a place in the playoffs remained a dream.
KalPa starts its season today, Wednesday, when SaiPa from Lappeenranta arrives as a guest in Niiralan Monttuu. The head coach Tommi Miettinen KalPa has had a good autumn.
– We have gone through the game on a fast schedule and have been moving it forward piece by piece all the time. The new players have adapted really well to our team. A positive, expectant spirit is present.
Borrowed from disappointment for this season
Miettinen is now in his fourth season at the helm of the team. KalPa was last held at Mitali in the spring of 2017, i.e. more than five years ago. After last season, both KalPa fans and the team are thirsty for success.
– It was disappointing for us, and a few new things have been borrowed from it for this season. That’s a strength going into this season. We are able to start with a head start compared to a year ago, says Miettinen.
According to Miettinen, especially Tappara and Kärpät are fighting for the league championship.
– They work with huge budgets and really high-quality player material. They have pre-favorite pressures, as it should be.
Young goalkeeper promise full of enthusiasm
One of the favorites of the Savolai puck audience is the team’s captain, a 35-year-old forward Tuomas Kiiskinen. According to him, this season the streak of losses must be stopped in the bud.
– Last season, there were a little too many longer ones, when we lost a lot of games and played quite poorly. When the game is in full swing, we can handle anyone.
One of KalPa’s young future names is a 20-year-old goalkeeper Juha Jatkola. He played great in the fall at the World Junior Championships. He is waiting for the start of the series full of enthusiasm.
The promising goalkeeper from Leppävirta challenges the Czech goalkeeper Matej Machovkyn.
– Hopefully there will be more games than last season, that is the starting point. But that playing time doesn’t come for free. Hopefully, there will be healthy competition between the two goalkeepers, then it will definitely improve everyone, Jatkola states.
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