Excited KooKoo improved in the second set and knocked out Tappara in the first final match of the SM league.
- Tappara–KooKoo 2–4.
- KooKoo leads the final series 1–0.
- Four wins are needed for the championship. The next match is on Monday.
KooKoo’s head coach Joko Myrrä has said that his heart rate during games is usually between 50 and 70. In other words, the man is not particularly excited on the bench.
When the SM league finals started on Saturday and KooKoo and Myrrä were in the final match for the first time, the meter vibrated.
– It could be that the heart rates were 75–80 at the beginning, Myrrä said.
Myrrä, who was playing with the attackers, said that he got mixed up in his words when he announced to the players who would go on the field next.
– I said the wrong player. It had been there on the ice for a long time. But it’s human. In any case, we have such an attitude in the team that if someone makes a mistake, it’s not that serious. I fixed it and then I knew how to send what I thought were the right guys to the field.
KooKoo, led by Jouko Myrrä, took the opening win in the final series despite a tense start. Mika Kylmäniemi / AOP
“Weak start”
According to Myrrä’s assessment, the players’ performance was also more tense than usual at the beginning.
– The beginning was weak. Excited, and the pucks bounced across the stage. We couldn’t play the puck. At the first break, we relaxed the team, and [apuvalmentaja] Tuukka from Poikos there were a couple of specific instructions for the game itself, Myrrä said.
According to the head coach, the second set was a “good performance” and the third was good enough.
– A good start, but not a perfect 60 minutes.
The goals were 1–1 after the opening set. During the break, Myrrä tried to calm the team by saying that both teams now have 20 minutes of experience in the final series.
– That’s all there is to it, and now let’s go play our game. Of course, successes always help and bring more confidence. The team’s self-esteem is healthy. It carried that much today.
KooKoo won the second set 2–0.
Otto Paajanen hit the Final Readings blank. Jussi Saarinen
In hometown
Myrrä is from Tampere and was raised by Tappara.
Even after the game, there were plenty of sleeve-jerkers.
– It’s fun to coach in your hometown and be a part of it. It’s nothing, Myrrä said.
Myrra has a habit of going for a run before every match.
– Today on the run, four or five people I met gave a thumbs up. If they didn’t know me, at least they supported the away team because I was wearing a KooKoo t-shirt.
The second match of the final series will be played on Monday in Kouvola.
KooKoo supporters got what they wanted. Jussi Saarinen
