Timo Kunnari
If the Olympic tournament and the World Cup go to Leijon’s thighs, the Ice Hockey Federation will have to think seriously about Antti Pennanen’s position during the summer, writes Timo Kunnari.
Antti Pennanen will lead the Finnish A national team to the Olympics and the World Cup this season. EPA / AOP
Finnish Ice Hockey Federation chairman Heikki Hietanen told Iltalehte on Friday that the option in head coach Antti Pennanen’s contract for next season will be exercised in January.
Pennanen will therefore continue as the head coach of the country’s most followed ball team for the 2026–27 season.
The Ice Hockey Federation is forced to use the mentioned option already at this stage, because it was written into Pennanen’s contract in due course.
The option was the Jääkieksliiton, which means that it could decide on the continuation of Pennanen’s work. Sometimes the option can also be decided by the employee.
However, information has already leaked out that the board of the Ice Hockey Federation has not yet discussed the use of Pennanen’s option. But when the chairman says it, that’s how it goes in Finnish hockey.
The Ice Hockey Federation could also have not exercised the option for the 2026–27 season, in which case the search for a new head coach would be in full swing right now.
If the Ice Hockey Federation had now announced that Hämeenlinna’s man Pennanen would not continue in Leijon next season, the situation would have been quite special.
The Lions would have gone to the Olympic tournament in February and the World Cup in spring under the leadership of a coach who knows that he will get mono at the end of the season.
There might have been problems with the motivation of such a coach.
Therefore, the decision of the Ice Hockey Association is logical. The “mistake” happened at the point when the exercise date of Pennanen’s option was set for the heart of winter, i.e. before the big events of the season.
It should be clear that Pennanen wanted an early option date on paper. If the option had not been used, Pennase would have had time to look for a new job for himself next season.
There would also have been a steep alternative: Shoes for Pennas around this time, i.e. before the Olympic tournament in Milan. But that wouldn’t have made sense.
If kicks are handed out, then there must also be a better alternative instead.
Certain parties hinted behind the scenes at hiring a foreign, mostly North American, head coach for the Olympics. Among other things, Rod Brind’Amour’s name came up unofficially at some point.
It was now the talk of small circles.
Everyone familiar with the hockey world knows how Pennanen’s situation is really going.
If the Olympics and the World Cup tournament are lost to Finland, the Ice Hockey Federation will have to consider the man’s position in June. Despite the fact that he now has a confirmed contract for next season.
This was ensured to the undersigned due to the union on the first day of 2026.
If Finland succeeds in the two top tournaments of the spring, everyone will be happy with Pennase.
