More European goalkeepers are playing in the NHL than ever before. Still, there are even fewer Finnish goalkeepers with responsibilities. Colorado Avalanche goalkeeper coach Jussi Parkkila hopes the problem will be tackled as soon as possible.
Samu Saatsi,
Riku Salminen
13.3. 17:21 • Updated March 13. 17:22
The flow of Finnish top-class hockey goalkeepers has begun to stagnate in recent years. Although Juuse Saros of Nashville Predators in the NHL, for example, is one of the best goalkeepers in the series, the top years seen by Finnish guards in the 2000s and 2010s are now far away.
Currently in the NHL, in addition to Saros, the number one goalkeeper in his team refers to the position of St. Louis Blues Ville Husso. At least in part, Edmonton Oilers bear a great deal of responsibility for control Mikko Koskinen as well as Minnesota Wild Kaapo Kähkönen.
More European goalkeepers play in the NHL than ever before. However, this season a total of ten Finns have been seen in the NHL match at the mouth. One of them, Tuukka Raskalso recorded an end to his career.
– If we continue in this way, will we exist in the future? If there have already been more than a dozen first foreign guards in our own main series in the last two seasons, where can we dig our new horns and huss? Because if this can’t be changed urgently, we have a really bad situation ahead of us, Parkkila assesses after ‘s morning ice at ‘s NHL studio
– Going forward for about five years, we can have a really big problem already, where we can even get goal-scoring goals for the World Cup or the NHL. The situation is not good.
Russia learned the lessons of Finland
Parkkila marks the beginning of the darker era of Finnish goalkeeper coaching with the birth of the KHL League. The Russian clubs in particular were able to attract top Finnish goalkeeper coaches to work on their bread, which caused a goalkeeper training brain drain in Finland.
– The transition that took place ten years ago was certainly the biggest thing. I myself went to Russia to train among many others. The Finns took the know-how there, which the Russians themselves introduced. It is now visible to them, Russia has become several top goalkeepers and will continue to do so, Parkkila describes the change.
Parkkila points out that there are, of course, more Russian goalkeepers than Finns.
– Still, we in Finland are also certainly doing something wrong, because we have not become simple thugs that meet the dimensions of an international top watchman.
One of the bad things in Parkkila’s opinion is the distortion of the age distribution of the A and B youth series in a clearly younger direction than even ten years ago.
– It’s like a snowball. When really young guys play in the youth leagues, other young guys get into the upper leagues. This is a bad situation for Finnish hockey, he describes.
Modern goalkeeper
According to Jussi Parkkila, what is the top goalkeeper at the international level?
– I think Juuse Saros is a perfect example of the kind of expertise that is required. Although he is smaller in size, he has a superior “computer” in his head all the time. He understands his own strengths and weaknesses well, and recognizes game situations accordingly. It’s a pleasure to watch, Parkkila describes.
The Colorado goalkeeper coach himself says that he studied the aspects of Saros’ style of play and tried to teach them to his own goalkeepers. Especially also smaller Pavel Francouz has been able to observe the Finnish gambling.
– That is, the head guard’s top knob must be really good. In today’s fast-paced NHL, the goalkeeper must be able to react to the game and skillful opponents. It takes precedence, after which the way the goalkeeper moves upright and on ice stands out. Technology is important because through it he is able to perform well at all times.
According to Parkkila, Saroskin has taken further steps in these areas. At the same time, the Finnish goalkeeper has set an example and adds faith to smaller guards that they can do well in the NHL.
Pennanen: “We have already reacted”
It can be concluded from Parkkila’s speeches that the change in Finnish goalkeeping coaching must start at the grassroots level in Finland. Although many top coaches are active abroad, creating a new generation of top Finnish guards is not an impossible burden.
Head coach of the Finnish national team under the age of 20 and working as a top sports director in the hockey association Antti Pennanen says that the situation of Finnish goalkeepers has been taken into account and a response has begun.
– These changes are longer-term processes, in which we then see what is going to happen. We are aware of this situation and we have already responded to it. There is a lot of expertise abroad and the global competition is currently fierce on the side of the goalkeepers, they have certainly managed to copy us in it, Pennanen estimates.
– It is worrying how many foreign goalkeepers play in our men’s main series. And most of all, that they are already number one in the youth series. We are working hard to improve the situation.
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