SaiPa’s course in the SM league turned immediately after the coach changed.
- League jumbo SaiPa has won all three of its matches since Pekka Virta made room for Ville Hämäläinen as the head coach.
- Virta is happy about the release of the team, which was the purpose of the decision made on his initiative.
SaiPa missed last season, which was Pekka Virran first in Lappeenranta, second last in the league.
This fall, led by Virra, it collected only six points from its 11 games in the early season and got stuck in jumbo place.
On Friday, October 14, SaiPa raised its second coat Ville Hämäläinen In place of Virta as the number one commander. Since then, the team has faced Kärpä, JYP and Ilves – and won them all.
Pekka Virta says that he is relieved by the release of SaiPa’s game. Vesa Pöppönen / AOP
Eight points from three matches is two more than the people from Lappeenranta were able to scrape together from 11 matches before that.
The ranking hasn’t changed, but the gap with the top teams has narrowed and Sputnik has instantly risen to compete for the last playoff spot with JYP, which is now in tenth place, as well as Ässie, Sport, HIFK and Jukurie.
There are only four points to go over the line, and there are only marginal differences in the match point averages of the six.
The net is swaying
SaiPa’s expression is happy again. Mikko Lieri / AOP
The most noticeable change has occurred in SaiPa’s goal numbers. It has hit 13 hits in three matches, which is the same as in all previous games combined.
Ilves won on Saturday with a score of 6–4.
– It has been difficult to score goals, and now it felt like everything was going to work, having punished his parent club with a hat trick Ville Meskanen said in an interview with C More.
– Is this easier now? Through the change of coach, a certain kind of new, fresh start was achieved. Everyone probably needed that, got a little more self-confidence, Meskanen continued.
The results of the work
What does Pekka Virta think about all this? Is the master coach who piloted Luko to the SM gold in the spring of 2021 sour when Sputnik’s trajectory took a sharp rise right after he left?
– On the contrary, I am very happy and satisfied, Virta answers.
He says that he is happy for both the players and the coaching, and also feels that the results of his own work in the performance of the team are visible.
– Since May of last year, I was making that team, and there is not a single person in the coaching team that I did not want and choose. In any case, Ville Hämäläinen would have been in SaiPa’s plans in the future, and it was also part of the project that he would learn more about coaching.
– Plus the contracts of the current team, probably the brightest Kristian Pospisil. He wouldn’t have even turned to Lappeenranta if I hadn’t visited him during the World Cup and talked about the opportunities he has there. For example, I have no complaints about his playing and trying, Virta says of the Slovakian striker already known from the Rauman days.
Three of Pospisil’s five power points of the season (2+1) have come in the last three matches, and more specifically in two right after the coach change.
– His message after I quit was that he was under pressure when he couldn’t get the result done, Virta says.
– Now, in this course reversal, his importance has been very great.
The solution was successful
Virta says that she called SaiPa’s coaching and asked how they talked about the change to the team.
– They said it in such a way that everyone is now responsible for the fact that one person has had to take responsibility for this.
Virta took the initiative on her own initiative. SaiPa also announced that his head coach contract was terminated by mutual consent.
– If I had been kicked out, I might have reason to think negatively. Now it’s the opposite, because this was the last solution that could be done when the hall started to empty.
– We had the pressure created by the result when we lost that year down there. Because of that, the expected value was now at hand quite quickly. There was a long discussion about my initiative, and the solution worked out perfectly: they got it a new start.
– For example, Meskanen says exactly as it is, i.e. scoring is getting easier and now this is easier, Virta states.
– It’s easier for me too when that thing was successful and the hall is full again.
– I guarantee and underline that the team is in a better state than it was when I went there. The body remains there now, and they have a chance to succeed in the future.
Having said this, Virta points out that she does not want to say that she is the success of the story.
– I myself bear the responsibility that I did not succeed in what I set out to do.
Possibility to build
Ville Hämäläinen became SaiPa’s head coach for the second time in the middle of the season. The last time was in the 2020–2021 season. Mikko Lieri / AOP
According to Virra, SaiPa’s composition still needs confirmation. He doesn’t want to elaborate on his view, but at least the middle lane remained thin after the recent acquisition Kevin Fitzgerald had to end his career. Dropped from the defense after the JYP win Greg Moro aside for several weeks.
– It would be an impossible equation to react to these things when with those viewer numbers it was already going negative, Virta refers to the club’s player budget.
Virta admitted to Iltalehti, fresh after his departure, that his puckish and attacking winning style of play – which brought Luko the championship – is challenging for the players.
Hämäläinen has made the game simpler.
– He has certainly brought something new, Virta states.
– But yes, the playbook we honed together was suitable for everyone, and it doesn’t make sense to change it in such a short time.
According to Virra, the biggest change is the liberation brought by success.
– Every player has more personal skills than when they are, so to speak, stiff as shit – that is, there is a fear of losing and a feeling of shame.
– We already blew it a week earlier, which resulted in a really good KooKoo game, which, however, was managed, Virta reminds thirdly about the overtime loss of his last match.
– Now there’s an opportunity to build nuances, but I’m not really going to take a stand on what anyone should do.
Good relations
Virta emphasizes that she is not bitter towards SaiPa in any way.
– I have a really good taste and opinion about all those people. Everyone gets along really well.
Regarding his own future, Virta says things are open.
– I am open to all options.
The 53-year-old from Turku naturally follows ice hockey closely, and today he is there in Rauma, where in the Lukko–SaiPa match, not only the first and last in the standings, but also his two most recent clubs are facing each other.
– I look with interest at how everyone has changed something and of course I try to draw a new perspective on my own coaching. Ice hockey is still my passion and profession.