Jukka Jalonen vehemently denies that he would have appointed Antti Pennase as his successor. The master pilot talks about his future goals: the NHL is still a dream, but the man at the helm of Ilves is unlikely to be seen in the 2024–25 season.
Bullshit. It says so Jukka Jalonen to the information circulating in the inner circle of the Finnish hockey community, according to which he was strongly on the train Antti from Pennase continuing his work in Leijon.
– I don’t choose my own successor, Jalonen underlines.
– I was involved in the early stages when I was thinking about candidates with a small group. Then there have been a few people led by the CEO who have led the process. After that, I haven’t wanted to take a stand, Jalonen adds.
According to information from Iltalehti, they were at the end Kari Jalonen and Antti Pennanen. Pennanen was selected for the position with a 2+1 year contract.
Pennanen worked as Jukka Jalonen’s assistant coach in Leijon during the 2018–19 World Cup gold season.
– If in theory I was behind Pennanen and others disagreed, and I messed it up, it would be completely stupid.
Jalonen says that “background work and interviews were done carefully, and you shouldn’t be worried about the process”.
– CV is not the only way to get into Leijon, he points out.
What do you mean?
– How the coach candidate coaches, how it leads and with whom. Those are things that I thought were worth asking. It’s important to know what’s to come, Jalonen answers.
The result is decisive
Antti Pennanen will move from Ilves to head coach of the Lions. Jaakko Stenroos/AOP
Pennanen coached HPK to a surprising WC gold in the spring of 2019. After that, as head coach of the Young Lions, he achieved WC bronze in 2021 and WC silver in 2022. The man took the helm of Ilves a year ago and won WC bronze in the spring of 2023.
– Pennanen is, after all, a professional – like everyone who has been nominated. Pennase has experience in the club team, the A national team and the junior national team. In addition to the coaching work, he has educated himself, Jukka Jalonen estimates.
Among other things, Jalonen, who won Olympic gold and three world championships as the head coach of the Lions, was chosen to lead the A national team for the first time in 2007. The first season’s shield man on the head coach’s ball was pulled by a Canadian Doug Shedden.
– You are quite often that kind of coach, as the last couple of seasons show. Nobody remembers what you achieved 3-4 years ago. The coach has to be in the right here and now. When I was first drafted, I was a hot coach. You have to be in the right place at the right time and go a little crazy to be selected for Leijon.
Before his first Leijonat pesti, Jalose had SM gold from 2006 and SM bronze from 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2007 from HPK.
Hardly for tassel ears
Ilves CEO Risto Jalo is looking for a new head coach. Mika Kanerva
Iltalehti reported the other week that Jalos had been approached from Ilves and offered the job that was being released from Pennase.
– It’s very unlikely, but you can’t say that it’s 100 percent certain. I’m not ready to sign a contract with Finland right away. If it was March, I didn’t have a job and Ilves or someone else asked, it could very well be that I would leave. Ilves is unlikely to wait until February-March. Surely they will try to find a new head coach as quickly as possible.
Jalonen uses the conditional when talking about Pennanen’s situation, because the Ice Hockey Federation has not yet informed about the contract.
– My number one goal is to coach abroad next season. The league is not a place that inspires right now. But sometime later it may be possible.
The dream of the NHL
Doug Shedden was the head coach of the Lions in the 2007–08 season. Kari Kuukka
The man from Riihimäki is interested in working as a head coach next season primarily in Switzerland or Sweden, but he does not rule out the main leagues in the Czech Republic and Germany.
– I would like to coach the club team for a few more years. After that, we’ll see whether to retire or what to do, comments Jalonen, who will turn 61 in November.
Abroad, there would be different incentives for passionate hockey coaching than in Finland.
– It would not be in the familiar and safe home country of Finland, and the coaching language would not be Finnish.
The NHL is still a dream for the man, but not a realistic goal.
– It’s hard to get there as a European coach if you haven’t played in the NHL. On the other hand, it would only require one club to be interested.
Would you be ready to join an NHL club as an assistant coach?
– I am interested in the position of assistant coach. It is clearly a more realistic job. According to NHL clubs, it would be a really big risk to hire a European head coach. There is no similar risk when there is one of four or five assistant coaches.
Will Ilves flop?
Jukka Jalonen won, among other things, three World Championship golds and an Olympic gold in Leijon. Picture from the spring 2022 WC gold party in Tampere. PASI LEISMA
Jalonen will watch the Tampere local match between Tappara and Ilves at the Nokia Arena on Thursday, as he works as Maikkar’s TV commentator.
How is Ilves doing this season?
– Ilves has a competitive team that is fighting for the championship. At the very beginning, things have not taken off. I believe that there will be positive changes in the team. There is a good group, good coaching and good conditions, so I have no doubts that it will work.
At Iltalehti’s request, Jalonen takes a general position on how the working community reacts when the head coach announces that he is changing jobs.
– Much depends on how the matter is brought out. If the coach is going to Leijon, of course he wants to put on a great display. Probably putting everything on the line and the best on the table to get a flying start in Leijon, Jalonen begins.
– I would think that there will be momentary confusion and uncertainty before the matter is clear. When the situation calms down and things become clearer, I don’t think it will have a negative effect. If I were in such a situation myself, I would pull as hard as possible so that no one would think that I am not committed, Jalonen adds.