“Jukka Jalonen is one of the best hockey coaches in the world”

– The result must come. Yes, everyone knows that.

This is how the 48-year-old was in line at the time Jukka Jalonen In Bratislava in 2011 as he prepared for the third World Cup of his career as head coach.

There were two failed World Championship gigs: 2009 in Switzerland and 2010 in Germany, when Finland dropped out of the semifinals. At the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, the Lions grabbed the bronze, but the team was undisciplined.

– Jukka’s position was not discussed, as he was allowed to continue to the 2011 World Cup. If 2011 had gone wrong, at least the media would have begun to question the position of head coach, recalls the then chairman of the Hockey Association. Kalervo Kummola.

After the spring 2010 World Cup disappointment, there was speculation in the media about Jalonen’s kicks, but it was not required in capital letters.

– One fired has annoyed: Pentti Matikainen fired in 1993. Afterwards went well when Curt Lindström led by winning the world championship, Kummola says.

– Usually I gave the head coach a chance, and the results were not expected so quickly. Everyone goes the first year with a little getting used to. No one has won or gone to the finals in their first opening tournament, the Iron Chancellor continues.

He surprised many when he named Erkka Westerlundin succeeded by the Canadian helmsman for the 2007-08 season Doug Sheddenin and Jalonen as his assistant.

– Hietanen Heikki was then the managing director of the Hockey Association. He had been busy with Jukka in Hämeenlinna. HPK’s championship in 2006 was quite decisive for the team that Jukka was selected. I thought there was something in that coach. But Jukka had never really worked in any international patterns.

Shedden was washed at the helm for a year, after which responsibility passed to Jalon.

– I thought Javo wouldn’t be thrown straight into the fire. Shedden was happy to leave for a year and Jukka was put to study. At that time, Jukka continued for a total of six years. This next washed away since the summer of 2018 has been sovereign control.

One of the best

– This was Mikko Koivun team. He was the leader – not me, and none of the members of the management team, Jalonen announced a gold medal around his neck in Bratislava in 2011.

On Sunday, he won his third world championship in his A-national team career. In February, a man from Riihimäki kicked out Olympic gold. In 2016, he took Finland under the age of 20 to the World Championships.

There was no talk in Tampere that the gold team was led by a player. It was Jukka Jalonen’s, 59, team.

– Jukka Jalonen is one of the best hockey coaches in the world, says the defending legend Kimmo Timonen.

That is a tough estimate.

– He has respect for the players. Respect for the players must always be earned, otherwise it won’t work. And the way you get it, so be successful. Jonen has the skill, Timonen estimates, who played for the Jalanen team at the Vancouver Olympics.

The Philadelphia player whispers at the criticism that Jalonen’s Lions are playing a boring puck.

– We are winning games, not losing in an entertaining way. This is a winning business.

Self-confidence

Those who have closely followed Jalonen’s career know that he is now clearly a better coach than in 2011.

That’s how it goes in Häme: slowly good comes.

– The tactical eye and many other things have improved with experience, Kummola estimates.

Self-confidence has also increased. You will notice it in team selections, among other things. The World Cup teams 2019 and 2021 were caught on time, and no NHL men were expected. Three places were held in Tampere when Jalonen was looking for players who would significantly strengthen the team in the bucks. Mikael Granlund, Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell were artists not available in Europe.

– It’s exactly the same as the game and who you’re up against, you won’t notice it from Jukka. If there is a coach who is excited, it will stick to the team. Jukka always has his feet on the ground and he never fumbles.

Now Jalonen no longer has to say that “the result must come”.

It has come to more than any Finnish puddle coach ever.