This season, Petteri Nummelin works in the coaching team of the Swiss Ajoie and in the Latvian national team.
Petteri Nummel’s party mood last spring. Latvia won bronze at the World Hockey Championships. PASI LEISMA
- Ice hockey coach Petteri Nummelin signed an extension contract with the Latvian national team.
- Turku’s coaching career is on the rise.
Petteri Nummelin signed an extension contract with the Latvian Ice Hockey Association. Nummelin works in the coaching team of the Latvian men’s national team this season as well.
– Yes. Things have been settled and I will sign the contract in November when I go to Latvia. We will then play two matches against France, Nummelin tells Iltalehte.
Nummelin was part of the Latvian coaching team already at last spring’s World Cup. The puck legend from Turku was attracted to Latvia by the head coach of the national team, Harijs Vitolins.
– I didn’t go to Latvia for the money, but for the experience that I can get there, which I already got last spring, says Nummelin, who has appeared 15 times in the World Cup.
The WC bronze mixed
Last spring, Latvia played the preliminary round of the World Cup tournament on its home field in Riga and, to the surprise of many, advanced to the next round in Tampere.
In the bronze medal game, the country defeated the United States at the end of overtime with a score of 4–3.
The World Cup medal was Latvia’s first in the country’s history. For a few days, the entire puck-crazy country got into a proper hockey party.
– Last spring, I had half the home races at the beginning. When we made it to Tampere, it really became a home race for me, Nummel’s time.
– The only thing missing from last spring’s tournament was that we would have played against Finland in the semifinals. It would have been a freezing situation, Nummelin laughs.
A great experience
Latvian head coach Harijs Vitolins (left) and Petteri Nummelin give instructions to their team at the World Cup. ZUMAWIRE / MVPHOTOS
Latvia beat Sweden 3–1 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, the country lost to Canada 4–2, but won bronze with a win over the United States.
– Overall, the experience was amazing. I have been to the World Cup 15 times as a player. This was my first time as a coach in the tournament. As a player, you are so focused on your own work, you focus on training, rest and games. It didn’t feel the overall atmosphere of the tournament so well.
– As a coach, you have time to look around and enjoy yourself. That’s why last spring’s games in both Riga and Tampere were a chilling experience.
Hunger grows
Latvia has more than two million inhabitants and about 4,400 registered hockey fans. The country has a long puck culture. The WC bronze will certainly increase the sport’s popularity in Latvia even more.
Next spring’s WC tournament will be played in the Czech Republic.
– Fans in Latvia always expect success. That’s how it goes in Finland too. When Finland got its first World Cup medal, then the fans were waiting for the World Cup gold.
– When it was won in 1995, then we waited for the next world championship, and now we wait every spring. This is how it goes and it has to go, 50-year-old Nummelin thinks.
Next season?
Petteri Nummelin lives and coaches in Switzerland this season. As a part-time job, the native of Turku is part of the coaching team of the Latvian national team. The man’s work patterns for next season are open. TIMO KUNNARI
So Nummelin’s main job is in the Swiss Premier League in the Ajoie team. Ajoie is the jumbo of the series. Nummelin is coaching in the organization for the second season.
Where will the puck cosmopolite continue next season?
– That is an interesting question. Here in Switzerland, things are not talked about this early. If I could choose myself, there aren’t many options. Switzerland, Sweden or Finland. I would like to coach in these countries, Nummelin reveals.
In the league, a suitable option for Nummelin could be an assistant coach at HIFK, where the man’s good friend will probably be the head coach next season as well Ville Peltonen.
– Everyone in the puck world wants to do their job at the highest possible level. However, there is no point in talking about the NHL at this point. Let’s take it easy. Here in Switzerland, I’m not in a hurry for anything, the hockey legend concludes.