Dropping from the final was a big disappointment for Jouko Myrra and Ilves.
Jouko Myrrä was very disappointed after the defeat. Tomi Natri / AOP
Ilves’ battle for the final place and the pitcher hunt between the Tampere teams was shattered on Saturday. TPS won the decisive match 2-1 and the whole series 4-2.
Head coach of the lynx Jouko Myrrä arrived at the post-match press conference really serious.
– The biggest feeling is disappointment on behalf of the team. They’ve done a lot of work. Today and in this series, it was not enough.
– There is no room for explanation in these series. Better went on.
The lynx had to leave Turku accompanied by beach balls. Tero Wester / AOP
Ilves was only able to win the series in his home hall. In Turku, the team managed to score only one goal in three games.
Ilves, who suffered injuries, was unable to stop TPS’s sparkling number one chain.
– We had a certain goal for this season. We saw an opportunity, but in the name of truth, we weren’t ready to go to the finals in this match series yet.
– I certainly learned the place for all of us what it takes to win an individual situation, a lot, a match in the playoffs. We didn’t have it this season.
Myrrä wanted to thank the whole team and the management team.
– The season has been challenging. Hopefully times are coming.
“I didn’t knock”
Jussi Ahokas will coach in the league finals. Elmeri Elo / AOP
Coaching TPS for the first time Jussi Ahokas was, instead, understandably overjoyed. The people of Turku advanced to the finals for the second year in a row.
It is honey for the home audience. There were more than 10,000 spectators on Saturday.
– Incredible feeling. Let’s be happy for a moment. I know I didn’t quite bother with this thing.
– The team sacrificed. Four chains, all busy.
TPS will face Tappara in the finals starting on Wednesday. The people of Turku are hungry, because the previous season ended in silver against Luko.
– There’s not enough silver here. We want to brighten it. There will be a really tough series against the killer. We want more.
You can watch the full match program of the finals here.