In the Ice Hockey Championship League, in the match between the Kärppi and the Pelicans, an unfortunate event was witnessed in the final minute of the first period, when the away team’s defender Niklas Virtanen tackled by the defender of the team from Oulu Joel from Olkko to the capital region.
After a video review, Virtanen received a shower command for his tackle, i.e. a 5+20-minute penalty. At the same time, it is clear that the League’s discipline will also be scrutinized from the side of tackling.
Olkkonen lost the puck and kept his eyes on the equipment while skating with his head down to the attacking blue. Virtanen tackled in such a way that his shoulder hit the Kärppä defender.
Sports expert Top Nättinen saw that both players could have acted differently in the situation.
– Quite a place to go with your head in your feet. The defender was in the wrong place. This can be dug in both directions, because Virtanen can see well in advance that the opponent is coming with his head down. It wouldn’t have been necessary to tackle like that.
– According to the rules of ice hockey, the tackler bears the responsibility, and I think the big verdict was just right. I learned there is a place for everyone, at the same time you could say where was the opponent’s respect in the situation, says Nättinen.
Joel Olkkonen was ushered from the end doors of the rink into the booth.
The best scorer in the SM league was injured
In Vaasa, there was a tackle in the second set, as a result of which Sport’s gold helmet, who scored no less than 15 goals in the SM league Jens Lööke was seriously injured.
Defender of HPK Petteri Nikkilä and Lööke skated at high speed towards the end wing, when the faster Lööke lost his balance due to a tackle and flew recklessly towards the wing.
Lööke was dragged into the booth by two men, bleeding. Sport supporters were hoping his own visor cut the power forward’s face and it wasn’t a concussion.
Puck expert Nättinen summed up the situation that sparked the conversation in a live broadcast.
– A normal puck chasing situation where the weight comes from the other player underneath. Lööke, I hope he didn’t get hurt worse in the situation, wasn’t ready for it. A lateral check, for which the players must always be ready. Nikkilä’s contact with Lööke was not a punishable act in my opinion.
After the video review, the judges also agreed with Nättinen about the incident, for which no penalty was awarded to the HPK defender.
Losses to Mäntymaan Kärpi and Heiskanen JYP – Aces for the Christmas break with a win over Ilves
Porin Ässät ended their five-match losing streak and got to the Christmas break with a sweet 2-1 overtime win over Ilves. Defender Eemil Erholtz Fifth goal of the season sealed the extra point for Pori in 61.09.
Ville Mäntymaan piloted by Kärpät, they lost to Pelicans 2–3 in overtime. Aleks Haatanen shot the solution in 63.48. Kärpät have lost seven of their last eight matches.
Mikko Heiskanen the head coach’s career at the JYP helm started with a 0–4 loss to Jukurei in Mikkeli. JYP unexpectedly announced yesterday, Wednesday, that they will not be the head coach Jukka Rautakorpi and assistant coach Ville Nieminen keep up the company.
– After all the turmoil, we came into the game quite well, but a rough game in Ranua, and with a 4-0 scoreboard, it doesn’t warm up. Good things were visible in the first set and everything was in play. The work continues, and the hurricane storm will still come, Heiskanen commented on JYP’s excerpts.
Ice Hockey Championship League on Thursday:
Lynx – Aces and 1–2 (0-0.1-1.0-0)
61.09 1-2 Erholtz (M Davidsson, Lefebvre)
Jukurit – JYP 4–0 (1-0.1-0.2-0)
Flies – Pelicans and 2-3 (1-1,1-0,0-1)
63.48 2-3 Haatanen (Kral, Enlund)
SaiPa – KalPa 0–7 (0-2.0-2.0-3)
Sport – HPK vl 0–1 (0-0.0-0.0-0)
65.00 0–1 Nikkilä
TPS – KooKoo and 3-2 (2-0.0-0.0-2)
64.52 3-2 Fröberg (Dudas)
Jukurits – Pelicans 17.00
Sport – Lock 17.00
HIFK – HPK 18.30
Ilves – TPS 18.30
KooKoo – SaiPa 18.30
Kärpät – JYP 18.30
Aces – Tappara 18.30