Tappara, represented by Jyrki Jokipaka, is fighting for the championship again. Mika Kylmäniemi / AOP
Is a player in the hockey SM league a top athlete? Are the physical characteristics of the players at the level you would expect in Finland’s most popular sports series?
Iltalehten Lettuce pot Wednesday’s episode dealt with the questions written above.
– Roughly speaking, half of the players can call themselves top athletes, Iltalehten Santtu Silvennoinen quoth.
So there are also positive examples.
In the episode, Tappara and KooKoo, who are currently in the final series, will receive an honorable mention. In particular, Tappara’s famous level of requirements is discussed In a puddle precisely with examples.
Silvennoinen has noticed a difference in Tappara and Ilves from Tampere, which is personified by the defender Jyrki Jokipakka.
After his NHL, AHL and KHL years, Jokipakka played in his foster club Ilves in 2022–23.
– At that time, with all due respect, he was a pretty lazy guy. He was Tommi Tikan, Otto Latvala and Petri Kontiolan with in the quartet, where the Hermanns left for Levi in the middle of the playoffs. It was purely a trip, Silvennoinen said.
– Okay, there was a lost semi-final and a long time to the bronze medal game, but it was a spirit of cynicism and laxity.
In Silvennoinen’s opinion, something similar would not have been heard in Tappara, which Jokipakka now represents. The current making of jokipakka is getting praise.
– The ice hockey player has become an athlete, even a top athlete, Silvennoinen said.
The episode also talks about other things Teemu from Hartikainen, Raimo from Helmifrom HIFK and SaiPa.
Who gets compliments and who gets towels? You can listen to the whole episode from the beginning of the story or on Spotify from here.
