Timo Koskela, director of sports for Ilves, says that the team’s head coach Antti Pennanen kept the club up-to-date while negotiating the position of the national team’s head coach with the Ice Hockey Federation.
Antti Pennanen the head coach’s term in Ilves ends after the current season, when he becomes the new head coach of the A national ice hockey team. Sports director of Ilves Timo Koskelan according to Pennanen’s possible national team defeat was already a topic of discussion when Pennanen negotiated the contract with Ilves.
The 44-year-old coach had a contract with Ilves until next season.
– We talked that if the position of Leijoni’s head coach becomes relevant and Antti Pesti is wanted, he will be able to do it without a doubt, Koskela sheds light on the discussions with Pennanen.
CEO of the Finnish Ice Hockey Association Sami Kauhanen says that the Swedish Ice Hockey Federation is not obliged to compensate Ilves for Pennanen’s departure. The Ice Hockey Association has agreed and negotiated issues mainly with Pennanen.
– At that point, when the process progressed, I was naturally in contact with Ilves, says Kauhanen.
Koskela emphasizes that possible compensation issues between Ilves and Pennanen due to premature termination of the contract are internal to the club. The director of sports states that Pennanen has kept Ilve up to date on the progress of the situation throughout the selection process of the Ice Hockey Federation. According to Koskela, things progressed quickly in the end, during the last week or so.
– It’s a great sign that Ilves has the opportunity to move on as a coach. This has been a fair game in all respects without any bumps in the road, Koskela says about the selection process from the club’s point of view.
Jalonen was not making a choice
Kauhanen says he is satisfied with the progress of the selection process. In addition to him, the selection was being made by the GM of the national team Jere Lehtinen as well as another player legend Saku Koivu.
Lions head coach Jukka Jalonen was not involved in the process after the initial phase, according to Kauhanen.
– Jukka was involved in the initial phase, when we were thinking about who would be potential alternatives for the job. When the process actually started, Juka no longer had a role, says Kauhanen.
He does not want to reveal how many candidates there were in total for the position. Kauhanen says that the trio’s decision was very unanimous.
– Each party presented their point of view, and we had a fundamental discussion, says Kauhanen about the selection process.
Koskela is happy that the association’s decision on the head coach of Leijoni came so quickly. Ilves has plenty of time to react before next season, when the club is considering Pennanen’s successor.
– Now Antti and the team also get peace of mind, says Koskela.
The lynx does not see threatening images
Kauhanen praises Lehtis and Koivu for the smoothness of the selection process. He says the trio did a careful job. The 51-year-old CEO is very satisfied that Pennanen is the next head coach of the national team.
Kauhanen praises, among other things, Pennanen’s deep understanding of the game and its future requirements.
– He has proven himself to be a successful coach both in series and in tournament competition. In addition, his way of handling the players and his management approach to the management team are convincing, Kauhanen analyzes the head coach who will start next year.
Koskela says that Ilves is really satisfied with the work done in Pennanen’s company. The choice to be the head coach of the national team shows what level of coach the club still has this season.
The Tampere club believes that Pennanen’s national team defeat will only have positive effects on the team’s performances during the rest of the season.
– Don’t all the players want to convince the next head coach of the national team, so that he will have a good image of them, Koskela thinks.
He says that Ilves has a precise plan for choosing Pennanen’s successor. There are no exact time frames for making a choice. The club does not want to rush, but to find the most suitable option as head coach.
– The solution can come quickly or it can take time, we don’t want to fuss, Koskela stresses.