The under-20 ice hockey world championships ended just a few days ago, but the new championships are already waiting in December. The preparation starts today, Thursday, at the training tournament of four countries in Rovaniemi.
17:23•Updated 17:34
Head coach of the Young Lions Tomi Lämsa was selected for the position in June and goalkeeper coach Pekka Rinne just a month ago. The new Young Lions team must be in full WC condition already after mid-December, when the plane takes off from Helsinki-Vantaa towards Canada.
Antti Pennanen coached by the under-20 national team, the World Cup tournament ended last weekend with silver. The preparation for the next World Cup tournament has already started, as Lämsä and Rinne are currently piloting the group in Rovaniemi, in the under-20 four-nation tournament.
– There is no time to waste. This is my first camp event in this job. I must say that it has been nice to be able to hold exercises and meetings. It has been longed for, says head coach Tomi Lämsä.
Former NHL top goaltender Pekka Rinne closely observes the players on the rink of Rovaniemi’s Lappi Areena. The goalkeeping coach’s job is the first task after an active career, and the experienced Rinne emphasizes the role of goalkeepers in, for example, the recently concluded World Cup.
– The competition was of a very high standard. Finland used two goalkeepers and both were top of the tournament and in the end took Finland to the final with their saves, Rinne recalls.
Pekka Rinne tries to give tips
Rinne sees his own role in the camps more on the mental side, because the most important work for the team’s field players and goalkeepers is done in the clubs.
After the camp in Rovaniemi and the training tournament, the team gets to gather only once in November before the World Championships. Then there are training matches and a camp in the Czech Republic. During the fall, the coaching staff watches the players’ highlights on video and goes around closely following them before the final selections are made.
– My role in the national team is perhaps more on the mental side, where I can give tips through my own experience, which I have gained, says Rinne.
Topias Leinonen is one of the three goalkeepers participating in the training and tournament camp in Rovaniemi. He is a second round pick of the Buffalo Sabres.
The young goalkeeper states that there is a lot of competition in the goalkeeper department for a place in the team, but otherwise we help others and blow on the same coal. Several players are already familiar from previous youth national teams. The advice of the ex-Nashville goalkeeper is listened to carefully.
– He can certainly bring a lot. Pekka Rintee has a great career as a player and I have watched a lot of his games myself. It certainly brings a lot of professionalism to my work, believes Topias Leinonen
More than 80 NHL observers will arrive in Rovaniemi
Players born in 2003–2004 are nominated for the Young Lions team. According to Tomi Lämsä, about seven players from the silver team of the World Championships in August are candidates for the World Championships at the turn of the year. In addition to Leinonen, the Finnish team has several players reserved for the North American league, some of them first round reservations.
Head coach Tomi Lämsä’s coaching assignment is his first in the national team. Lämsä plans to bring the culture of winning to the team and the things it requires. Without forgetting the traditions of Finnish ice hockey.
– Of course, discipline and speed are required for playing five-a-side, but that is the strength of Finnish hockey, and countries from Europe are following hard and they want to learn from Finland all the time.
The tournament of four countries in Rovaniemi is an important showcase for young players for the under-20 national team, but also further into the future. More than 80 NHL player scouts will arrive in Rovaniemi to map the stars of the future. In addition to Finland, Sweden, Slovakia and the Czech Republic will participate in the tournament.
– There are certainly three tough games coming up. My skating skills are good and I bring more strength to attacks. The passing game is also a big strength for me, thinks the defender of the Young Lions about his strengths Otto Salin At Lappi Arena in Rovaniemi.