The twist between Finland and Norway saw a rare sight in national team games: a fight.
In the third installment, Lions’ four-chain winger Saku Mäenalanen dropped the gloves on Norway Magnus Henriksen with.
The duo exchanged blows with their fists, after which the road took them out of the big doors and into the shower.
– The other is whining and whispering to go, will be rotting. Probably (Mäenalanen) thought he had to defend himself. No wonder, Lions head coach Jukka Jalonen said.
On the other hand, Jalonenen certainly cannot be particularly pleased if Mäenalanen is banned from fighting.
The Lions Quadruple Chain Mäenalanen–Hannes Björninen–Marko Anttila has played a big part in previous success teams.
A fist fight was seen in the Nokia Arena. Jussi Saarinen
“It happens between these”
Björninen, Mäenalasen’s chain friend, did not leave to judge the duo’s solution either.
– I think it was a spontaneous heating up of emotions. There was a lot of struggle in the game from the beginning and especially at the end. These happen in between, and I think we’re just going to move on. Good to have a feeling. I have nothing else to say about it, Björninen said.
The fact is, however, that it is in national team games that fist fights are very rare. They are not constantly seen in the Finnish Championship League either, but in the NHL, for example, they seem to be part of the game.
“Surely they are so few because they are forbidden in the rules,” Björninen said, laughing.
– Sometimes it spills and there’s nothing in it. Let’s move on.
Juho Lammikko and Christian Kasastul also got cold from fighting. Jussi Saarinen
Fighting or not?
Also the Lions Juho Lammikko and Norway Christian Kasastul received penalties for fighting.
However, many wondered if the confrontation in the second round was a fight at all.
– Yes, of course we wondered, Jalonen said.
– I’ve never seen someone like that become a fifth, and I’ve coached quite a few games. It needs to be clarified whether this is always the case. It feels weird, but can’t do anything.