Mikko Manner has been named HPK’s head coach.
The board of HPK Liiga Oy has released Maso Lehtonen and Mikko Sirento-Mannisen of their duties.
Hämeenlinna becomes the head coach of Pallokerho with a contract lasting the rest of the season Mikko Manner. Olli Hällfors joins HPK’s coaching group. The coach will continue in the club’s coaching team Atu Selingoalkeeper coach Aleksis Virtanen and physical trainer Markus Jokinen.
– HPK has been in a difficult situation for a long time. It is clear that we have made mistakes in many areas. We believe that changing the head coach will change the course of HPK. There is a lot of work ahead in every area of operations, says the CEO of HPK Liiga Oy Kaj Källarsson.
The 50-year-old Manner’s trophy cabinet includes an Olympic gold medal and two World Championship gold medals from Leijon as an assistant coach. Jukka Jalonen a pair of roosters.
Manner has been twice Lauri Marjamäki as an assistant coach celebrating the Oulu Kärppie championship and once as a head coach in Kärppi at the end of the 2017-18 season. In addition, he has worked as a head coach in the Swedish SHL.
– We strongly believe that Mikko Manner is a coach who can improve our playing course. It is to our advantage that Mikko and Atu Selin have worked together for several years and have a ready connection. We feel it is important that Atu is committed to continuing as our team’s assistant coach, states CEO Källarsson.
Hämeenlinna Pallokerho is last in the hockey SM league. The club has accumulated two points from the five matches they have played. HPK will face TPS in Turku on Wednesday and Kiekko-Espo in their home hall on Friday.