Finland has dominated prestigious competitions by winning two World Championship golds, one World Championship silver and Olympic gold within four years.
- At the same time, Sweden has been left without a medal each time.
- The classic match of the World Cup between Finland and Sweden will be played in Tampere on Monday from 20:20.
Sweden will surely have a strong desire to show and push Finland off the throne when the two countries meet on Monday night at the World Cup in Tampere.
– Yes. But we have a strong desire for revenge because of Eurovision, Leijoni’s 32-year-old defender Miika Koivisto is wonderfully reminiscent of the runner-up Wrapper about the questionable defeat of Sweden For Loreen.
Sweden under attack
In ice hockey, Sweden’s most recent medal is the spring 2018 gold, which was the second head coach in a row Rikard Grönborgin under.
After Grönborg, whom Tappara replaced as his new head coach this spring, Tre Kronor became the leader Johan Garpenlöv, during which the results were dismal. Last year, the team’s World Championship ranking was sixth.
Now Garpenlöv has been allowed to give way, and Sweden has the responsibility for the appeal To Sam Hallam is subject to overwhelming expectations.
Under the leadership of the former successful coach of the SHL club Växjö Lakers, the Swedish game has made sense again. Tre Kronor won the first three EHT tournaments of the season and was second behind Switzerland in the last one.
When coming to Tampere, the team has certainly changed, but not for the worse, since there are eight NHL players.
Finnish ice hockey
Koivisto, who has played in Växjö for the last four seasons, describes Hallam as a human-friendly coach.
– It’s easy to talk to him. He understands a lot about the game, studies it and watches tapes.
According to Koivisto, Hallam’s game philosophy is very similar to Finnish hockey.
– In Sweden, many coaches are like that, a lot of work and a lot of skating. His idea is to work smart.
Championships
Koivisto won two Swedish championships in the ranks of Växjö, the first under Hallam in 2021 and the second this year by Jörgen Jönsson acting as head coach.
As a coach, Hallam is also known for the fact that he strives to nurture a good atmosphere in his team.
– Yes, and it didn’t change during Jönsson’s tenure. In Växjö, the team was always really united – especially in those years when we won. There was a good feeling there.
Cultural difference
Koivisto notes a clear difference in the Swedish coaching culture compared to Finland.
– You can’t give such direct feedback to the players there. The Swedish players have to go around a bit, twist and patch. If we look at the tapes, we are always reminded that it is not about this player (who made the mistake), but it could have been anyone.
– In Finland, everyone understands that it is not personal, even if it is not specifically said.
About the players of the Swedish team Lukas Bengtsson is very familiar to Koivisto: they played in Växjö as a team pair.
– Lukas is a really good skater, and he has a hard shot. If you can support direct attacks, it will come at a good pace.
A long shot
Since Koivisto enjoyed himself and excelled in Växjö, one must ask why he doesn’t continue there anymore?
– Four years abroad in the same place is quite a long time, he answers.
– Yes, during the season I started to think that it might be nice to come back to Finland. There was also something concrete on offer, he refers to the contract paper offered by Kärppie.
– If you want to continue abroad, it often drags on and on. And it was clear that after four years, the scenery must be changed.
– From my point of view, it was good that the coach changed in Växjö. We got a few new things in there, when the everyday started to be quite the same. The meetings were different, and you no longer knew them by heart.
Return to Kärpp
The choice of a quality defender therefore fell on Kärpp – a familiar club where he won the Finnish championship in 2018.
– Of course, it was one factor that the organization is such that there is an opportunity every year to put together a team that can succeed.
Koivisto has good memories of his time in Oulun, also for the fact that his game went brilliantly during the Kärppie championship season. He won the defensemen’s point exchange with 10+29=39 and collected eight power markings in the playoffs as well.
– It’s easy to go back there.
My role
In the national team, Koivisto has been profiled as a reliable broom whose value is highlighted not only in opening the game with ease, but also in playing in the defensive direction. There will be plenty of liability for shortfalls.
When will the hidden talents of the shark be revealed even in a lion shirt?
– It’s quite difficult as a defender to score any huge points in a draw. I’ve taken my role as it is, and that’s probably why we’re here, that you can perform it well.
Koivisto’s story is precisely the commitment that makes Leijoni’s success possible.
– Over the years, I have been able to diversify my own game. I play more international games through the basic game, and in the club team I have been able to produce results.