Jori Lehterä’s golden helmet has experienced a lot in the SM league season. However, he has not changed or repaired his helmet.
The finals of the Ice Hockey Championship league are followed by Puhe’s finals tour. The next live broadcast will be heard from Tampere on Thursday from 18:10.
BAY. When Tappara’s star player, 35, Jori Lehterä skated through in the SM league final, the silver color flashed in the attacker’s golden helmet.
If you look closely at the helmet, you will notice that the golden color has peeled off from the surface of the helmet. The departure of the Pelicans’ leading scorer, Lukas Jasek must be marked on the helmet.
In the Ice Hockey SM League, the teams’ best scorers wear a golden helmet, while the other players on the teams wear helmets matching the team’s colors.
Lehterä justified his dented helmet by saying that it has been used a lot.
– There is no superstition. Someone asked if I’d take a new one, but I said I’d rather play with this one when it’s good for the head.
– Anyway, I don’t like the gold helmet thing at all. I don’t think they should be any golden helmet.
Lehterä also highlights a point raised by other star players. Wearing a gold helmet gets more attention from opposing players.
– There’s nothing wrong with that, but then you get more tackles and attention when you pull that gold helmet on your head. Is a bit more of a destination for others. It would be nice not to guard so much.
For Lehterä, who returned to the SM league this season, the golden helmet is not a new thing. He was also the team’s most effective player in the 2009–2010 season in Tappara.
– It was harder when I was younger, when I needed that attention more, Lehterä admits.
– The culture is quite similar, but I have changed as a person. I kind of like it, it’s calmer.
Tappara beat Pelicans in the fourth final match of the SM league on Tuesday with goals 3–1.
Lehterä hit the post in the second round, but started a little later Veli-Matti Savinainen with a goal advantage. According to Senter, he has found Savinainen in front of the goal a little too well, as many of Savinainen’s sticks have gone wide.
– He is very much in his own office, Lehterä praises.
The 37-year-old Savinainen is already seeking her fifth Finnish championship. For Lehtera, the championship would be the first.
– He has experienced, played these games a lot and knows how to charge for them. He is someone who can turn tension into positive enthusiasm. It’s an experience.
Tappara has been a rude away team. In two matches, the Axes have conceded only one goal in the ice hall in Lahti.
– We have played smartly without any kind of show. We’ve managed to do the basics and rock it for 60 minutes. It has been functional, says Lehterä.
Tappara leads the match series with 3–1 wins. The championship will be interrupted for the first time for Tappara on Thursday at the home arena.
Lehterä hadn’t had time to celebrate Tuesday’s victory that much, because he did many interviews and next headed for the doping test.
– I haven’t been able to enjoy the victory terribly. I’ll probably wait a couple of hours (for the doping test) when the guys go there. There’s nothing to it. Let’s try to stay cool and crumple everything up for Thursday.