Pelicans head coach Tommi Niemelä was proud of the trust he had earned. According to expert Topi Nättinen, the medal streak is a massive achievement from the Pelicans.
TAMPERE. Pelicans head coach Tommi Niemelä arrived after the final series, which ended in defeat, with tears in his eyes, both for the MTV interview and in front of the writing journalists.
He said he was really disappointed, but on the other hand proud. Niemelä praised the team’s story, which, however, fell short. He also gave credit to Tappara.
Niemelä coached the Pelicans for four seasons. Silver was the second one in a row.
– For four years there were many guys with me. It’s really amazing that everyone dared to throw themselves into this activity. I am really proud that we have earned that trust. It’s magic and great, Niemelä said.
Niemelä was saddened by the result. However, he was proud of the interaction between the coaches and the players.
– I am extremely proud that we have reached the kind of interaction that many can only dream of.
It has been reported that Niemelä will move to Ilves next season. The coach leaves Lahti with a wistful mood, but looks forward to the future.
Before that, however, he plans to work for the Pelicans for the next few days, according to his words. He still has to make a report to the Lahti organization about the performance of the season.
– A result is a result, but tomorrow is another day when you can do things better. If someone doesn’t believe my mantra, it doesn’t really matter, we believe, Niemelä shook.
– That’s just the route. Tomorrow, too, won’t we find something from this season that we can do better.
Unique opportunity
Sports expert Top Nättinen reminds us that the Pelicans started the season with a lot of investment. Nättinen sees that the place in the final was a minimum performance and the Finnish championship was a big disappointment.
– They missed a bone twice, but the two-year medal streak is a massive achievement from the Pelicans, says Nättinen.
Big winds of change are blowing in the Pelicans, when Niemelä moves on to other places. Athletically, the Pelicans had a unique opportunity.
– The player budget will presumably decrease, the coach will change and the playing schedule will change somewhat. This could have been the opportunity for many, many years when the Pelicans should have grabbed the Finnish championship.
Bold changes
However, according to Nättinen, there was nothing left to explain regarding the master. Tappara convincingly won the regular season and scored the most goals.
– There were all kinds of stages in the series, but the right team was crowned champion. More than 120 points in the regular season and the most goals scored. In the end, the playoff spring was a sweep, Nättinen describes.
Only TPS managed to knock down Tappara twice in the same series. Otherwise, Tappara marched to victory convincingly.
Nättinen reminds us that Tappara once again made a bold and proactive move regarding his future.
– Tappara had the courage to change before he had to. Big clubs have that ability. Captain Jukka Peltola changed Otto Rauhalaa and now came the championship with a bold move. Tappara dared to go in a different direction.
Getting to know Grönborg
At the moment, Nätti feels like nothing can bring down Tapparaa. However, he believes that Tappara will have to work a little harder next year to succeed.
– Yes, this going to Tappara is starting to annoy others so much that the challenge is getting tougher all the time.
– On the other hand, Tappara is also raising its own level. However, let’s remember that this was Grönborg’s introduction to the series in a way. And he ended it with a championship and a regular season win.