Antti Pennanen does not believe that the Jokers will disappear anywhere.
Riku Salminen,
Roope Visuri
‘s NHL evening studio also had time to talk about non-North American hockey. Experts sat on the benches Ismo Lehkonen and Antti Pennanen.
The duo were asked about the situation of the Jokers, who had recently talked about hockey.
The Helsinki team left the Russian-led KHL series in the middle of the season after Russia invaded Ukraine.
In November, Ilta-Sanomat news (switch to another service)that Pennanen would be close to an agreement with the Jokers for the upcoming season. Pennanen has been the top sports director of the Hockey Association and the head coach of the national team under the age of 20.
Pennanen stated in ‘s TV broadcast that he could not say what would happen to the Jokers.
– The events in Ukraine are the most tragic, the lowest and the saddest thing a person can do. The jokers acted very responsibly and correctly that they left KHL, Pennanen described.
Now the hot potato is where the Jokers will be seen in the coming seasons.
– I don’t think the Jokers will go anywhere. It may be that playing at KHL is very difficult, Pennanen said.
Lehkonen’s own breeders’ club is the Jokers and he played in the Finnish Champions League in the Jokers in the 1980s. As a coach, Lehkonen was an assistant coach in Jokers for one season in 2008–2009.
– With quick decisions, the Jokers will be in the Finnish Championship next year. This is not so difficult! Lehkonen your line.
Pennanen emphasizes the significant role of the Jokers and KHL in the success of Finnish hockey.
– Whatever one thinks of KHL, it has helped Finnish hockey wildly. KHL players have won world championships and Olympic gold. There have been a lot of joker players on these teams. The presence of jokers and Finnish players at KHL has really changed Finnish hockey, says Pennanen.
– We do not forget the good that the Jokerit has brought to sports with its own activities.
Pennanen’s current agreement with the Hockey Association will therefore end this spring. Pennanen’s successor was supposed to be Kari Jalonenbut he will be the head coach of the Czech men’s national team on a short schedule.
Pennanen was the head coach of the Young Lions at the turn of the year when the World Championships in Canada were interrupted. The World Championships for under-20s are set to start all over again from a clean slate in August.
You were supposed to be the head coach next season at the Jokers. Where are you going to train next season, Antti Pennanen?
– There is no answer. I do not know. Time will tell. The tragic events in Ukraine changed the world of hockey a lot, Pennanen commented in the NHL studio.
Could Pennanen continue to train Young Lions anyway?
– Things are changing fast as we have seen. Everything is possible. Let’s see how things go. There are still many moving parts here. I have also enjoyed and enjoyed the company of young people, Pennanen says.
Ismo Lehkonen has a clear opinion about the Young Lions coach.
– If I were in the final positions and my wallet was fine, Pennanen would be fine. Not two words, Lehkonen says.
– Pennanen knows the whole national team. He has worked with them. The coaching team is ready. Young Lions get much better off the racks than many other countries if their intelligence takes him back.