Juuso Hietanen told Sports immediately after the World Cup final that his career in the national team will end in this world championship.
The audience was still in a state of disbelief and enchantment. The Lions had just won the World Cup in Hockey after incredible stages.
Gold medals had been awarded. Then the captain Valtteri Filppula raised the winning trophy to his straight hands and set out to circle the trough alone. It was a moment in Finnish hockey history. Never before has any Finn succeeded in achieving a magical triple, ie winning the Stanley Cup, Olympic gold and the world championship.
The team of lions naturally allowed Filppula to keep the trophy for a long time. After that came the turn of the others. Usually the protocol of the victory celebration goes so that the trophy is passed from the captain to the vice captains. Now the formula was changed.
Hietanen told Sport that he was “guilty” of changing the order of norms Marko Anttila.
– In fact, it went so that Anttila’s “Stretsi” told me that you would then go next to pick up the python. It was a great gesture from him. It was great to lift the trophy, Hietanen said.
What moved in your mind when you realized you were the second to lift the jug?
– Proud to be a part of this team.
What do you think says you wanted to do that kind of tribute?
– Certainly that some national team game has now been played.
Is the National Team career still going on, or was it here now?
– Wasn’t it here? Yes, it must have been here. It’s been a really great season, Olympic gold and now this.
Surely there is no better way to quit on the national team than this one?
– Yeah, sure. I am happy and proud of all the guys.
So it was with Filppula after the game. And especially proud of Hietanen.
– Juuso has such a great career, an insane number of national team games, something like a third. It was a wonderful moment to give him a shot.
Did you know that Hietanen’s National Team career ended here?
– Oh, yes. I did not know. It told you first. But what a great way to finish on the national team.