The hockey world champions were celebrated on Hämeenlinna market on Tuesday. Head coach Antti Pennanen was surprised by the medal frenzy in recent days.
According to tradition, the men’s World Cup gold in ice hockey has moved people all over the country. The recent world champions have been allowed to tour the municipalities with the World Cup trophy.
On Tuesday, it was Hämeenlinna’s turn on the gold tour, where the celebrated heroes were head coach Antti Pennanen, assistant coach Mikko Manner, striker Sami Päivärinta and masseuse Juha Sulin.
The very rainy weather didn’t bother the locals, as around 500 people came to celebrate the heroes at the city square. The exact number of partygoers is not known, but considering the circumstances and the time, the positive coverage warmed the spirits of the partygoers.
The recent world champions spoke patiently to the audience standing in the rain. Atte Kajova
Pennanen, who celebrated the Finnish championship in Hämeenlinna at the helm of HPK in the spring of 2019, returned to the familiar venue as world champion, and the head coach gave plenty of credit to the locals.
– It is sweet that here in Hämeenlinna there is quite a lot of audience, even though the weather is not quite right, Pennanen happily stated to Iltalehti.
– Here you can see that hockey unites us. I think it will do good for this modern age.
Pennanen happily posed with the World Cup trophy at the party. Atte Kajova
Pennanen said in the interview conducted on the occasion that he is in a fortunate position in that Hämeenlinna has played a large part in his hockey career.
He followed HPK’s junior path all the way to the SM league, where he played five matches in the club’s shirt. Pennanen’s coaching career also started at Rinkelinmäki, where he started as head coach of HPK’s U18 team in the 2007–08 season.
Finlandia and the Hornets
Although Pennanen left Hämeenlinna behind for work in the spring of 2020, the city still remembers him warmly. The champion coach received at least as much applause from the audience as the current HPK pilot Manner or the number one striker Päivärinta.
Although Penna has no known predecessor Jukka Jalonen or as a celebrator like his assistant coach Manner, he too has been able to take the joy out of the tournament load and stress off his shoulders.
– There have been many kinds of feelings and conditions, but only good conditions, Pennanen said with a smile.
– Also happiness, gratitude and, fittingly, grounding in nature.
Pennanen arrived at the market with a light heart. Atte Kajova
The pilot, who appeared casually at the market party, listed the day after the championship, when the team returned to Finland, as the highlight of the celebration that lasted for more than a week.
He gave a special mention to the crowd at the Mäntymäki field in front of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium Paula Vesala for interpretation from Finland and the Lions’ return flight to the Hornet convoy.
Pulju’s medal back!
In the aftermath of the Golden Jubilee, one of the biggest topics of conversation has been Jesse Puljujärvi the fate of the gold medal. Pennanen was surprised to hear from Iltalehti’s reporter that the star pier’s medal had disappeared during the party.
Pennanen has previously said that he does not follow domestic sports media at all.
– I hope Jesse finds his medal, the Lions pilot gets serious after a small initial smile.
– Or that medal will be returned to Jesse. That’s what I hope. If anyone sees it or finds it, please bring it back, the head coach charged.
Spotlight also on Pennane
At the beginning of the event, the audience that waited patiently in the rain and listened to the intermission music got a reason to celebrate after Pennasenki’s speech, when the current HPK commander Manner stepped in front of the microphone.
Even though Pennanen has used every possible seam to turn the spotlight in the direction of others, Mannerilta was full of praise for his chief pilots.
– It’s no coincidence that we found a flow state as a team. Antti got the most out of the people around him, and for that he deserves a big hat and thanks, Manner praised.
Along with Pennanen’s praise, Manner gave credit to the entire team’s management team. Also another assistant coach Jussi Tapola got his thanks, because Manner found a running mate in Tapola during the tournament.
Tapola had shed light on the issue, among other things, in Viaplay’s insert during the World Championships.
– I probably have such an impatient nature that I can’t sit there in the ice rink all the time. Otherwise, you should only drink coffee. Jussi made me a good running buddy.
I’m Finnish
Mikko Manner at the gold party organized on 9 June 2026 in Hämeenlinna market. Atte Kajova
Manner entertained the crowd at the national festival at the Mäntymäki field by taking over the already familiar role of attraction. The coach almost single-handedly played the evergreen classic in front of the crowd I’m Finnishwhich received resounding applause from the revelers present.
The singing hero recounted the situation on Tuesday quite amused.
– The team shouted that they don’t know all the words from the stanzas. They shouted that “Mamba”, do something!
– Then you had to have a blast. Fortunately, it didn’t go completely wrong, Manner laughed.
However, he rejected the argument that Kari Tapion the classic would be his karaoke bravado. Manner said at the market party that the real bravura is a song by his own boy band, which remained a mystery to the partygoers.
At the end of the Golden Jubilee, the champion quartet moved to the square to be photographed. The people arrived in droves to take photos with their own, but Pennanen and the World Cup trophy that went with him took an overwhelming victory in the popularity contest.