The Young Lions will face Canada in their opening match. The head coach believes that Finland will be able to respond to the high intensity.
GOTHENBURG. Unlike before, the Young Lions were able to spend Christmas under the World Youth Championship in Finland.
Finland played two training games in Sweden last week, but returned to Finland for Christmas. The head coach Lauri Mikkola has said that he believes that spending Christmas in Finland will bring new energy to the team mentally.
On Christmas Day, the team had enough events, because it traveled from Helsinki to Gothenburg in the morning, had lunch at the hotel and was practicing on the ice of the Scandinavium arena, which serves as the main stage, a few hours after the plane landed.
– The pace was very good. We had a tight training session behind us, we’ve been off the ice for a couple of days and traveled, so this was a bit short, sharp ice, head coach Lauri Mikkola inches for Urheilu.
Finland beat Slovakia 5–1 and the Czech Republic 4–1 in their practice games last week. In the opening game of the Games on Tuesday, the opposition will be considerably tougher, as reigning world champion Canada will skate against them.
Canada is chomping at the bit for the NHL’s first-round draft picks. The most interesting name is Povatva as the number one reservation for next summer Macklin’s Celebriniwho avoided suspension after tackling Switzerland Leo Brailliard in a practice match.
– It’s great to get started right away against the reigning world champion. It will probably be a really fast-paced and high-intensity game. We are ready to answer that, Mikkola assured.
Mikkola thinks it’s a good thing that Finland gets to measure its level right away against Canada. He expects that the Young Lions will also show their own identity.
– That is probably the biggest goal. When we get that (identity) visible, there will be a very smooth and hard twist.
Chosen as the captain of the Young Lions Jere Lassila describes the team’s state of mind as good after the trip. Lassila’s eyes were already on winning Canada.
– We are going to play with our own strengths and thereby control the game. That also brings victory and that’s why we’re here. That’s the biggest goal for Tuesday.
The JYP center sees it as a good thing that Finland will get to see their game against Canada right away.
– I think it’s good that we can immediately see where we’re going. Then we know what needs to be developed and what works. It’s a good start for us.
Urheilu follows the games closely in the application and on its website. Moods are also conveyed on Urheilurutu and Urheiluradio. The match program can be found here.