Ice Hockey Championship League SaiPa is changing its head coach.
Pekka Virta will not continue at SaiPa. Tomi Natri / AOP
SaiPa says in its publication on Friday in its announcementthat Pekka Virta will not continue as the team’s head coach.
Virta will be replaced at the helm of the league jumbo Ville Hämäläinen.
Virta, 53, arrived in SaiPaa a little over a year ago, having previously won the championship with Rauma Luko. Success was not achieved in Lappeenranta.
– In good and open discussions with Peka and Liiga-SaiPa Oy’s board, we have concluded that this is the best solution for the team. In our opinion, our team is better than what the result shows now. Both parties had high expectations and it is naturally a big disappointment that we have not been successful, even though Pekka has brought a lot of good things to SaiPa, CEO of SaiPa Jussi Markkanen commented in the announcement.
Virta says that he understands the desire of the club management that his three-year contract ended before its halfway point.
– Naturally, it is a big disappointment for me that there was no success, but as someone who has been paid for 35 years of hockey, I understand the realities. Now was the right time to make a more radical solution to offer the team peace of mind and a new start, says the experienced coach.
ElmoTV was the first to report on Virtra’s firing on Thursday.
Story completed and title changed at 10:18.