Confirmation! Antti Pennanen as head coach of the Lions: “Dreams that are now coming true”

The Finnish Ice Hockey Federation has confirmed that Antti Pennanen is the next head coach of the Lions. He replaces in the task Jukka Jalonen, who will pilot Leijon until the end of this season. Pennanen will start as head coach after next spring’s World Championships in the Czech Republic.

Penna was considered the strongest candidate to succeed Jalonen for a long time.

The 44-year-old Pennanen’s contract in Leijon covers the seasons 2024–26 and includes an option for the season 2026–27. The contract is therefore a 2+1 model.

– It’s great that we quickly agreed on things with Pennanen and Ilves. The A national team will get an experienced and successful coach from Pennase, who knows the laws and operating environment of national team coaching from before, CEO of the Jääkieksoliitto Sami Kauhanen rejoices in the announcement.

Pennanen says in the press release that the future job as Leijoni’s head coach is a matter of honor.

– Being the head coach of the A national team and coaching at the Winter Olympics are both dreams that are now coming true. The task also includes a lot more: during the process, in addition to the game and sports, we talked a lot about social issues, which are important to me.

Ilves has to give up

Pennanen started as head coach of Ilves in the SM league in the fall of 2022. Now Ilves and Pennanen have terminated their contract for the 2024–2025 season.

– The role of head coach of the Lions is the most prestigious and most possible head coaching position in Finland. When we negotiated with Pennanen last fall, we agreed that when such an opportunity opens up, things can be negotiated and organized in cooperation, comment CEO of Ilves-Hockey Oy Risto Jalo.

Ilves sports director Timo Koskela says that from Ilves’ point of view, it was a good thing when the decision on Leijoni’s new head coach was made in such good time.

– Antti has kept us up-to-date on his part about the selection process for the Lions’ head coach. The club has a clear internal plan, according to which it will now move forward in its process of identifying the next head coach. Accordingly, Antti will have complete peace of mind to focus on finishing his work at Ilves in the 2023–2024 season.

In Ilves’ press release, Pennanen emphasizes that until next summer his focus is completely on what Ilves is doing, in the SM league and the CHL.

– My respect for Ilve is really great. The support and help given by the club during this process has been truly unique. We have a work in progress, which I want to finish as well as possible for my part.

This is how Pennanen’s career has progressed

At the beginning of his coaching career, Pennanen coached HPK’s B and A youths. Then he worked in the coaching teams of HIFK and KalPa.

Pennanen’s first head coaching job at the adult level was in Mikkelin Jukurei Mestis 2013–2016.

In 2016, Pennanen was Jalonen’s assistant coach when Nuoret Leijonat won gold at the World Championships at home.

Pennanen made his breakthrough in the 2018–19 season at the latest, when he sensationally piloted HPK to the Finnish championship.

Pennanen was part of Jukka Jalonen’s coaching team as an assistant coach in the A national team in the seasons 2018–2020.

Pennanen was the head coach of the Young Lions 2020–2022. In October 2022, Pennanen moved to Tampere as head coach of Ilves until 2025 with a continuous contract.

The new head coach was scouted by, among others, Jääkieksoliito CEO Sami Kauhanen and the lion icons Jere Lehtinen and Saku Koivu. Lehtinen is also Leijoni’s general manager.

Sports expert Top Nättinen pointed out that Pennanen has grown into the hockey coached by Jalonen.

– It would be silly if Jukka Jalonen’s tradition was completely lost. Finnish ice hockey has found a recipe for success under Jalonen. Now the generation is changing. They have grown into the framework of our game. The new coach will certainly bring changes and he must also bring them. However, Pennanen’s hockey is certainly very close to Jalos’s hockey. Pennanen has also watched Jalos very closely as a coach, Nättinen described.

‘s expert Ismo Lehkonen speculates that with the change of generation, Pennanen may also have to make changes to his playing. Lehkonen believes that Pennanen also currently sees the big picture in hockey.

– Pennanen is a smart guy who understands that hockey moves forward at a fast pace. He will try to find new advantages compared to other countries. Pennase even has the courage to try.

Read more: Antti Pennanen finds himself in a tight position as head coach of the Lions – Ismo Lehkonen hints at a big change