Jouko Myrrä told a detail about SaiPa fans. Raimo Helminen praised his colleague.
Coached Koovola’s KooKoo to the finals of the SM league Joko Myrrä held a speech on supporter culture after the SaiPa match that was decisive in the semi-finals on Monday.
The Southeast semifinal series between KooKoo and SaiPa was tight, and the atmosphere in the halls was good.
The fit Myrrä, 57, has a habit of going for a run before matches.
– The noteworthy thing that I’m really happy about is how SaiPa and KooKoo’s supporters behave and act here in the hall, Myrrä said.
– I’ve been running here for three away games now. I have been met by people wearing SaiPa shirts. They have shown the thumbs up and wished for good luck. It has Raipella [päävalmentaja Raimo Helminen]SaiPa’s organization and the people of Lappeenranta have their values right.
Myrrä hoped that the supporters from Kouvola have treated SaiPa Helmis with the same respect.
The supporter culture of the SM League has been on the surface in recent days. On Saturday in Tampere, the match between Ilves and Tappara had to be stopped because prohibited pyrotechnics were used in Ilves’ fan stand. During the series, there were other disturbances in order.
Myrrä and Helminen hugged at the end of the series. Mikko Lieri / AOP
Changes in the game
Kaakko’s semi-final series progressed in waves. KooKoo won games 1, 2, 5 and 6, meaning the teams won games in two-game series.
Myrrä praised that KooKoo was able to learn and modify his game during the series.
– In the third and fourth winning games, we played the kind of hockey with which you can generally fight for a victory against SaiPa. SaiPa is the best in the series in certain aspects, and we really shot ourselves in the foot in the third and fourth games, Myrrä said.
According to Myrrä, the coaching team and the players agreed that there must be a “certain balance” on the field against a team like SaiPa. In practice, it meant three players under the game.
– You have to be smart from time to time and rather more often than less often, Myrrä formulated.
Eetu “Kake” Randelin Myrrä described the goalkeeping game with the word priima.
Next, Myrrä heads to the SM league finals for the first time in his career. Mikko Lieri / AOP
Pat on the back
SaiPa’s head coach Raimo Helminen gave recognition to the opponent.
Colleague Myrrä was fired from Ilves at the end of 2022, when Ilves was top of the league. Now he advanced to the finals coach for the first time in his career.
– Very nice work. Really great work. Big congratulations to “Joke” and them for that, Helminen said from Myrrä.
Helminen kept his analysis on a fairly general level.
– The opponent was just much better. It’s not that strange. They don’t win for nothing.
Helminen’s and SaiPa’s season ends in the bronze medal game. Mikko Lieri / AOP
