According to Konsta Helenius, the intention was not to hurt the Swiss players.
On Sunday, Leijonat won its fifth world championship in history, when it defeated Switzerland 1-0 at the end of extra time in the highly exciting World Cup final.
The 20-year-old who represents the Buffalo Sabers in the NHL took the mantle of decider for himself in overtime Konsta Helenius. The youngster showed cool confidence in the situation: he protected the puck with one hand, skated to the launch point and put the puck past Leonardo Genoni.
However, the situation did not end there. Helenius pinned two Swiss players to the ice before going for his winning goal.
According to Helenius, the intention was not to hurt Ken Jäger and Janis Moser.
– I noticed that there is a guy in front of it. The puck went into the goal, so I thought that when you have fast speeds, it will make it easier for you if you push it a little to the side. I didn’t try to hurt, but it made it easier for me to give a little kiss, Helenius said on Friday in Tampere.
– If I had just let it be, maybe I could have fallen myself. However, we went to celebrate it, so I thought it would be a little easier to play my own role in it, Helenius continued.
Helenius was also asked if he felt sorry for Switzerland, who have now lost three consecutive World Cup finals. According to the young man, pity did not remain the dominant emotion.
– It didn’t happen then, and it certainly doesn’t happen now, when I was the winning side.
Moments before the picture, Helenius knocked two Swiss players to the ice. Pasi Liesimaa
However, Helenius reminded us of the atmosphere of the home crowd in Switzerland.
– Of course, everyone wanted them to win. Of course we ruined it.
– But even though they lost, the Swiss made a lot of noise there. You have seen it, they have done a great job and have been in the finals three times in a row. It would be nice for them to get that win.
Helenius said at the end that after the World Cup final, he remembered one moment in particular.
– I immediately tried to look for the family in the stands, but then the mother had passed out there, so she couldn’t be found in the stands. After the game, I found out what the problem was, and I immediately went to greet them and see that everything was fine.
Konsta Helenius won the World Cup gold for Finland. Pasi Liesimaa