Kimmo Kuhta, a good friend and former teammate of Mikael Granlund, praises the vice captain’s leadership at key moments.
30.5. 01: 01 • Updated May 30th. 01:13
Mikael Granlund became one of the greatest heroes of the Lions World Championship. Granlund scored two goals and gave the first pass Sakari Mannisen 4 to 3 wins in extra time.
A good friend of Granlund Kimmo Kuhta followed an exciting World Cup final on the home couch. According to Kuhda, the match once again saw Granlund be able to perform at a high level in the toughest place.
– He wants challenges, to face hard places, and to be good then. Again, it was seen that when it came to a hard place and really a situation where you have to be able to do your best, he pulled the bar even higher in terms of what he was doing, Kuhta admires.
– Great betting throughout the tournament and crowned the final game. He was quite a kunkuna in the field. An incredible game, Kuhta continued.
Granlund has become a reliable two-way center in the NHL in recent years. Kuhta points out that Granlund were the first to reach the corner kick, but their header was blocked by the keeper.
– The season was short in Nashville and he felt that there was power in the body. He came to the World Cup and really didn’t just play, but wanted to come lead in a big role and really show how good a player he is.
– Really tough tournament. Immediately from the first game, he showed leadership, direction and example to the entire team. Even in this final, a huge draw.
The World Cup gold was Granlund’s second career. He achieved the first one in the spring of 2011 together Petteri Nokelaisen with. At that time, Nokelainen hit the Swedish net with a 2-1 victory goal.
– Granlund played a great tournament again. “Mikke” plays great every time he puts on a Finland shirt. The passing and playing skills are great, but he is also cold-headed. He was already a young gentleman, and has not lost anything. He does not squeeze the racket in a tight spot, but sets out to solve the games, Nokelainen admires.
Nokelainen praises the Lions tournament as great. He is also excited to recall the change in Finnish hockey culture. According to Nokelainen, Finland may have been the team that put pressure and control, but still always lost. Today, Finland is able to turn games into victory.
– In recent years, it has happened that Finland has learned to win. If you think about this match too, then Canada played a great game. Finland was even on its feet, but it got through through the Canadian coolers, Nokaleinen says.
Jukka Jalonen was the head coach of the Lions when Finland won the second world championship in its history in 2011. Since then, Jalonen has won two adult world championships, one Olympic gold and one youth world championship.
– It is no coincidence that Finland is doing so well. Jukka Jalonen is a great coach and he has also developed along the way. The years have brought the same confidence to the player. With the victories, he has gained peace of mind and self-confidence in being able to trust what he is doing, Nokelainen says.