Juuso Toivola sees a clear improvement in his team’s EHT tournament results. Game-wise, this was the best event of the season, rejoices the head coach of the Women’s Lions.
The Finnish women’s national ice hockey team ended this season’s game on the EHT tour with a three-game winning streak, when Germany defeated the Czech Republic 4–0 on the final day of the tournament. The next real games for the Naisleijons will not be until April, when the World Cup tournament is played in the USA.
The female lions were painted by the captain Jenni Hiirikoski twice as well Nora Tulus and Julia Liikala. Keeper Tiia Pajarinen kept a clean sheet with 16 saves.
Finland opened the tournament with a loss to Sweden in the shootout, but then beat Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Germany. Compared to previous events of the season, the tournament was the best in terms of results and the head coach Juuso Toivolan for pleasure also in terms of games.
– An intact tournament, an intact entity. The penalty shootout loss in the first match left a dent in the tooth, but in terms of play this was the best event of the season, Toivola summarized to STT by phone from Liberec, Czech Republic.
Toivolan saw that the event was successful both on the rink and off the ice, there was a good atmosphere in the team.
– We were able to exploit well, mark and exploit, put the opponent in a tight spot. And the attacking game was more consistent, we were able to attack better with five. And when we got to the attacking area, luckily we scored goals, but of course we are still working on it. You can be satisfied with the goalkeeper’s play, and the special situation play also took a step forward.
Tapani’s return made me happy
The tournament was for an experienced attacker Susanna Tapani return event to the national team. Tapani, who last played for Naisleijon in the fall of 2022, delighted the coaching staff.
– It appears that he has played in the (North American professional league) PWHL, he brought good experience, skating power and confidence on the puck to our game. He is a really good team player who also brought his own experience off the field. It was nice to have him along, Toivola stated.
Tapani will continue his season behind the guard, the rest of the players in the Swedish and Finnish leagues. The Women’s Lions will travel to the World Cup tournament in Utica, USA, which starts on April 3rd, on March 25th and will play one match in their World Cup camp in Canada before the tournament.
Toivola hopes that at least the majority of the team will retain the feeling of the game for as long as possible, which means that in the European leagues we will go far in the playoffs.