The Young Lions had time to get a real dose of trouble when the team started the first group by losing to Canada and Germany.
Especially the first defeat in Finland’s under-20 history against Germany rang alarm bells. Finland’s performance was strikingly weak, both game-wise and mentally.
The weak start of the tournament made many question the Finnish head coach Lauri Mikkolan abilities. Mikkola, who previously worked in the Kärppie organization, was named the head coach of the Young Lions in the summer of 2023, the contract is for 1+2 years.
For example, Urheilu’s expert Top Nättinen questioned Lauri Mikkola’s abilities and the coaching process after the miserable start of the tournament.
– Head coach Mikkola looks really worried and uncertain. I myself have played under such a coach in my career and I can tell you that it rubs off on the team. It catches on really quickly if the coaching is not involved in the hustle and bustle, Nättinen uploaded.
It was no wonder that the head coach arrived at the interview feeling relieved after Finland had defeated Slovakia in Tuesday’s thriller-like quarter-final. Captain Jere Lassila scored Finland’s 4–3 winning goal with his dazzling solo, after only 24 seconds had been played in overtime.
– Well… Yes, it’s always a very nice moment when the team is able to win such a game. Yes, that ending was a rollercoaster of emotions even in the corners. I am extremely proud of the team, and the team has a really great leader, the captain, who showed the direction today, Mikkola described his first feelings after the decisive goal.
Mikkola knew how to expect a tight match. Slovakia was the runner-up in the second preliminary group, defeating the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Norway by clear numbers. The USA lost 2-10, but until the end of the second period, Slovakia hung in the game well.
– Now I have to watch that game in peace. That ending was so emotional that I can’t remember all the things in this moment, Mikkola breathed.
Slovakia’s opening goal was confusing
There were indeed enough twists and turns in the quarter-finals. Adam Sykora gave Slovakia the lead at the end of the opening set, Tommi Männistö equalized early in the second period. Lenny Hämeenaho took the Young Lions into the lead when only 36 seconds had been played in the third period.
Dalibor Dvorsky hit Slovakia’s level in 47:09. Alexander Kaskimäki already seemed to hit the semi-finals in Finland when he hit 1.34 before the end of the three-set. But Slovakia hurt again, without a goalkeeper, Filip Mesarin on the finish line. That’s how we went to overtime.
Especially Sykora’s 1–0 goal spoke volumes. For example, the clock shown on the TV screen was already clearly at zero before the puck was in the goal. However, according to the judges, the goal was scored with 0.2 seconds left in the opening set.
– It wasn’t a goal. It was a referee error, Young Lions GM Kimmo Oikarinen already had time to talk For Iltalehti.
Discovery’s narrator Oskar Saari said in the second installment that he had received more detailed information about the kohumal.
– Now we get confirmation here in the commentary room as well, the jury has a more accurate clock than the clock in the hall attached to the international TV image.
Mikkola was still amazed by Slovakia’s 1–0 goal even after the match. In the Finnish booth, at least the coaching staff had gone through the situation during the break.
– Well, I’d be lying if I said that goal wasn’t rolled. The video showed that the stoppage clock had already started when the puck went into the goal. But it’s obviously not the official clock that scoreboard clock.
– There’s nothing to it. It was a carelessly played situation. You just had to put up with it, and the second set was fine.
According to Mikkola, the team handled the case perfectly.
– The team has to endure adversity. We didn’t get too attached to it. It was one, unlucky situation for us. It was reset. Then Lassila’s court immediately showed direction again at the beginning of the second set.
Finland in the medal games after a year’s break
Goalkeeper selections have been talked about throughout the tournament. Made a save in two losing games Niklas Kokko returned between the posts for the quarterfinals. Won matches rejected Noa Vali was a doorman.
Mikkola did not elaborate on the choice of goalkeeper or Koko’s success.
– Koko is a gambler, and the game was won.
Nuoret Leijonat won the World Championship gold in 2019. Since then, the final results have been fourth place, bronze, silver and fifth place. Now Nuoret Leijonat returned to the medal games after a year’s break.
– Of course it’s a big deal. That’s the team’s goal. It has been moving towards it piece by piece. It was more difficult in the beginning. Now things have moved on and the desired result for the quarter-finals has been obtained. Now thoughts on the semi-final, and let’s see who will come up against.
If there are no surprises in the other quarterfinals, i.e. Sweden wins against Switzerland, Canada against the Czech Republic and the USA against Latvia, Finland will face the best country in the preliminary groups, the USA, in its semifinal.
Mikkola believed that the positive momentum gained from the victories in Sweden and Slovakia will carry over.
– Of course, the team remains hungry. Trust in others and working together grows in moments like this.
Urheilu closely follows the under-20 hockey world championships in the application and on its website. Moods are also conveyed on Urheilurutu and Urheiluradio. The match program can be found here.