The CEO of the Ice Hockey League, Sami Kauhanen, says that the aim is to complete the application process for the head coach of the men’s national team as quickly as possible.
Jukka Jalonen will coach the Finnish men’s national ice hockey team next season, but the application process for a new head coach has already started. CEO of the Ice Hockey Association Sami Kauhanen told Urheilu that the first meetings have been held. They have mostly thought about what kind of coach is being sought.
According to Kauhanen, the association has done a lot of analysis this year after the youth, women’s and men’s competitions. The teams should be restored to a successful base, so in terms of the future of Suomi-kieko, we are thinking about who is the best option to implement this.
– The coach of the A national team plays a significant role in bringing the game’s identity and international observations from around the world to the youth national team as well, Kauhanen reminded.
The possibility of a foreign coach is not closed, as the association is looking for the best possible option to build the future.
– On the other hand, you have to remember that very rarely has a non-Finn been at the helm of the Finnish national team.
Looking for a coach on the open market
According to Kauhanen, one of the key issues is also what is the contract situation of the coach candidates at the moment. The union is aware that the coaches will be negotiating in the fall about the contracts from the 2024–25 season onward, so the union aims to move forward on the same schedule.
Kauhanen considers whether the Ice Hockey Association is ready to buy a coach under contract out of the contract a speculative question.
Such coaches would be, for example Jussi Tapola and Antti Pennanen, which became the favorites of ‘s experts in Leijon. Tapola has a contract with Bern in Switzerland until spring 2025, and Pennanen is tied to Ilves in Tampere for the same length of time.
– I assume that we will find an alternative that is not currently under contract with any club. This way, there is no need to have a discussion with the club about releasing the coach from his duties, Kauhanen said.
– The starting point is that we find a solution for a person who will be released next spring from the club team or from another position.
According to Kauhanen, it’s not worth talking about names yet, because the process has just started and the summer vacation season is on. The application process will not start properly until the end of July, and the date for naming the new head coach has not been locked.
In addition to the head coach, the Ice Hockey Association is also looking for a top sports/coaching director, as Jukka Jalonen will not continue in the position. According to Kauhanen, the processes are progressing in parallel and both recruits will be moved forward as quickly as possible.
– Surely there are the same people here thinking about where to find those candidates. I would see that they can be carried forward in parallel and find qualified people for both positions.