Lauri Marjamäki got off to a good start at the helm of the Flies when the team won Aces 4–1 at home.
Lauri Marjamäki returned Kärpät to the path of victories. Emil Hansson / AOP
- At that, Juhamatti Aaltonen was noted down for a hat trick.
- Like Marjamäki, Julius Junttila and David Sklenicka, who moved from the Jokers, immediately seemed to be reinforcements for the team.
- The flies rose past HIFK to sixth place in the league table.
From Jokers, who has suspended his KHL season, moved to Kärpp – or returned – Lauri Marjamäki had time to prepare the team for the Aces match only briefly on Sunday and Monday.
– A lot of things went through. I’m glad the team wanted to do those things, he said.
– There was a bit of a toe in the first installment. Not so aggressively able to play nor with the puck.
The aces won the opening round Roni Sevänen at a temperature of 1–0.
– Then it was improved, and it was nice to see that you can play on four chains. Each striker had special situation responsibilities, Marjamäki said of the way to engage players in a unified performance.
Juhamatti Aaltonen hat trick and Mika Pyörälä the superiority of the paint turned the numbers on Kärpi.
Juhamatti Aaltonen was blatantly laughing after that horrible attempt quite honestly we can only agree. Mikko Lieri / AOP
In addition to Marjamäki, Kärpät was acquired by the attacker from the Jokers Julius Junttilan and defender David Sklenickan.
Junttila got to Oulu four hours and Sklenicka only three hours before the game. The Czech Republic was even late for the warm-up, but both performances deserved the coach’s praise.
– They are important players for the team. Junttila is a very skating and versatile player, and Sklenicka is really in top physical condition. He defends, attacks and is really tough in battles.
– Our fighting game especially needs to get better. There’s a lot of work to be done, but we’re happy with how the dudes are trying to do it. That is the most important thing, Marjamäki said.
Difference to KHL
Comparing the league and KHL games, Marjamäki paid attention to fighting combat and defensive response.
– There are very skilled, fast and attack-oriented players here. It’s a good league, but when it comes to box in front of the goal or to go to the goal, then that’s probably the biggest difference.
– KHL has adult hair follicles. Sure, there are experienced, good players here too, but more of this is the league of young players.
New opponent
Next, Kärpät will challenge the second-placed Jukurit in Mikkeli.
The sentence reflects the change in the Finnish Championship League, as during the previous Kärpät Pest in Marjamäki in 2013–16, Jukurit was not even a league club yet.
– The Marski Cup was once held with the Blues, Marjamäki remembers the time of his previous visit to Mikkeli, when there was still a league team in Espoo and Mikkeli was played from Mest.
On Wednesday, he will coach at headquarters for the first time in a league match.
– The success of the jurors is no coincidence, yes the team is playing a good start. We need to improve a lot from this game if we are going to get there, Marjamäki emphasized.
– The main thing is that we now had the first experience. Seeing in the morning where we are good and what needs to be improved, he referred to the conclusions drawn from a more detailed analysis.
Clean table
Marjamäki’s previous fly wash brought two gold and one bronze to Oulu.
Now he’s not leaving the medals let alone the championship.
– I told the dudes to leave the table. Let’s make one good day and think no further. If we do things well, then we may have a chance to have a good week. If we do things very well, we can have a good month.
– This is an important club for me, and I have good memories here, Marjamäki said and reminded that on Monday there were 13 Flies in the line-up.
– It’s a resource that we care about this company. I could have done something else myself, but I didn’t bother to watch from the couch. It’s the easiest place to judge from there, so nothing more than to come, take responsibility and help follow this as much as you can. I am ready to do it, Marjamäki described his attitude.
– What is enough is unpredictable. Let’s get what we deserve.