The first broadcast of the ice hockey round will be heard on September 13 on Puhee and Areena. The round of six matches will be followed from 17:45.
The ice hockey championship league starts on September 12, when Lukko meets HPK. Urheilu asked the captains who participated in the opening ceremony of the series on Monday for their views on their own team, tackle play, favorite opponents and the number of teams.
Especially returning to the SM league after 14 seasons Leo Komarov collected mentions when the captains were asked which of the opponents is the best chatterbox in the rink.
The tackling game is still in vogue, according to the captains. Many thought the current number of teams was good, but the instructions given by the SM league could have influenced the answers.
Read more: Did the SM league try to silence the players? The boss of the players’ association talks about the captains’ contacts after the heated media conference
Ilari Melart, HIFK
IFK wins the championship because…
We have a great team ready to do a lot of work.
Has Tackling gone out of fashion?
I do not think so. I hope not.
What is the appropriate number of teams for the SM league?
14 probably. The current one works, but it would probably be ideal. We’ll come back to those later.
Which of the opponents is the best talking club in the rink?
There won’t be much to talk about now, but for example about those present here Jessen of Joensuu you can twist with. A couple of words may be exchanged there.
Who is IFK’s special man?
Yes, there are several great personalities in the team. Leo Komarov, Kristian Vesalainen, Jori Lehterä… it’s hard to choose one. Let’s take “Leksa”, if we have to choose.
Juuso Hietanen, HPK
HPK wins the championship because…
We are brave.
Has Tackling gone out of style?
No. Isn’t it coming back a bit?
What is the appropriate number of teams for the SM league?
15.
Which of the opponents is the best talking club in the rink?
Komarov’s “Leksa”. He is a relatively familiar man. He has a good mouth and does well in different languages.
Who is the special man on your team?
Ossi Ikonen. Everything about him is special. He has that woodsman style.
Niklas Friman, Ilves
Ilves wins the championship because…
We play really fast and active puck.
Has Tackling gone out of style?
A little bit of a different style of tackling, which has been used in previous years, but yes, we still tackle.
What is the appropriate number of teams for the SM league?
This is a good one to start with. It’s a debate that’s happening in other circles.
Which of the opponents is the best talking club in the rink?
Let’s say that Teemu from Turunen. Teemu is probably trying to tell fish stories.
Who is Ilves’ special man?
Juuso Könönen in a good sense. Nice guy and great stories. It’s fun to watch everyday life.
Pekka Jormakka, Jukurit
Continue the sentence: The Jukurs win the championship because…
They have the best team. An undefeated team with a good spirit and a hard-working crew. The gang is full of top guys.
Has Tackling gone out of style?
No way. Tackle will always be in fashion.
What is the appropriate number of teams for the SM league?
I don’t know, it will be decided by the bigger management, we will focus on playing.
Which of the opponents is the best talking club in the rink?
In the next season, there will probably be quite a lot of twists and good things with Leo Komarov.
Who is the special man on your team?
Markus Oden. He’s got momentum going. It happens in the booth and on the field. It’s worth following up.
Robert Rooba, JYP
JYP wins the championship because…
We have the most united team.
Has Tackling gone out of style?
Is not.
What is the appropriate number of teams for the SM league?
15.
Which of the opponents is the best talking club in the rink?
Hopefully Leo Komarov this year. Let’s go through the best sights in Estonia at least first.
Who is JYP’s special man?
Severi Lahtinen. He can do things on the ice that many people can’t even imagine in their own brains that he could do with a puck on skates.
Otto Paajanen, KooKoo
KooKoo wins the championship because…
We have the best team.
Has Tackling gone out of fashion?
Is not.
What is the appropriate number of teams for the SM league?
Probably the current one.
Which of the opponents is the best talking club in the rink?
Petteri Nikkilän and Markus Nenonen comes with… Nenonen is always throwing something and asking for news. Nikkilä then asks about different news, maybe announces things in a friendly way.
Who is KooKoo’s special man?
Arttu Ilomäki. He will have interesting and funny stuff.
Julius Mattila, Lukko
Lukko wins the championship because…
We are fast and aggressive in a fresh way.
Has Tackling gone out of fashion?
No. It may be reported much more today than before, but yes, it is still in fashion. It’s a very important part of hockey to get the guy off the puck.
What is the appropriate number of teams for the SM league?
I think we are pretty close to the optimum. It’s not up to me, so let’s go with the current one.
Which of the opponents is the best talking club in the rink?
Räsänen’s Apple. Good things will be thrown with him. Aapel has a pretty wide selection of all kinds of stuff. We have a long history together, so there will be all sorts of chatter.
Who is the special man on your team?
Reunanen Tarmo. He has all kinds of tricks on and off the ice.
Miika Roine, Pelicans
The Pelicans will win the championship because…
We work hard day after day.
Has Tackling gone out of fashion?
It’s not, but the game has changed so much that it doesn’t always make sense to tackle.
What is the appropriate number of teams for the SM league?
15.
Which of the opponents is the best talking club in the rink?
Valtteri Kemiläinen. He’s a good guy. It usually happens that he warns, for example, before the starting situation, that there is going to be a crash. Then I go and try to block it.
Who is the special man on your team?
Aatu Jämsen. Everyone can surely see from his habit that he is a very special man.
Miska Siikonen, SaiPa
SaiPa wins the championship because…
We have a new coming underway.
Has Tackling gone out of style?
I hope not.
What is the appropriate number of teams for the SM league?
This is good for now.
Which of the opponents is the best talking club in the rink?
Jesse Joensuu, because he is from Pori.
What is the most beautiful thing Joensuu has said to you?
Well, people from Pori can’t really talk. There is no single sentence.
Who is SaiPa’s special man?
Hugo Rikkilä. He is such a special kind of guy that if you follow him for even a minute, you don’t need any more explanations.
Sebastian Stålberg, Sport
Sport wins the championship because…
We have really good players.
Has Tackling gone out of style?
Tackles have their place.
What is the appropriate number of teams for the SM league?
15.
Which of the opponents is the best talking club in the rink?
Perhaps Juhani Jasu. I played with him in TPS last year. He’s a good guy.
Who is Sport’s special man?
I do not know. We may not have one. We are all ordinary.
Otto Rauhala, Tappara
Tappara wins the championship because…
We have the best team.
Has Tackling gone out of style?
No way.
What is the appropriate number of teams for the SM league?
10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Which of the opponents is the best talking club in the rink?
Opponents’ captains. Sometimes you have to mess with the judges a bit, and sometimes there are really good, even humorous things.
Who is Tappara’s special man?
Brother Matti Savinainen. He’s a lifestyle tycoon in a good way. He has some special things. Let’s leave them… I don’t know if he has a book coming out, he’ll probably tell you himself.
Juhani Jasu, TPS
TPS wins the championship because…
TPS has the most united team.
Has Tackling gone out of style?
No.
What is the appropriate number of teams for the SM league?
A really bad question. I can not say. This season it is 15.
Which of the opponents is the best talking club in the rink?
Brother Matti Savinainen. He has the best stuff. I can’t give an example.
Who is the special man on your team?
Petrus Palmu. He is a special man in every way.
Jesse Joensuu, Aces of Pori
Aces win the championship because…
We have an incredible home crowd.
Has Tackling gone out of fashion?
Absolutely not. I think Tackling improved last season.
What is the appropriate number of teams for the SM league?
12.
Which of the opponents is the best talking club in the rink?
Henrik Haapala and Petri Kontiola were last year… let’s say now Antti Pilhström. He is quite relaxed and experienced, shared history.
Who is Ace’s special man?
Aces’ special man is Valtteri Viirret. He’s an extraordinary person when a guy like him can make it to a professional team.
The first broadcast of the ice hockey round will be heard on September 13 on Puhee and Areena. The round of six matches will be followed from 17:45.