Are you mixing players up? With Ikos, that happens easily

Do you sometimes confuse players with the same last name?

If the answer is yes, there is probably confusion between the Ikos.

As many as six league players have the last name Ikonen, and some of the first names are similar, as the first letter is mostly J.

To make it easier to follow the series, Liiga-Ikoset should be introduced in more detail. Here they are listed in order of age from oldest to youngest.

Six from Iko

Ossi Ikonen is a 32-year-old defender of HPK. The JYP graduate has also represented Pelicans and SaiPa in the League. The list of merits includes the CHL championship (JYP 2018) as well as the more exotic Kazakhstan championship from 2014.

Jasse Ikonen is a 32-year-old striker whose month-long contract with TPS expired this week. The KalPa graduate has also represented JYP, HIFK, Kärppi, Ilves and Ässi in the League. Played last season in the IceHL league in the ranks of Italian Pustertal. Two bronze medals in the league and the 2018 championship (Kärpät).

Henri Ikonen is Luko’s 28-year-old forward and Tampa Bay’s sixth-round NHL pick from 2013. SaPKon made his debut in the league with KalPa 11 years ago, then played five years in North America and four and a half seasons in the KHL-Jokers before returning to the domestic main league in the middle of last season . Junior World Champion from 2014.

Juuso Ikonen is a 27-year-old forward whose two-week contract with Tappara ended this week due to injury. The EJK graduate has also represented Blues, JYP, Kärppi and HPK in the League. Played the seasons 2016–20 in Sweden and in the AHL. The trophy cabinet contains the 2014 World Youth Championship gold, SHL silver and two league bronzes.

Joona Ikonen is a 24-year-old Ilves student who debuted in the League in the 2016–17 season and has represented Ilves his entire league career. The winger belongs to the team’s captaincy. Last season’s bronze opened the medal account in the League.

Joni Ikonen is the Pelicans’ 23-year-old center and Juuso Ikonen’s younger brother. Montreal’s second-round NHL booking from 2017. EJK’s grown up rose to the major league level in the 2017-18 season in the SHL’s Frölunda and won the CHL championship. After that, also represented KalPa and Ilves in the League, where he won bronze last spring. Father of the brothers Juha Ikonen is a legend of Kiekko-Espoo and Blues, who also represented Frölunda in Sweden.

Ikosten’s competition

Joona and Joni Ikonen have had the best start to this season among the namesakes in terms of points, and as luck would have it, their power after 13 matches is identical 6+2=8.

Shall we set up a competition, who is the most effective Ikonen of the season?

– We could probably have a little competition with Joni, Joona Ikonen laughs.

– Just not. It’s great that Jon has also played in the Pelicans.

Joona Ikonen has noticed that the large number of Ikosten in the league bowls can sometimes cause confusion – at least for those watching from the sidelines.

– In the last couple of seasons, when Joni Ikosen played for us, we must have been mixed up quite a few times. We both are rights yet.

– I have also played with Jasse Ikonen, but he is Lefty, and we probably weren’t mixed up. However, they rarely come.

To be improved

Ikonen is third in Ilves’ internal points exchange, ahead only of his chain mate who is number one Petri Kontiola and Eemeli Finlandand in the team’s goal exchange, he is at the peak.

– Probably a little different for both, Ikonen sums up the early season of Ilves and himself.

– There is a lot of good, but there is also a lot to improve both as a team and in your own game. It’s by no means ready yet, but it’s a long season, so there’s nothing to worry about that way.

Change in Ilves’ autumn was also brought by the change of head coach on October 5, when Antti Pennanen was washed Bunch of Myrrh to the place.

– Yes, it came as a surprise, but there was hardly any time to think about it. The games quickly resumed, Ikonen commented.

– Not all things can be brought in right away. I think the game would get pretty messed up because of that, he answers the question about the change brought by Pennanen.

– I think that little by little those Pennanen things will come along. It’s been pretty quiet so far, little things have come into play.

No stress

Myrrä was historically fired when the team was at the peak of the series.

Under Pennanen’s leadership, Ilves won the first two matches, but since then the flight has slowed down.

First, Ilves was eliminated from the CHL playoffs after losing to the Norwegian Stavanger Oilers.

Since then, the team has lost to TPS in extra time 0–1 and to Luko with 2–4 goals, and the efficient first team didn’t score goals in these games either.

– We had a couple of pretty difficult games, Ikonen admits.

– But the season is still young, and the game is developing all the time. You shouldn’t take any stress, even if you don’t succeed in every game.

Ikonen’s goal pace would be a steady pace on the table of 28 goals in the regular season. Last season, Tapparan Anton Levtchi won the top scorer title with 26 hits.

– It sounds good if it went like that, but I haven’t thought about it, Ikonen confirms the calculations.

– At least it doesn’t help matters if you start counting yourself, at what pace or how many goals can be scored. I think that when you play well, you will probably score more goals in the future.

Championship hunger

As a native of Tampere and brought up by Ilves, Ikonen has naturally noticed the support boom born from better success, which has received even more wind in the sails from the new Nokia Arena.

Last spring’s bronze ended the 21-year medalless torment of a club proud of its traditions. The fans’ hunger has only grown because of it, and the desire for the championship is intense.

– Our players have at least as much of that hunger. I don’t think anyone from any bronze wants to play. We are on exactly the same lines with the supporters, Ikonen assures.

Today Ilves travels to Lappeenranta, where it will receive another team that has already changed its coach. SaiPa has won both of its matches with a new number one pilot Ville Hämäläinen under.

– I think that SaiPa’s work will be pushed quite hard, Ikonen anticipates.

– Really difficult early season with them, now a new season and a couple of wins below. Jätki’s self-confidence has certainly grown. It will be a really tough game, even though SaiPa is still at the bottom of the series.