These figures tell about the historical start of the Lions – Jussi Olkinuora’s former coach knew his abilities, but: “What a UFO level that is”

Finland can start the decisions of the World Hockey World Championships with confidence. The Lions played a sleek and confident start, setting a record for the current World Cup: just five goals conceded in the first half.

The Spring 2012 Games switched to a format where 16 countries play in two starting blocks of eight teams. The previous record of this time, six goals conceded in the 2016 Games, was also held by the Lions. At that time, the Lions’ goal difference in the first half of the Games played in Russia was 29–6. Finland won World Championship silver in those competitions.

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Edmonton Oilers NHL was currently named the best goalkeeper of the tournament at the 2016 World Cup Mikko Koskinen. He played in the Lions goal in five first-round matches, scoring six hits. Nashville has since risen to the NHL goalie elite Hair Saros played two first-round matches, against Slovakia and Hungary, without scoring a goal.

Now the Lions’ goal difference in the first block was 19–6. Became the first guard of the lions Jussi Olkinuora scored just one goal in the first half! Olkinuora played 102 matches in five matches, so the percentage of defense was 99.03 and the average number of goals conceded was 0.20.

When the Lions won Olympic gold in Beijing in February, they were number one Harri Säteri. Now Säteri played the Swedish and Latvian matches in the World Cup start-up. The rejection rate was 92.68. Säteri was sidelined in the Austrian and British matches as a precaution due to a little trouble.

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Olkinuora, 31, was typically modest after a Czech match after playing his third consecutive draw, giving praise to a group playing in front of him, such as the Czech head coach. Kari Jalonen called concrete. Finland won the Czech Republic 3–0 and secured the victory in the B-block.

Below is an excerpt from an interview with Olkinuora after the victory in the Czech Republic. The story continues after the video.

Sport published a story about Olkinuora a year ago when he defeated the Lions for the World Championship silver in the Latvian Games. Then Olkinuora’s mother Hilkka Olkinuora described his son as a combination of humility and self-confidence, a sense of humor and a loyal team player.

– He enjoys the underdog position. Jussi has never wanted any publicity or praise other than just playing. When people sometimes say that Jussi has come from somewhere in the bush, they are exactly the kind of bush he has wanted to be, Hilkka Olkinuora laughed.

The coach of Olkinuora is now also emphasized by ‘s coach Ari-Pekka Siekkinenwho once worked with a goalkeeper at JYP.

– Jussi is so hardworking that it is no surprise that he is playing at the level he is playing now. He has always been very interested in developing himself, an athletic and physical guy. His interest in what he does and how to be better has been striking, Siekkinen describes.

– Of course, the level he’s playing at now … I don’t know what the UFO level is if you pull 99 percent off at the World Cup, Siekkinen adds.

Olkinuora is a breeder from Tappara who got his first experiences in North America as a high school student. He would then visit HIFK’s A-youth before the journey continued back behind the ocean. The USHL and the university series NCAA as well as the ECHL and AHL became familiar.

The NHL doors did not open, although he signed a contract with Winnipeg in 2013. Olkinuora returned to Finland in 2016, when he played for a couple of seasons in JYP. 2019 Olkinuora moved from Lahti Pelicans to KHL. After Russia invaded Ukraine, Olkinuora left Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Next season he will fight puck in the Swiss league, Antti Törmänen coaching at the EHC Biel-Bienne.

Siekkinen describes that the physical properties of Olkinuora enable very sharp and fast movement in combat work. In addition, Siekkinen says that Olkinuora has developed a lot in reading the game and staying in the game.

– Yes, all the guys at that level get straight bets, but what happens in close-up play and how you read the rest of the game all the time, and not just the puck. It has developed tremendously at Juss.

Olkinuora has already won World Cup gold and Olympic gold. At the Olympics, he played one match with Säter in charge. Similarly, in the 2019 World Cup gold finals, Olkinuora got one game in his account when he was the number one guard. Kevin Lankinenand also Wine Vehviläinen played one starting block match.

Now in Tampere’s new Arena, the spotlight stays in Olkinuora. There is nothing to suggest that Olkinuora or the Lions as a team would not be ready for the challenge.

– Finland has seen very close and collective gaming again, it’s great to watch. It is also easy for the goalkeeper to read, there will be no insane top situations. I see that Finland is going a long way in that defense again, and of course Jussi has been good, and there have been no such Oops goals, says Siekkinen, who was Jyrki Ahon coaching Grenoble in the past season to become French champion.