The first Finn to work as a head coach in the North American women’s professional ice hockey series PHF Venla Court is in front of a new one.
Hovi, who piloted Metropolitan Riveters, along with other coaches and players of the series, was left with nothing when all PHF’s contracts were terminated after the series was bought by large investment companies.
In North America, there have been two women’s hard-level hockey leagues in recent years: the professional PHF league and the PWHPA of the players’ association, but they are being discontinued to make way for a new league.
– I’m not in an easy situation, that’s for sure. For a moment I thought, what now, but then I thought that things are really good in life otherwise, and there will definitely be work. I haven’t stressed about it very much, Hovi said at the Kangasala ice rink, where he was running a training camp for girls’ hockey players.
– Of course, it’s sad that you can’t continue with the group. We had a really good year and a good direction for the team.
The Riveters finished fifth in the regular season last season.
The new series, which will start in January, will initially include six teams: three from the United States and the same number from Canada.
There were seven teams in the PHF and four in the PWHPA, so there are not enough jobs for all the players and coaches.
The training season of the new series is supposed to start in November, even though, for example, the names of the teams and the venues are not yet known.
Hovi hopes to coach in the future as well, but has not yet decided where.
– I enjoyed my work last season so much, that’s why I would definitely like to join the new series. At the same time, I don’t rule out that I would jump to the men’s puck side or coach the national team of a country. I am such a citizen of the world that the team does not need to have a connection to Finland.
– If I decide to wait for it (the coach’s position in the new series), I will put all my efforts into it. If that doesn’t work out, then I’ll develop a backup plan. I don’t think anyone would be in this business if they were afraid of what would happen tomorrow. Maybe I just enjoy the fact that there is that pressure and you have to take risks.
Tuominen is aiming for a playing spot
Hov was accompanied to the training camp by a defender who played for the Metropolitan Riveters Minttu Tuominen33, who intends to aim for a place in the new league.
– I decided to take a risk and see if there is a place in the new league. If you can’t find it, some kind of compensation is obviously on the way. I want to play one more year at the top level, so I don’t want to give up at this point, Tuominen said.
Tuominen has played professionally for a couple of years, first in the Chinese team KRS Vanke Ray playing in Russia and then in the Metropolitan Riveters.
– Now that we’ve had a taste of it, the goal has been one more year. I don’t want to chill yet. It’s hard to let go of professionalism.
Tuominen wouldn’t start promoting a new series for future girl hockey players just yet.
– When we see this new league in a couple of years, hopefully many young girls will want to aim for it.
The new league is to be expanded already in its second season. Tuominen hopes that there would be a little more teams already in the starting season.
– It depends on how many European players are released from their contracts. If only all the best could fit in, and there weren’t too many teams. I think it would be good to start with eight. I think it’s good that they start slowly. It provides a foundation on which to build.
– First of all, it’s a good thing that we got this one series. The public is really interested in star players in the USA and Canada. They have a lot of social media followers and there have been spectators at the games. There is a big boom. I believe that it will bring the public to the halls and thereby generate income for the team, Tuominen said.
A bright future
This is not the first time that a job has been taken away from Hov. He played in the 2018–2019 season in the Canadian CWHL, which was disbanded at the end of the season. Hovi ended his playing career after that season.
The plan is to make the new series a durable and long-lasting first series, like the men’s NHL. Hovi believes that it is possible. He estimates that the sport’s popularity will grow strongly with the marketing efforts of new investors.
– I can’t say why it happens, because everything good always takes time. Canada is an easier market because hockey is life there, Hovi said.
Many ball sports are followed in the USA, so the competition is tougher there.
– Yes, there is also a market there to grow a league similar to, for example, the women’s NBA.
– I think the money won’t stick. As long as they find the right creators and professionals for each frame, I think this series has a long and bright future.
Pauli Jokinen interviewed Tuomis and Hov.