Lauri Mikkola took the under-20 national team to the top four in the World Cup tournament for the second time in a row.
Lauri Mikkola and his coaching team will lead Finland to the semi-finals of the World Cup tournament on Saturday. by Matt Zamboni
Finland made it to the semi-finals of the Under-20 Ice Hockey World Championships. The night before Friday, Nuoret Leijonat defeated Slovakia in a colorful match with numbers 5-3 in the quarterfinals.
The head coach Lauri Mikkola enjoy the positive aspects of the game. Finland scored three goals in the opening set.
– Yes, it was nice to go to the game. We controlled the flow and rhythm of the game in the first set and really until the end of the second set. The third set wavered, and we didn’t get a really solid package for it anymore. Of course, the opponent hit everything.
– That end of the game was well handled.
Weird drive out
Aron Kiviharju disagreed with the expulsion. PDO
Defender Emil Pieniniemi was sent off for a knee tackle at the start of the second period. Slovakia gained a five-minute advantage and scored a goal.
Captain Aron Kiviharju did not agree with the jury’s verdict at all and expressed it directly in the TV5 halftime interview.
– I told the judge that it was a pretty tough sentence and there are two teams there. You can let someone freeze in the other direction as well. Swedish judge, these are always a bit difficult cases, the HIFK pack fired.
After the game, head coach Mikkola did not want to return to the matter.
– Well, the judges decide.
“Returning”
Rasmus Kumpulainen (left) scored one of Finland’s goals in the quarterfinals. ZumaWire / MVPHOTOS
Finland is playing wonderfully in the World Cup semi-finals for the second year in a row. Both semifinals will be played on Saturday, and the bronze medal game and the World Championship final on Sunday.
The head coach did not reveal more about Finland’s preparation format. Young Lions may not practice on the ice at all on Friday.
– Well, nothing. Let’s joke around here and get back to you. Let’s weave the plots and then just get down to business. Shouldn’t all teams win in this tournament if you want to win something? As such, it doesn’t matter who the opponent is.
Finland’s semi-final is going to be amazing, because it’s Sweden. The western neighbor makes a splash in the tournament with a clean game.
TV5 will show the match.