Leijon currently has only seven defenders, which is exceptional for Jukka Jalonen’s teams.
The lions took the elevator to the hall. Others were denied access. Jussi Saarinen
The World Hockey Championships will start in Helsinki and Tampere on Friday, but there were still many open questions above the Lions on Thursday.
The lions trained behind closed doors on the eve of the home race in the training hall of the Nokia Arena. Access to the rehearsal hall for the training media is prohibited during the Games.
The difference with the Beijing Olympics, for example, is significant. At the time, almost all the exercises were open to the media. Only the Chinese team had some restrictions.
At the World Hockey Championships, the corona rules are much looser than in Beijing, but the organizers of the competition justified the restriction of access to the training hall with corona security.
Goalkeeper Harri Säteri’s smile was sensitive. Jussi Saarinen
“Then you will see”
Because the Lions ’drills were behind closed doors, the print media couldn’t see which chains the team was chilling on the ice.
Head coach Jukka Jalonen was silent about the players.
– When the race passports are stamped, then you will see what that composition will be. The stamped ones will play on Saturday, Jalonen said.
Under Jalonen, the Lions have always played with eight defenders, so that the condition of the players is enough to twist in the playoffs as well. Many other teams play six defenders. Henri Jokiharjun with the start, however, the Lion currently has only seven defenders in the ring.
According to Jalonen, the Lions will keep the door open for new players during the first round of the NHL playoffs.
If, for example, Dallas Stars were to fall for the Calgary Flames (match wins for the Flames 3–2), real super names would be released to the Lions: Defenders Miro Heiskanen, Esa Lindell, Jani Hakanpää and attackers Roope Hintz and Joel Kiviranta.
Jukka Jalonen is still touring the NHL and SHL.
In America, whooping cough
It is very possible that there will be a lot more star glory on the list of Lions.
Jalonen revealed that the interest in the World Cup has been wide in NHL players.
– Would there have been one or two players who said in advance Jerelle (Leaflet) that would probably not be leaving if the call came because there is no contract. But the head of one of the players has turned there. But of course those are not sure things, Jalonen said.
– If you have an injury or a big disappointment when you fall in a stand-alone game, you may not want to come. But home races are a special event for players. Now there may be home races for two years in a row, but under normal circumstances these come roughly every 10 years.
Earlier this week Mikael Granlund announced that he would come to the Lions. That meant men in the supply chain Miro Aaltonen had to leave home.
– I understand (Granlund) will be on Friday and then, by all accounts, will play on Saturday. I don’t really think he would play on Friday.