“It’s a new experience to be so superior” – Ismo Lehkonen was happy about the Women’s Lions’ successes on a wide front

Mothers versus daughters.

That’s how the Women’s Lions’ World Cup opener against France looked like in Brampton, Canada.

After three sets, Naisleijonat, playing for the first time in level block B of the World Hockey Championships, left the rink with a crushing 14–1 victory.

– The experienced players have played hard games and know what level it is, but the younger department needs attacking practice and goal-scoring practice. At least the statistics will remain for posterity. Everyone understands that self-confidence improves when you get results, Urheilu’s expert Ismo Lehkonen summed up Finland’s opening of the World Cup.

The Naisleijonat really got some goal-scoring and attacking practice. A total of 16 players from the Finnish team got points, the most efficient of them Petra Nieminen and Viivi Vainikka (2+2), Nelli Laitinen (1+3) and succeeded in the hat trick Jenniina Nylund.

The head coach Juuso Toivola rejoiced at fourteen hits.

– It was great to see that there were successes on every field. It was important for the start of the tournament. The opening match is always exciting and now it is successfully over. Our goal is to implement our way of playing and take home a victory one game at a time. This was a good start, it’s good to continue, Toivola commented.

Especially the triple chain led by Nylund was under attack in the match. Emilia Vesa struck powers 2+0 and Sofiana Sundelin accompanied with two assists.

– We played well with the chain together, there is good chemistry. We kept our level high throughout the game, even though the readings were what they were, Nylund acknowledged.

The level differences between the teams became clear already in the opening set, which Finland won 6–0. The experience was new for many players, at least at the international level.

– At the international level, Finland has hardly been able to play such matches. It’s a new experience to be this superior. I would say that it’s about individual mental preparation, that you can play tempo hockey at the maximum level, that you don’t go into gimmicks or slide. It’s like you have to block yourself all the time, Lehkonen saw.

– The female lions can’t help it now that they play in the B group. You have to play the games and get the most out of them. At least you get a lot of repetitions.

For the one who made his debut in goal for Finland To Sanni Ahola, 22, the match was not the easiest, even though there was almost no work – or precisely because of that. Ahola, who plays in the American university league, got in the way of the puck 11 times, but had to surrender once, when Estelle Duvin narrowed the game to 1-6 at the beginning of the second period.

Ahola described the match as the most difficult in his career.

According to Lehkonen, Ahola survived his WC debut with honors.

– Finland’s number one goalkeeper is the best in the world, but the coaching staff knew what kind of challenge was coming. That’s why it was smart to give the young goalkeeper World Cup experience. I think he coped with this very well, Lehkonen talked.

Awarded as the best goalkeeper of the autumn 2021 World Cup Anni Keisala arrived in Canada a little later than the rest of the team due to illness. He served as Finland’s reserve keeper at the opening of the World Cup.

The games continue on Friday

For the first time since last autumn’s World Cup disappointment, Finland fell to a lower level group. The female lions will still face Germany, Sweden and Hungary in the first group. The top three in Group B advance to the playoffs, while everyone from Group A advances to the quarterfinals.

– The pressure game will come sooner or later, Sweden will probably face first. Through the SHL teams, Sweden has pumped its own league close to professionalism, and Sweden is a tough challenge. It is worth moving up to the A group this year, because next year it can be difficult, Lehkonen predicts.

Next, the Women’s Lionesses will face Germany on Friday, who only managed to keep their place in the World Cup after the previous roughs. Lehkonen does not think that on Friday we will see a goal celebration like on Wednesday. Despite the crushing victory, Lehkonen also found room for improvement in Naisleijonien’s performance.

– This was the first start. Just increase the tempo, harder passes, takeovers don’t leak, challenging individual skills and direct puck to the goal from the corner. You just have to keep up the pace, Lehkonen said.