Pentti Matikainen, who recently turned 74, was practically a bed patient for half a year.
Former head coach of the Finnish men’s national ice hockey team Pentti Matikainen got sick According to MTV to brain cancer.
Matikainen, who turned 74 last Saturday, tells MTV that he was diagnosed with brain lymphoma last February. He has six hospital stays behind him and practically half a year as a bed patient.
MTV writes that Matikainen has recovered in the last couple of months physically to almost the same. The cancerous tumor was also not visible during the last treatment period. MTV says that the forecast is “reasonable”.
Matikainen coached Leijon in 1987–1993. Led by Matikainen, the Lions won their first Olympic medal, silver in Calgary 1988.
Finland also achieved its first World Cup medal under Matikainen. In Prague in 1992, the journey grabbed a silver medal.
Matikainen had a long career in hockey. He also coached HIFK in the SM league, among others, and later served as the club’s CEO.
In addition, Matikainen served, among other things, as Ässie’s player coordinator and as chairman of the board in both Joensuu Jokipoj and Lahti Pelicans.