Ismo Lehkonen admits that the riot has left lifelong scars

Thursday evening, November 30, 2000. The audience at the Helsinki Ice Rink is buzzing when JYPin Jussi Pesonen taklaa HIFK Martin Stlusedin from the back sharply to the side.

The Czech Republic shrinks to the ice, but the hand of the judge who saw the situation right next door suddenly remains low.

A few minutes later, HIFK’s hard mask Veli-Pekka Kautonen attackes Pesonen and obtains a shower conviction.

It wasn’t the only penalty left for HIFK, and the consequences of the incident turned the team at the top of the series into a downturn for the season.

– That annoying episode pretty much destroyed the season Ismo Lehkonen60, times a series of events at home at home in the Turku archipelago.

Strict sanction

Lehkonen started in the Finnish Championship as head coach right from the top, when HIFK, which won gold and silver in the previous two seasons in 1999, unexpectedly took on the key role of an inexperienced coach.

However, the line-up was no longer at the same level. Lehkonen, aware of the scale of the challenge, thanks HIFK’s then CEO Frank Mobergia.

– I knew I was coming to hell on earth, but Frank gave me really good steps and the first year went well.

Lehkonen led HIFK fourth.

– The second year was harder then. History can’t be changed, but that year I would still like to change, he says.

– It all happened, and then it became my long ban.

The league ran out of Lehkonen ‘s ban on as many as ten matches from Kautonen. Kauton also got a five-match collar.

– I had nothing to do with it, “Ika” assures.

– And I still haven’t received an apology for it.

Pickup call

The punishment was the result of Lehkonen’s cry, which was recorded between the filers For recording on MTV3: “Now there’s a pick-up for Pesone – and hey! Fuck!”

The discipline of the league interpreted that Lehkonen had ordered Kautonen to take revenge on Pesone, which he still vehemently denies.

– It was reported as a crime. Season card locals were interviewed, a large portion of the players and of course me. Police said Ismo, you have nothing to do with this.

It fell into that. Pesonen had no requirements for Lehkonen or Kautonen, who acted according to his own role in the situation.

– I was just trying to give us a little more life, Lehkonen says in his words.

– As an experienced coach, I would keep my mouth shut.

Lehkonen received advice from lawyers that it would have been worthwhile for him to take an unreasonable ban on trustees to court.

– They said I should demand compensation because it leaves a lifelong scar. And that’s how it left off.

However, Lehkonen and HIFK did not appeal the penalty.

– It was IFK’s style not to shout.

After his return, Lehkonen was soon fired, although HIFK was still second in the series. Eventually it slipped to sixth.

He still hears about it.

– It always comes from here to here that what the retriever, he says with a laugh.

– What’s in it, it’s a part of life. Must be treated with humor.

The lessons of Jursinov

In the 1980s, Lehkonen played a total of 115 matches in the ranks of his breeders’ club Jokerie and HPK.

– I quit because I had three big surgeries. I couldn’t rehabilitate anymore.

For a couple of seasons, Lehkonen piloted Pallo-Karhuja in Kuusamo in the second division until he moved to Turku in 1992.

He says he didn’t even think about coaching at that point. Meeting with TPS head coach Vladimir Yursinov with changed the direction of his life.

– Jursi remembered me as a player and said that “I think you better start coaching”.

The legendary Russian coach saw the man’s passion for hockey. Lehkonen took note of the tip and coached the teams of the upper junior age groups of TuTon and then of TPS in 1992–97.

– I was Jursin and Wahlsten’s Juuson to be mentored. With Juuso, I pulled high school morning ice, and in one season, I watched almost all of Tepsi’s exercises.

– It totally took me. I liked the way Jursi coached. He was a quality supervisor in the style of the old covenant.

Advice from legends

Lehkonen remembers the valuable advice he received from Wahlsten and Jursinov.

– I got really good tips from Juuso. He said always remember Ismo, the game at the center. Players have come to play a lot.

– Jursi said that everything that is done has to serve the game – be it skill, physics or whatever.

Following Jursinov, Lehkonen also understood the level of training required.

– We are not doing any 60 game men but elite athletes who are going to the highest possible level. Everything you do must serve it. Athletic soles need to be insanely hard to be able to play about 130 games a season and stay healthy.

Lehkonen’s time with TPS juniors ended on Jursinov’s initiative.

– He came to announce that now it’s time to leave – according to the men. That’s when I left for Kokkola.

In the 1997–98 season, Lehkonen piloted Hermes in the first division. Jursinov fed his apprentice in player selections.

– He referred to my coaching style and said don’t take any experienced players, they can’t stand you.

– That was a good guide, and we did really well. The flies were dropped, Lehkonen reminds.

Next, Lehkonen made his debut as a coach in the Finnish Championships. He worked second Teijo Räsänen piloted by HPK and won the Finnish Championship bronze medal in the spring of 1999.

Boys of Rauma

The head coach’s wash came immediately the following season, and after two HIFK years, the trip continued to Rauma. In 2001, Lukko launched the so-called My Boys project.

– It was a really nice time, Lehkonen says and praises Luko’s then CEO Jyrki Santala.

– It was an ingenious bet to make low-budget teams, grow players and then hit all inwhen the right opportunity arises.

After the rejuvenation surgery, Luko’s goal was to play credible hockey in the first season, reach the playoffs in the second season and win a medal in the third season.

Under Lehkonen’s direction, the direction was right, when the 12th place in the first season improved with the second instead of the ninth.

– Fighting until the playoffs. It was a hell of a good year, but if I could live it again, I would do a lot of things differently behind the bench, he says, self-critical.

– I remember like the nonsense yesterday that was done inside the game.

Lehkonen’s third season in Rauma was interrupted when Lukko changed his head coach in November 2003.

– When one and a half of the field was injured and I couldn’t get to the front row, I knew it would be difficult.

– For two years, I had tightened the screw quite insanely so that I could make players. The level of demand was right. Then when the season started a little badly, the coach senses what’s getting new power into it: bringing in a new field of new guys. However, I did not have enough Nazis for that.

Jukka Rautakorven under the leadership of Lukko eventually ranked fifth.

– In my opinion, it was the right move for Luko, Lehkonen says, being able to look at changing the leader from the perspective of the club as well.

– The team needed a new voice in the booth and another kind of commander who goes to the office and announces that one of the field guys is coming right there. And from there came one field.

AHL workouts

Lehkonen’s career continued at Mestis except in 2008-09, when he was second coach to the former NHL coach. Glen Hanlonin piloting the Jokers. He had met Hanlon years earlier as he coached the Washington Capitals farm team at Portland Pirates.

– I was with it for a week’s home games and a week’s away tour. It was fun to pull the exercises for them when they had to goon so Sámi.

– After that, Washington brought my promising junior players to HIFK and Lukko for the summer.

On children’s terms

Lehkonen had gotten off to a good start in his coaching career, and in 27 years as a junior and men coach, his team has only been out of the playoffs three times.

He has received offers both from Finland and abroad, so why has Peszko been the last head coach in the Finnish Champions League? At the helm of TuTon in Mestis, Lehkonen has won the championship and three bronzes.

– Kids, he answers.

– It’s terribly lucky to be able to train in a place where my kids are.

The most famous of Lehkonen’s five children in the world of discs is the 26-year-old who is aiming for the Stanley Cup championship in the ranks of the Colorado Avalanche. Artturi Lehkonen.

Lehkonen will continue to train as a figure skating coach Tiia Hurmeen with Chase Your Dreams, a company that provides special hockey coaching for individuals and teams.