Kari Jalonen, who is in the middle of the firing rumors, received notable defenders from the top of Czech hockey.
Kari Jalonen was disappointed with the result of the lost quarterfinal game. PASI LEISMA
The Czech Republic’s Ice Hockey World Cup ended in disappointment as they were eliminated by the United States in the quarterfinals and finished a record eighth in the tournament.
Coaching the team Kari Jalonen had to remind in the media area after the match that he still has one year left on his contract. By the way, he didn’t want to speculate for his job.
The Czech Republic is the host country of next year’s games, so success there would be particularly important for the national team. The Czech website iDnes.cz asked the country’s hockey influencers for their opinion on whether Jalose should be given another chance.
One of the respondents was an NHL legend, a former top goalie Dominik Hasek. He took Jalonen’s side and reminded the Finnish coach of last year’s feat, when he broke the Czech Republic’s 10-year streak without a medal at the men’s World Championships.
– If I could vote, I would vote for him to stay. It was the first time in two years that his team had really broken up. Otherwise, the team has performed well under him, considering the quality that was in use, Hašek answers.
Hašek admits that this spring the Czech team was weaker than last year’s bronze medal group. In addition, Jalonen received bad news at the beginning of the Games when his top attackers Filip Chytil and Lukas Sedlak were injured.
– Roman Cervenka and Dominik Kubalik answered the call. The rest were good players, maybe fighters, but not capable of competing with the world’s best. Maybe in the fourth chain, but not in the second or third.
Project completed
Jalose has a contract valid beyond next year’s World Cup. PDO
Olympic and World Cup bronze medalist in the 1990s and awarded as Finnish champion four times Otakar Janecký was on the same page as the goalkeeper legend.
– Jalonen must complete his project. This year it didn’t work, but that doesn’t mean that the same thing will happen again next year. The NHL may become auxiliary forces, the games will be played in Prague and Ostrava. It will be a big challenge for the players, Joker’s former Vice-Captain Janecký defends Jalos.
Former national team coach Vladimír Vůjtek and Vice President of the International Ice Hockey Federation Petr Bryza also support the continuation of Jalonen.
– Getting a foreign coach was the right solution. Let’s remember that he brought us the World Cup medal. Let’s let him finish his job, commented Vůjtek.
– It is understandable that the issue is discussed after failure. But we can’t put the result on the shoulders of only one coach, Bríza answers.
The same question was also sent to the former head coach of the Czech Republic to Vladimír Růžičkabut he did not want to comment on Jalonen’s situation.