Schwenningen doesn’t seem to be a stumbling block for the Kölner Haie in the playoff quarter-finals. Cologne’s title dream is alive – that also has to do with the Finns in the team.
Of course: When the Kölner Haie on Sunday (March 29, 2026) with the 4:2 in Schwenningen clinched their third win in the play-off series against the Black Forest, they relied on one person above all: goalkeeper Janne Juvonen. The 31-year-old goalie unnerved the Wild Wings’ attackers in the final phase when the score was 3:2 with one save after another – you know it from the Finn.
After the DEL main round, Juvonen was already named the best player of the season in the DEL. It’s quite possible that his parades are the basis for Cologne’s big dream: finally celebrating the German championship again. The last time this happened was in 2002 – 24 years ago.
Kluge Transfer policy
The fact that the people of Cologne can think so big again definitely has to do with the clever transfer policy of those responsible. The Finnish coach Kari Jalonen, together with Haie sports director Matthias Baldys, has guided a number of his compatriots to the Rhine in recent years.
An assistant and goalkeeper coach, a supervisor, six players: goalkeeper Juvonen, defenders Oliwer Kaski, Valtteri Kemiläinen, Markus Nutivaara and Veli-Matti Vittasmäki and striker Juhani Tyrväinen. “Ice hockey is not an individual sport, the team must always come first. The Finns are trained for this”Jalonen recently told the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”.
Increased width in the squad
Already in the main round, which the Cologne team finished confidently as first in the table, it became clear: Jalonen and Baldys have impressively made up for the last deficits compared to their German competition on the transfer market. When we reached the final series last year, our final opponent Berlin was in a much better position. The Haie had no chance and lost their last three games 0-7. “Berlin was simply better, we had our problems, we didn’t have the depth”says Jalonen.
That has changed. The Haie team appears to be solid across the board, plays adult ice hockey and has players in its ranks who know how to win titles.
Finnish defenders of World class format
World class: Valtteri Kemiläinen
Valtteri Kemiläinen is one of those people. In 2017, 2023 and 2024, the 34-year-old, who is described as a key transfer in Cologne, won the Finnish championship with Tappara Tampere. He also won the Champions Hockey League with Tampere in 2022 and 2023. He celebrated the greatest success of his career in spring 2022. The defender won the gold medal with the Finnish national team at the Winter Olympics in Beijing.
In defense, Kemiläinen knows Oliwer Kaski is an equally experienced and confident compatriot. The 1.90 meter tall “closet” became world champion with Finland in 2019, gained club experience in the NHL, the Russian KHL, Switzerland and Sweden before moving to the Sharks in 2025.
Coach leaves the team
It is clear that such seasoned professionals are leaving their mark in the DEL. It has been known since October that successful coach Jalonen will be leaving the club at the end of the season. This didn’t cause a break in the team. “Once I made the decision, I went straight into the dressing room. The boys respected the fact that I was so honest at that time of year.”says Jalonen.
Of course, he would like to say goodbye with the German championship title. His compatriots on the ice are his greatest assets.
Our sources:
- Kölnische Rundschau
- Cologne City Gazette
- Homepage Cologne Sharks
- sports information service
- Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Broadcast: WDR.de“The Cologne Sharks and the secret weapon Finland”, March 30, 202611:45 a.m
