HIFK’s first team was in top form against Ilves on Saturday. Jori Lehterä opened up to Urheilu about the background of the top-notch atmosphere.
HIFK’s number one chain Jori Lehterän management has had one of the hottest seasons in the SM league season.
On Saturday, it measured its superiority to Ilves by 49 points against the manufactured number one chain. HIFK’s chain showed its toughness when it bluntly defeated Ilves 4–0.
Iiro Pakarinen scored a hat trick and scored 3+1. Sentteri Lehterä, on the other hand, scored three goals. Pakarinen already increased his number of goals for the season to eleven.
– It has happened to go in with a pretty good percentage. Of course, there are some pretty great passes on the stage, and you only have to go for the goal. It’s my area and that’s where most of the goals have come from, Pakarinen tells Urheilu.
The head of the leaf does not freeze
However, Pakarinen does not want to talk about the flow state yet.
– Not quite yet. Yesterday was also a little more difficult game, so it wasn’t difficult to download for today. It has changed a bit. I haven’t received Flow yet.
Pakarinen praises both Lehtera and the third link of the chain, Kristian Vesalainen. Pakarinen sees that Lehterä is playing the best puck of his career.
– For sure. He’s a tough player. It’s getting old, but the leg doesn’t freeze and the head never does. It makes you fat quickly. Ukko is certainly in the best shape of his life, Pakarinen tunes in.
Hovinen brought peace to the rink
After this, 36-year-old Lehterä arrives at the interview in a high-spirited mood. He praises the one who saved the game with a clean sheet Niko from Hovwho came back from retirement to help HIFK.
– Yes, it brings (peace). I don’t know if he brings peace outside the rink, maybe more enthusiasm, Lehterä grins.
– He is an important guy for us. Glad you came.
On Friday, HIFK’s number one chain rose ahead of Ilves’ corresponding joker with a total of 50 points. Lehterä has scored 23 points, Vesalainen 15 and Pakarinen 12. According to Lehterä, the hard flight of the first chain is due, among other things, to tougher training.
– We are no longer young boys, but we have realized that even at an older age you can improve here. We wanted to put ourselves in the league properly, says Lehterä.
So have you become reasonable?
– I don’t know about myself, but Pakarinen has at least become reasonable, Lehterä says.
Young people keep young
Lehterä has previously said that he is in stronger shape than he has been in five years. In the summer, he tried to improve, among other things, his skating and speed characteristics.
So what is it about puck that attracts you so well that training is enjoyable and the game runs at an unprecedented level?
– Yes, this is a top job. What else would you do here but run around the hall. We work with younger people here, and that keeps me young, says Lehterä.
– I have tried to buy fashion clothes and contemporary clothes, so that time does not pass. I try to keep up with the spirit.
So what is today’s trend?
– It is the opposite of Komarov, Lehterä says and refers to the 37-year-old To Leo Komarov.
There is plenty to develop
HIFK leads the league. However, Lehterä is on top, because there is still a lot to improve in the team’s playing.
– We have scored (points) with teamwork, fighting, good finishing and the fact that “Pappi” (Hovinen) has been good at the goal.
– When we still get the joint game working. There is a long way to go and a lot that we can improve.
Anssi Ritari interviewed.
Paasi and Nättinen: 5 minutes to bundle up the topics of conversation of the Finnish lätka once a week. In this week’s episode, an expert Top Nättinen and editor Jussi Flagstone saw the grim difference between the top and the bottom of the SM league and threatened bankruptcies.