Jukka Jalonen’s contract as head coach of the Lions has been extended until 2024. The second consecutive home games and a possible World Cup in the winter of 2024 lie ahead.
The head coach Jukka Jalonen has signed an extension contract with the Finnish men’s national ice hockey team until spring 2024. The Norwegian Ice Hockey Association announced this in its press release.
Jalonen, 60,’s new contract includes the Tampere spring 2023 and Prague spring 2024 World Championships, as well as a possible World Cup in winter 2024.
– This is a good place to work and the national team has the right kind of buzz. We always have a chance to succeed when we go to value tournaments, which is thanks to the skilled players and the committed, extremely professional management team, says Jalonen in the press release.
– The possible World Cup is also naturally of interest to me as a coach.
Jalonen is the Lions’ most successful head coach of all time. He has three World Cup gold medals and Beijing Olympic gold in his trophy case.
– Along with the A national team, Jukka does extensive work for the whole of Finnish hockey. This work is not necessarily visible from the outside, but it has a huge importance in the whole of Finnish ice hockey, the chairman of the Jääkieksoliito Harri Nummela praises.
As before, Jalonen’s new contract has an NHL clause. Jalonen’s previous contract was valid until 2023 and included a mutual option for the 2023–24 season.