A head coach is currently being sought for the under-20 national team for the August World Championships and beyond.
Antti Pennanen will be the head coach of the national team under the age of 20 in the April tournament in the Czech Republic. However, it may no longer be in the extraordinary World Cup in Edmonton in August. AOP
The situation of the head coach of the men’s national hockey team under the age of 20 has reached a special point. Antti Pennasen had to quit at the helm of the team and move on to become the head coach of the Jokers.
The Jokers ended in the middle of the KHL season, and the team will hardly play anywhere in the 2022-23 season.
Kari Jalonen was elected a successor to Pennanen. However, the long-line coach left as the head of the Czech men’s national team.
Two World Cup tournaments
Kari Jalonen left as the head coach of the Czech men’s national team. AOP
So who will coach the under-20 national team in the future? Over the next nine months, two World Cup tournaments will be played.
The next event is already in April. This is a four-country tournament in the Czech Republic.
– Pennanen will leave for the Czech tournament with the 2002–03 age group in April, explains the general manager of young national teams Kimmo Oikarinen.
Your World Cup is open
The World Cup tournament in Edmonton at the turn of last year was stopped due to a coronavirus pandemic. Therefore, an additional, or more precisely, replacement, World Cup tournament will be played in August.
Who will be the head coach at the World Cup in August?
– We don’t know that yet. The matter is being negotiated. There are several options. This also depends on Pennanen’s willingness. Of course, he is one option, Oikarinen continues.
The tournament starts from the beginning, ie the results of the matches played at the turn of the year are not taken into account. Latvia will be replaced by Russia.
Game days are 9-20. August. The venue is Rogers Place in Edmonton.
Players born in 2002 and younger are eligible to enter the tournament. So the age group is the same as in the missed tournament.
Who is next?
Kimmo Oikarinen, the general manager of the youth national teams, has enough to do. JAAKKO STENROOS / AOP
And once the August replacement World Cup tournament is set, the national team under the age of 20 will once again need a new head coach for a longer cycle.
The name is open.
– We are primarily looking for a head coach for two seasons. The survey is under way, but in this situation we have calmed down the situation. First, we want a solution for the World Cup in August. Then let’s look at the next step, Oikarinen says.
– Important games will be played in the league in the coming weeks. We don’t want to disturb potential coach candidates now.
Will Birch continue?
Mikko Koivu will meet with Minnesota Wild’s general manager Bill Guerin. Birch may continue in the national team coaching round for under-20s. AOP
Mikko Koivu was involved in coaching the team in a short-lived World Cup tournament.
– The hope is that Mikko will be involved again in August. We’ve talked to him. Hopefully as many of the last group as possible would be involved.
The other coaches in Pennanen’s group were Ville Mäntymaa, Antti MiettinenMiika Elomo and the goalkeeper coach Juha Lehtola.
Elomo will not be involved in the following events, the man will coach Sanok’s team in the Polish league.
The next regular head coach will take the youth team to the World Championships in 2023, which kicks off on Day.
Russia had to host these youth World Championships. The tournament was naturally taken away from the country that invaded Ukraine.
No new race host has been selected.