JYP in Jyväskylä has been constantly in the headlines of various Finnish sports media this SM league season. The club, which is celebrating its centenary, has been in trouble on the side of the rink, but the biggest talking points have come from outside.
The head coach Jukka Rautakorvin surprising sackings, which were preceded by the club boss Jukka Seppänen gameplay delay. The JYP supporters’ protest and then a complete turnaround after the meeting with the club. Finally a star player Sami Nikun desire to leave the club. There have been enough twists and turns.
Read more about the twists and turns of JYP’s season: Comment: Startling timeline! This is how JYP turned its 100th anniversary celebration into a worthless and embarrassing spectacle
In terms of gameplay, JYP has at least temporarily gotten out of the worst slump. Before Saturday’s SaiPa match, JYP had already recorded a two-match budding winning streak. However, the Lappeenranta residents, who are league jumbos, took full points from Jyväskylä on Saturday with a score of 2–1.
The head coach was washed to replace Rautakorvi Mikko Heiskanen states that the team has gained more self-confidence “when the turbulence has now been stopped”.
– In the end, I’ve had to go through the spectrum of emotions myself quite a bit lately. We have had a very good working atmosphere with the team, even though the situation has been what it has been, Heiskanen said in an interview with Urheilu before the SaiPa game.
– We have gained strength from what is written outside. We don’t follow it terribly, but of course we can’t run away from them either. My emotional state has even been surprisingly calm, he says.
JYP has been in the tight rotation of the media mill. According to Heiskanen, however, what has been said or written in the media has not bothered him. According to his words, he cannot influence the headlines of newspapers, only his own work.
– On the contrary. The things that happened in the media have fed us and we have gained strength from it. Of course, it can also be seen that when you go to the store, people look a little there and giggle in the background. It has become a bit of a new thing, as I came into this role quickly.
However, sleepless nights have also been seen.
– Work always comes to sleep, whether it’s a cottage renovation, for example. That’s also stressful, this is the same way, Heiskanen says.
Captain: “Humour has remained in the booth the whole time”
In addition to the coaching leadership, things have happened in the captaincy as well. The letter C changed places for a new man Robert Rooban chest.
JYP’s new captain Teemu Eronen admits that there has been enough color in everything that happened. There is time for everything to happen, but the team spirit has been preserved surprisingly well.
– Considering the situation, it has been surprisingly good. Humor has remained in the booth the whole time. Faith has been tested, but it has still existed. I’m proud of that.
According to Eronen, the two wins took the pressure off.
– It has given oxygen to the locker room. The atmosphere was already released after Wednesday’s game (victory against Tappara), but on Thursday (victory against KooKoo) it was perhaps even more released. In one interview, I even said that the team is hungry and that our goals are somewhere else than where we are now.
According to him, the frustration with weak game performances has been clear.
– Sometimes it makes me a little angry. At the same time, however, you have to remember that this is a profession that we all really want to do. We are also good at our profession, but hard times like this are part of sports. This is what makes each of us grow.
However, the JYP captain emphasizes that the team has gone into every match with a good spirit. That’s why he still believes in the development of his team and that anything can happen during the remaining one third of the regular season.
The case of Sami Niku
The latest twist in the saga of the Jyväskylä people’s centenary season has been Sami Niku’s desire to leave the JYP shirt elsewhere.
Head coach Heiskanen dropped the defender out of the lineup against HIFK last week. After the match, according to Urheilu’s information, the player was not told the reason for being dropped from the rotation. Instead, after the game, the player received a message on his phone telling him not to come to the hall on Saturday.
Niku followed the instruction and therefore did not travel with the rest of the team to Mikkeli, where JYP lost its ninth consecutive match before the pipe broke.
According to Urheilu’s information, Niku has started negotiations on the possible cancellation of his contract with the club at the beginning of the week.
Read more about Niku’s situation: The commotion around star defender Sami Niku is swelling in Jyväskylä – the player wants out of the club!
What is rubbing the relationship between Sami Niku and JYP, head coach Heiskanen?
– I have nothing more to inform about the matter than what has been said before. You don’t get that from me, and it’s not my job. The club or the player will then come forward when it’s time, Heiskanen tells Urheilu directly.
– Everyone knows that it’s a top defender, it’s not about that at all. Everyone wants a player like him in their team, he would definitely be useful.
Captain Eronen says that Niku’s situation will also be reviewed in the locker room.
– Of course, the issue is discussed there as well. However, Sami is a big part of our team. It lives there in the background, but it’s not my job to make decisions about it. Time will tell what will happen.
Ylen Jääkiekkokierros followed the round live, you can listen to a summary of the round from the player below or from this link.
TPS–Lock 4–1 (0–0, 1–0, 3–1)
HPK–Kärpät vl. 2–3 (1–1, 1–0, 0–1, 0–0, 0–1)
Ilves–HIFK 3–1 (1–1, 0–0, 2–0)
Jukurit–Sport 4–1 (0–1, 3–0, 1–0)
KooKoo–KalPa 3–1 (1–0, 1–0, 1–1)
Pelicans–Tappara 4–2 (3–0, 0–2, 1–0)
JYP–SaiPa 1–2 (1–0, 0–0, 0–2)
Series table