Vaasan Sport has published player contracts today. The club announced the contracts on its own YouTube channel.
Juuso Hahl will continue as head coach next season as well. The contract is for one year.
– We are very satisfied with how Juuso has committed himself to the club’s situation, but also to what kind of changes have been made to the player’s everyday life and sports. That change work is still in progress. We felt that without anything else we should continue on the path we have chosen, says acting sports director Ari-Pekka Pajuluoma.
The decision to continue was also easy for Hahl.
– Actually, already when the first agreement was signed, my own thoughts were that this would be a project of several years, says Hahl.
He will continue as an assistant coach next season Janne Grönvall. Also for him, signing an extension was an easy decision.
– Usually, big changes are not made in a year, but now we are on a good path, says Grönvall.
The goal of Sport’s coaching is to play the best season in the club’s history in the League. At the moment, half of the regular season is behind us and the team is ninth in the standings.
– In terms of grade point average, we are currently in the best possible position that has been in Vaasa so far, says Hahl.
Viljami Nieminen’s option is exercised
Vaasan Sport uses Viljami Nieminen option.
Even skating in a gold helmet, Nieminen’s performances have aroused admiration among the coaching staff and fans alike.
Nieminen’s self-confidence has grown significantly during the season and, according to Pajuluoma, his skating power has been highlighted in particular.
– It was obvious that the option would be used at this stage, Pajuluoma says.
According to Nieminen, the early season has been the best time of his career in hockey.
– It’s been nice to play. There have been many successes, and the game is going well at the moment, Nieminen says.
Anton Stråka continues in Vaasa
Sport also announced a two-year contract extension Anton Stråkan with.
Stråka is from Uusestakaarlepyi and for him continuing in Vaasa was a pleasant decision.
– Ever since I came, I’ve had the feeling that I want to be here and play in Sport’s shirt. This has become important to me, says Stroka.
Sport’s coaching management sees Stråka as a reliable and identity-creating player who brings stability and reliability to the team.
– The desire to keep Anton here in his birthplace was mutual. We are very satisfied that we reached an agreement, Pajuluoma states.
Masi Härkönen has a two-year contract extension
Masi Härkönen will continue for the next two years in his breeding club as a goalkeeper.
Härkönen’s rapid rise to the ranks of the league team has been a surprise to many.
Ari-Pekka Pajuluoma is satisfied with the development of the young goalkeeper.
– Masi has sneaked into the league patterns, and his development has been a positive surprise.
No exact decisions have yet been made about Härkönen’s role next season, but the club’s plans are to give both goalkeepers, Härkönen and to Miroslav Svobodaa fair chance to compete for playing time.
– The laws of competitive sports are valid, and it is better to play, Pajuluoma states.
Härkönen himself is excited to continue his career in Vaasa. He says he was surprised by the attention he received.
– I didn’t think I would be talked about so much, but it’s great that the fans like what I bring to the team.
More: Vaasan Sport’s gray early season got a light when 18-year-old Masi stepped onto the finish line – a new screen slot is the highlight
Eetu Koivunen’s two-year contract extension
Also a defender from Vaasa Eetu Koivunen has signed a two-year contract with Sport.
Koivunen has played in TPS juniors and also in Sport juniors. Koivunen says that he is excited to represent the club he supported as a child.
– Time will tell what kind of player he profiles as at the league level, but all the conditions are there, Pajuluoma says.
Koivunen himself feels that returning to Vaasa is the best solution for his development.
More local players
According to Ari-Pekka Pajuluoma, Sport has talked a lot about the number of foreign players.
There are 11 foreign players in the team.
Sport has set its goal to strengthen the locality and give more opportunities to young players in the coming season.
– Of course, the independent value is not that we won’t have foreign players next year, but it could be a little less.
Sport wants to highlight especially the young players of the U20 team and returnees from Vaasa.