The star player scored a very important hit and immediately fell into a strange trick. It was to backfire.
Vilmos Gallo enjoys himself in Kouvola. Jaakko Stenroos/AOP
- Vilmos Gallo explains the unnecessary ice break right after the goal. Jäähy was expensive to go to KooKoo.
- The Hungarian striker talks about the differences between Finland and Hungary.
- Gallo wanted to return to Kouvola.
KooKoo defeated the Pelicans in the quarterfinals on Thursday 4–1 and took the second berth in the semifinals. KooKoo, who scored four power points in the series Vilmos Gallo instantly emerged as both a hero and an anti-hero.
Gallo served the pass for the 1–1 equalizer, which Joseph Berger finished in the second set. After fanning the hit, the Hungarian forward skated the Pelicans Hemp Falkin past and knocked him into the skate with the tip of his skate.
Falk immediately seethed and ran to the KooKoo players to shout. Gallo, on the other hand, received a two-minute suspension for unsportsmanlike conduct.
– We scored a goal and I was a little too excited after that. Emotions took over, Gallo explains the situation to Iltalehte.
Did you have any sort of conflict with Falk in the game before?
– Everyone has had a few of those [Pelicansin] with the players. They like to talk a lot. I don’t want to say…. That’s what the playoffs are like. Emotions are on the surface, the attacker laughs.
Gallo’s pointless attempt was to backfire on KooKoo, as the people of Lahti gained several dangerous goal posts with superior strength. Scored the visitors’ opening goal Roni Karvinen got to try his second shot of the evening into an empty goal, but only managed to push the puck towards the post.
KooKoo guard Eetu Randelin caught the puck that bounced to the goal line a moment later. Gallo watched the thriller from the bench.
– Fortunately, we have a really good Alivoima and team. They saved our stern.
Have fun in Kouvola
Hampus Falk was attacked by maggots. Stock photo. Mika Kylmäniemi/AOP
Gallo is playing his second season and his second visit to KooKoo. The Hungarian has been a golden find for the Kouvola club, as the performances have been coming at a promising pace.
This season, Gallo scored 13+25=38 in 58 regular season games. In three playoff games, he has scored a goal and assisted two.
Gallo left Kouvola in the spring of 2021 and in between played three seasons in the Swedish premier league SHL. There, the point pace was slow.
– I left Kouvola during the corona era. It felt like something was missing. I was happy when the phone rang and I heard that I would be back. There are hardworking people here. I like the way players are developed here.
The attacker praises Kouvola.
– Last time I was here alone, but now the family is here too. It’s easier. Kouvola is a peaceful and comfortable place for families. You don’t have to stress about traffic because everything is so close.
The happiest Finland in the world
Gallo scores. Elmeri Elo / AOP
Gallo is from Budapest, the capital of Hungary, but grew up in Sweden in his youth. Laituri made a brave decision and moved to Sweden alone at the age of 13 to pursue his hockey dream.
Hungary is quite a lilliputian when it comes to puck country.
– If you want to be a professional hockey player, you have to go elsewhere, says Gallo.
The young man lived with a Swedish family for a year. My family moved a year later.
Now Gallo, on the other hand, is used to the Finnish way of life. According to him, Finland is different from Hungary.
– Finland is a peaceful country. There is no stress here, you have the happiest people in the world. Lots of sauna culture! Hungary is not like that, he laughs.
In the series between KooKoo and the Pelicans, calmness has not been seen instead. In Thursday’s game alone, many players had to collect themselves from the ice. The players of the Kouvola team were hit, among other things Ville Meskanen and Jonas Oden.
Gallo likes the tough fight in the playoffs.
– After the games, a little more ice is needed than usual, but that’s what we like as a team. Kouvola is a working town, so this is what we like here.
The series continues on Saturday in Lahti.
