The Lahti Pelicans have had a flying start to the league season.
Tommi Niemelä’s instructions have gone well. Tomi Natri / AOP
- The team, which finished tenth last season, is in third place, contrary to prior expectations.
- Today, the Pelicans host Rauma Lukko in the top game of the four-game league round.
– As a team, we are satisfied that the season has gotten off to a good start in terms of games and results, Pelicans head coach Tommi Niemelä says.
– But only 12 games have been played, so we are not looking at the ranking at this stage.
The Pelicans are handsomely third in the series, which many could not foresee during the season.
– It is not really a surprise to us that we have played well. We’ve certainly been going for it since the beginning, and it’s great to see guys committed to that game.
The Lahte team’s style of play is based on puck control and a tight five.
– We want to be the best forward pressure team in Finland and thereby control the flow of the game. It’s the cornerstone of what we do, and it hasn’t really mattered who has jumped on board, so the game hasn’t changed. I think it’s a great sign of the team, Niemelä is happy.
– However, the game is not just about running against each other. We have been able to defend and attack with all rhythms.
“Hands up”
Niemelä speaks about the team’s goals with fresh courage.
– When we talk about the racing series, the goal is to win that racing series. Many people say that maybe a playoff spot or access to the top six would be more realistic, but every competitive athlete always has the goal of winning every game.
– The team has also set a big goal, that we really want to be in a position in the spring that we can aim for the place of the last team to raise their hands.
– It means that we have to be able to develop the game day after day. Everyday work has to be really hard, Niemelä emphasizes and thanks the players’ attitude towards the matter.
– Win or lose, they will be back in the hall in the morning, making themselves better based on big personal goals.
Young team
The championship goal may look like a castle in the clouds to an outsider, but Pelicans have already had time to show their potential by beating Ilves and Tappara with 8-1 combined goals.
– Even though we seem to be the youngest team in terms of average age, that in itself is not important. Of course, experience matters, but everyone has the opportunity to become a better player all the time.
A captain better known as a shot blocker and a tough defender Miika Roine has set an example and climbed to the top of the team in points (2+7=9) on his heels Joni Ikonen, Lukas Jasek and Otto Kivenmäki.
The reserve still has a player who was on the injured list Iikka Kangasniemi the effects that were a little off in the early season.
– Ike has done a lot of work, but it’s natural that sometimes he just doesn’t go in. Yes, those successes will surely come. I believe that he will still be a big scorer in this team this season, Niemelä is confident.
The Pelicans have had time to suffer from injuries anyway. For example, acquired as an important confirmation of an experienced department By Jonas Enlund the season ended already in the second match with a knee injury.
Niemelä also highlights the young guard Petteri Riihinen, Viktor Persson mixed Topias and by Elias Vilén.
– Also Sakke of Hämäläinen has taken a big step forward. So far, fortunately, the team has found the scope to play the game effectively, thanks the coach.
Lock in the fly
The top match of Friday night’s league round will be played in Lahti, where the Pelicans will face the spring champion and Luko, who now occupies the second place in the series.
– Lukko is currently in a tight relationship, and we are both in good shape. Rauma played a really tight game, and in our opinion we would have deserved more than zero points there, Niemelä times the end of Luko’s 2–1 win at the end of September.
– In that match, we had quite a lot of challenges in scoring efficiency.
Niemelä reminds us of Luko’s position in the League’s hierarchy.
– We are talking about the giants of the series in terms of player budgets and everything else. It’s a great challenge for us to see where we currently go in relation to the top.
The Pelicans are only one point behind Lukko.
– Hopefully we will be able to challenge in such a way that we ourselves will be at the top after the game.