The Ice Hockey World Cup will be played in the Czech Republic from 10 to 26. May. follows events in the app, website, Sports Screen and Sports Radio.
From Jukka Jalo can with good reason be called the Lion King of all time.
Jalonen, 61, has achieved everything in Leijon. He has won three world championships, Olympic gold, but also the under-20 world championship.
Although even successful teams have to renew themselves, Jalonen leaves a big dent in Leijon. He is especially remembered for the usual game advantage for unnamed teams, but also for the excellent atmosphere.
Sports expert Ismo Lehkonen reminds me that in addition to the way of playing, Jalonen leaves a good legacy of team building and team spirit.
– All the players who came to Leijon have been able to throw away the pressure of the club team, says Lehkonen.
Stress-free and fun atmosphere
Lehkonen summarizes that the players in the club team have had to carry the team’s success on their shoulders. At Leijon, however, everyone has had the chance to be “one of the boys”.
– They have been able to enjoy the fact that taking good care of their own window as well as possible is always enough. Decisive players always emerge from somewhere else, here and there.
In Leijon, a long time is spent in camps and at the World Cup. According to the expert, however, the players have been able to enjoy themselves, because Jalonen has not succumbed to over-coaching.
– The players have been able to be in a stress-free and fun atmosphere without any apparent moments of mental stress. They have enjoyed their free time and their own stay. Forcing and overtraining have not been present.
A star striker, for example, has spoken publicly about the matter Teemu Hartikainenwho went fishing in Tampere on the intermission day of the 2022 Games.
– The fact that it’s fun in Leijon and everything is done seriously when playing, but otherwise you can enjoy yourself and do your own thing, is the biggest reason why after a long season you still manage to go to the World Cup, Hartikainen told a year ago.
With the future in mind
Lehkonen also appreciates Jalos in terms of considering the future. Although Jalose has her last dance ahead of her, she is probably also thinking about the future.
Leijon has several first-timers and young players in these games.
– Jukka may have wanted to leave a new legacy to the next coaches. He has brought with him the yellow pickets, who will have to bear the lion’s share of responsibility for many, many races in the future.
After achieving the Finnish championship in HPK in 2019 Antti Pennanen jumps behind the Lions bench, he has the toughest boots to fill.
The first touchstone is very possible when Pennanen pilots the Lions in the top tournament between Canada, the United States, Sweden and Finland in February 2025. The world’s best players from the NHL hockey league will be there.
According to the NHL’s decision, the top players will also return to Olympic ice hockey at the Milan Games a year later. Because of these decisions and the commotion surrounding Pennanen, Lehkonen has considered whether Jalonen should continue as coach.
– Now there has been quite a lot of spillage and Pennane has got quite a lot of dirty water. Things have also changed now that the NHL players are at the Olympics, Lehkonen explains.
– When there has been a negative atmosphere, should we take an extra time and let Juka bang until the Olympics? Pennanen would be involved so that the transition phase would be quite easy.
Lehkonen refers to the handshake scandal surrounding Pennanen. He left Ilves as head coach without shaking hands with KalPa’s team and coaching after the lost quarter-final series.
Pennanen first apologized and stated that the incident was an accident. In his comments, he referred to the fact that he did not remember the League’s handshake practice.
Later Pennanen said to MTV Urheilu that he received a strong recommendation to skip handshakes because of the threats he received. Managing director Risto Jalo said to Ilta-Sanomthat neither the club nor its security personnel had given or heard about the recommendation.
According to Lehkonen, in any case, Pennanen accepts the challenge in a really difficult place.
– It’s not an easy place to become a head coach, Lehkonen concludes.
The Ice Hockey World Cup will be played in the Czech Republic from 10 to 26. May. follows events in the app, Urheilu’s website, Urheilurutu and Urheiluradio. The Lions will face Britain in their next match on Sunday, May 12. at 1:20 p.m.