KooKoo is on the verge of big things. Jouko Myrrä has a clear way of getting the players’ mental landscape in the right position.
- KooKoo beat Tappara 2–1 in the finals of the hockey SM league.
- The match series is at 3–2 for KooKoo.
- Four wins are required for the championship.
Monday is a big day in Kouvola.
At that time, the Finnish men’s ice hockey championship is interrupted for the local KooKoo for the first time in history.
KooKoo earned their first “match ball” by beating major club Tappara 2-1 in Tampere on Saturday.
– We don’t give it a second thought. We are going to play again and trust that we will also get what we deserve on Monday night, KooKoo’s head coach Joko Myrrä said of the situation.
Jouko Myrrä emphasizes the uniqueness of the situation to the players. Jussi Saarinen
The events of the weekend may have been mentally heavy for some of the players. Tappara won Friday’s marathon match and went up in the series, but KooKoo didn’t get discouraged, but managed to seize the advantage back for himself.
Tappara was also better than KooKoo in the opening minutes of Saturday’s match, but the visiting team did not break.
Do the KooKoo players feel any pressure at all?
“Certainly, pressure or uncertainty – and the importance of the game – for individual players always somewhat determines the start of the game,” Myrrä said.
– But we have such an ideology that let it golet it burn and throw yourself into the game. My task is somehow to create the soul landscape that we play bravely.
Myrrä thinks KooKoo’s team spirit is good and the team is tenacious.
– Koutsie doesn’t need to pump or demand like crazy.
KooKoo’s fans are celebrating in Tampere on Saturday. Jussi Saarinen
KooKoo is also going to start Monday’s match in a classic way through his own game and performance.
– That will be the end result, if something comes out of it, Myrrä said, referring to the championship.
In Myrrä’s opinion, KooKoo played his best game of the series on Friday despite the loss.
However, according to the head coach, the loss did not affect the players in any way.
Myrrä strives to create the spirit in the players that playing in the finals is a unique opportunity that should also be enjoyed.
– In our two-minute match meeting, I said that when Gröndahl’s “Arska” stop sometime in five years, Siikonen’s Miska sometime in ten years, and “Patti” [Otto Paajanen] even ten years from now, you will miss these moments.
– For our young player Mäkelän to Manu i said when you stop in twenty years. I’m trying to give them a certain relaxation, tenacity, courage, and for those guys to realize that these are unique moments.
