The lions’ team is assembled in a different way than before. AHL players are no longer treated as outcasts.
Konsta Helenius played most of the season in the AHL, but now shines in the World Cup tournament in Finland’s first chain. Pasi Liesimaa
The Lions have a strong World Cup tournament behind them, and today the Canada match will decide whether Finland will play for the World Cup gold in the final. Although there are many NHL players in the team, this time AHL players have also been seen in responsible roles.
– This is a clear change. We have three AHL players in the team, i.e. three players who played mainly in the AHL, i.e. farm last season, hockey reporter Timo Kunnari says in a recent episode of Lätkäpod.
The players referred by Kunnar are Ville Heinola, Konsta Helenius and Lenny Hämeenaho.
– They all have a good frame in the team, and they are all important players in the team, Kunnari continues.
– However, you don’t have to go terribly far back when you remember these lion trainers who didn’t value farm players at all. The AHL has perhaps been a bit of a big unknown in the Finnish hockey scene. That league has been underrated a lot over the years and for no reason, because a lot of games are played there and it’s a tough school when you play in the AHL for a couple of seasons.
Listen to the latest episode of Lätkäpodi from the beginning of the story or on Spotify here. There, we also consider what or who has brought about this welcome change.
