The lock has had time to show its two faces this year. Pekka Virta assesses whether the team is, so to speak, a bird or a fish.
Last Thursday, Jukurit taught Raumalla Luko a lesson with a score of 5–0. Elmeri Elo / AOP
- Until a moment ago, everything looked really good.
- Lukko defeated the big league clubs HIFK, Kärpät, Ilves and Tappara within a couple of weeks.
- In addition, it claimed an excellent result – a draw – from the CHL semi-final played in Switzerland against Genève-Servette.
Lock coaching was Tomi Lämsän with the lead got the game rolling, and the players’ self-confidence radiated from the ice to the barrel rack.
Rauma’s dreams of a championship – even two – began to grow cautiously.
At the same time, however, the cycle of illnesses and injuries began in the team.
Last week, Lukko was bitterly eliminated from the CHL final by one goal, after which the blowout has been big, as the team lost right after to Jukurei and TPS with horrible total goals of 1-9.
Lukko has sunk from the top six groups to the middle class, where it will still have to fight seriously to stay in the playoff places.
– The last two games give a bit of a false impression. At his best, Lukko has been really good, Iltalehti’s expert Pekka Virta appeases the peacemakers.
Lukko is a club familiar to Virra from his four-year tenure, which culminated in the 2021 championship.
– The game jam, which Lukko coped with really well, now came a bit late in these last games. Lukko played an insane amount of games, which is now paying the price, Virta states.
– One of the reasons is that Luko’s game is based on strong movement and five-man play and thus participation in the game. If the tires are a little flat in that type of game, it often looks even worse than it actually is.
– I still believe that Luko’s game has progressed a lot, emphasizes Virta.
– At its best, it has been really refreshing and, at least to my eyes, pleasant, even slightly familiar-looking playing. The team has a clear identity.
– The lock will still be really hard in the spring, when it gets over this lump. Of course, the challenge is tough, when the Series ranking doesn’t really give a lot of fun, but you should get points.
Pinpoint confirmation
Gabriel Fontaine’s injury last week was a bad setback for Luko. The center forward will be “on the sidelines for longer, the schedule will be specified in the near future”. Elmeri Elo / AOP
Lukko announced yesterday that he signed a comprehensive contract with SaiPa’s best scorer for next season as well by Antoine Morand with. The 24-year-old Canadian center has scored 11+18=29 points in 40 matches.
– Morand is also a familiar player from Lappeenranta to me, Virta refers to the good year he started as SaiPa’s head coach in 2021-22.
– A really smart, forward-thinking young man. It will be like a nose to the head to destroy Luko’s team, he believes.
Morand is eligible to represent already on Wednesday in Luko’s away match against HIFK.
– Today is another big game, which controls the direction. Lukko would need an encouraging win now, Virta’s line.