The U20 Men’s Ice Hockey World Championship will be held in Ottawa, Canada from December 26, 2024 to January 5, 2025.
Do you remember when Jukka Rautakorpi got a shoe in the middle of the junior world championships?
We lived the last moments of 2016. The games of the Young Lions in the tournament organized in Montreal had gone badly. At that time, the reigning world champion Finland had to go through the relegation playoffs, and head coach Rautakorpi was moved aside from his position before the qualifying games.
In the hockey association, the panic button was pushed to the bottom. At the same time, Rautakorve’s assistants were allowed to leave Rauli Urama, Alexander Barkov and Marko Ojanen. The large group of coaches were not fired To Tommi Niemelä and Aki Näykke.
An on-site expert at the games was promoted to head coach Jussi Ahokas. The episode was really extraordinary and strange in many ways.
Now, eight years later, he is coaching the Finnish under-20 national team Lauri Mikkola. He has worked in the position since summer 2023.
In last year’s games, Nuoret Leijonat lost the bronze match in an embarrassing way. Finland already led the game against the Czech Republic 5-2, but eventually lost 5-8. Criticism towards Mikkola and the team was naturally harsh. There were still no kicks.
On the fifth of January in 2025, there will be a completely different sound on the clock. Finland beat Sweden in the semi-final and advanced to the final of the World Junior Championships.
How did this happen? Few believed in the possibilities of the Finnish team before the start of the Games. Mikkola’s abilities as a coach were doubted even more.
“Let’s go and enjoy”
I claim that much of the success of the Young Lions can be summed up in one fleeting statement that Mikkola gave in an interview with TV5 before the match against Sweden.
– The team has a good atmosphere. Let’s just let go and enjoy, Mikkola said.
To some, it might sound like traditional slang, but it wasn’t.
Let’s go and enjoy.
Could the essence of the youth hockey World Cup be summed up any better?
No. In no way.
Mikkola has understood the most important thing. The beauty of ball sports is created when the game is given to the players. And we still give them permission to enjoy.
That is also the reason why I brought up that Rautakorve period in my comment. At that time, there were no less than 13 people in the management team of the Young Lions, seven of whom were coaches. So seven coaches in a junior team of over twenty players!
I remember how long the line of hockey influence Goran Stubb criticized – along with many others – at the end of 2016 the over-inflated coaching department. Stubb hoped In an interview with Ilta-Sanomithat he would never come across something similar again, and that “players should enjoy the tournament”.
So. Have.
Showtime
Finland’s semi-final game against Sweden turned into a huge thriller. No one who watched the match was left cold. Mittelö could very well have turned to its beloved western neighbor as well. In the third period, the game looked almost as if Sweden’s winning goal was just waiting to happen.
But ultimately it’s not about who wins the match, but about the players being allowed to play, enjoy and give back. That’s how we create experiential moments for the players and the audience.
That usually gives the best result. Don’t think about threats, but opportunities.
Nuoret Leijonat seized the opportunities and forgot the threats. Although Sweden stormed wildly throughout almost the entire last period and was still able to play with superiority in overtime, what Mikkola said before the game shined through the Finnish team’s performance throughout the match. Let’s go!
The essence of enjoying the game was best summed up by the brightest star of the Finnish team. Peter “Showtime” Rimpinenby far the best goalkeeper of the tournament, has clearly enjoyed every game, every moment, every save of the Games.
Without Rimpi, Nuoret Leijonat would not play in the World Cup finals. It should be obvious to everyone. It is equally clear where playing based on daring and enjoyment can lead the team.
And what happened behind the Finnish players’ bench when Benjamin Rautiainen sunk with his great insight in Sweden’s overtime?
Fortunately, the director of the TV show showed it to us!
Head coach Mikkola stood behind the wildly celebrating players, Tyyne calm. Light fist bumps for other coaches, that’s it. A face with basic readings, maybe a cautious smile on the lips.
The game is given to the players.
Let the players go and enjoy.
Urheilu closely follows the under-20 hockey world championships in the application and on its website. The atmosphere is also broadcast on Urheilurutu and Urheiluradio.