Mikko Rantanen and Ismo Lehkonen’s spat became a media incident in North America as well. The Colorado Avalanche’s head coach was the last to comment on the case.
Porina Urheilu’s hockey expert Ismo Lehkonen and NHL star forward Mikko Rantanen around continues.
Now the head coach of Rantanen’s Colorado Avalanche has commented on the matter Jared Bednar.
Rantanen himself also commented on the subject again and assured that his and his teammate Artturi Lehkonen things are fine, even though he was upset by Arttur’s Ismo father’s comments.
The row started when Lehkonen speculated in a story published by Urheilu on Monday, what could be the cause of Rantanen’s nine-match scoreless streak. He estimated that Rantase had a lot of “cat-crossings” in the summer and that he had to visit Helsinki a lot.
Rantanen, who was upset by Lehkonen’s statements, gave angry comments on the subject on Tuesday morning Finnish time, when he commented to the North American media about the victorious Calgary match. Rantanen ended his dry season in the match and scored 1+2.
– Actually, I got more energy from the fact that the father of one of the Finnish NHL players talked shit about me in the media, that I didn’t train last summer like in previous years. He made things up in his head, Rantanen said after the Flames game.
On Wednesday morning Finnish time, Avalanche pilot Bednar commented on the subject, but was not worried.
– I didn’t even know about it. I spoke with Miko today, a smiling Bednar told Guerilla Sports.
– My concern is that our players are on good terms. Mikko and Artturi are best friends. Mikko has already put the matter behind him and is ready to move on, Bednar summed up.
“It was about my professionalism being questioned”
Rantanen also commented on the matter to the North American media on Wednesday morning Finnish time. A reconciled Rantanen stressed that his relationship with teammate Artturi Lehkonen is fine.
– Me and Artturi have been friends for a long time. I love Arttur, he is a great teammate. There is no bad blood between us. I am ready to leave all this behind, Rantanen underlined.
– This was just about my professionalism being questioned and lies about what I did during the summer. This made me heat up. I didn’t like how my off-ice life was commented on.
Rantanen’s close circle told him about Ismo Lehkonen’s comments, the star himself does not closely follow what is written about him.
– I have no problem with my performances on the ice being commented on, analyzed or criticized. I completely understand this, because that is the job of journalists. It is not ok for me to have my private life commented on and lied to.
Ismo Lehkonen also commented on the storm that arose on Tuesday and elaborated on what he said.
– The summer is quite short, when there were playoffs and Mikko still came to the World Championships. I’m just speculating that with the number of minutes Miko played, the wall would have hit, because he’s had to hustle for everything. There have been running camp and other responsibilities, because of which he may not have had time to calm down enough, Lehkonen said on Tuesday.