KalPa’s head coach Petri Karjalainen was emotional at the Kuopio Championship.
Although the temperature was only a few degrees plus, the atmosphere at the Kuopio market was warm. Each person who arrived at the scene was upwards.
In the navel in the world In chilly and cool weather, the fresh Finnish champion KalPa KalPa on Tuesday evening was celebrated.
The event saw several different presentations, program numbers and speeches. The evening was crowned by the arrival of the championship team on stage.
KalPa’s master coach Petri Karjalainen described his moods after the festivities.
– It’s really hard to describe the moods when it’s a bit speechless. Really moving moments in a certain way. You can see the joy of people and the genuine joy. And that we can, through hockey, bring such things to bring and cause – it is quite amazing, Karjalainen described his moods vibration.
Petri Karjalainen was in the festive mood after the event. Pete anikari
The man still has not fully understood what the team he directed has achieved.
– And probably not for a while. That moment and the next game lives so strongly, and then it suddenly ends. There will be a charm and really great moments, and on the other hand, even empty. Maybe it will open at some point.
– Now it’s just like that … let’s say satisfaction. What it causes for all of us, what it causes for players and the environment. You don’t really have to think about yet. Let’s enjoy here.
Special championship
KalPa is the first SM league team where Karjalainen has worked as head coach. Before he jumped into the KalPa main commander, Karjalainen served as head coach of the club’s U20 team.
However, there was enough feather in the Karelian hat. As an assistant coach, Karjalainen has won, among other things, the Under-20 World Championship in the Young Lion and the Swiss Championship in HC Davos.
However, this season’s championship is special.
– I’ve been honored to be successful in teams and win before, but of course it is. KalPa offered me the first head coach in the league, and it ends with this.
– What we have been able to do with the coaching, the management team, and this team to do with it. This is my first championship as head coach in the league, and it was still in the city, which is already a lot to mean. Historical club, and we were now able to win for the first time here. There are a lot of things that are really unique.
Karelian faned his first Finnish championship last Saturday. Mikko Lieri / AOP
Karelian highlights the importance of the collective on several occasions. A humble Oulu -based coach quickly praises him and praises others.
– This is something that can be remembered in ten or twenty years. This group was the one who brought the championship first here.
When a Swedish defender Filip Westerlund The gold medals shot the hit, the Karelian and the rest of the coaching team were invaded by emptiness.
– First came the feeling that the match was won. After that, nothing was right in the head.
“Old” stays behind
Karelian revealed that he and the team had a strong faith in victory, especially in time 58.52, when the winner was awarded to be the most valuable player in the playoffs Juuso Mäenpää Leveled the game to 2-2 as KalPa played with six field players.
– It was really confident when it came to the levels. That we take this game. It’s just a matter of time. Whether it is sensible and realistic about that self -confidence, I don’t know. Such a feeling came at that point. So much was taken away from the opponent.
The 44-year-old head coach is a young coach, but he is years older than players.
Captain Tuomas Kiiskinen is the oldest of the players, 38 years.
Despite the smaller age difference, Karjalainen says the more grown -up team members have stayed well at the championship.
– After all, you always stay, but how far. At least I have gone very calmly. Even though we have more experienced players say they don’t keep up, there is a “cat” (Kiiskinen) and the partners go to the bow. It’s a bit of a foolish speech that they would follow more in the background.
– After all, these are so exceptional moments for the players, all of us, that everyone enjoyed and rejoiced in the style they want. We have done a big job so we’ve been able to get so far. There is no wrong way to enjoy.
Karelian emphasized the importance of the entire organization. Communality is transmitted from the pictures that were taken immediately after the championship was settled. Mikko Huisko