One of the main contractors behind KooKoo’s success stepped forward.
KooKoo’s head coach Bunch of Myrrh brain. The genius of the hockey game.
Among other things, this is how KooKoo’s assistant coach has been described Tuukka from Poiko. A man whose name Myrrä has often mentioned in interviews after the match.
When the praise is passed on to Poikonen himself, the assistant coach pouts. Poikonen guesses without being told that Myrrä has often been the one to praise.
– “Joke” has good things. He likes to describe our coaching staff in certain terms. We have a strong appreciation on both sides with him. These are always these things. The truth is probably somewhere in between, Poikonen dodged.
Tuukka Poikosen has had a hand in the game with KooKoo’s success. Jussi Saarinen
People from Tampere
Poikonen, who speaks smooth Tampere, grew up in Ylöjärvi and went to high school in Tampere. Myrrä is also from Tampere.
Poikonen played as a goalkeeper in Ilves juniors and also played a few matches in Mestis.
When Poikonen started his coaching career in the tassel ears juniors, he and Myrrä worked together for the first time.
Poikonen has since been the head coach in Slovakia and Mesti, after which he agreed to join Myrrä’s KooKoo team as an assistant coach.
– It was wonderful when I got Tuukka involved in this two and a half years ago. Above all, I’m happy that Tuukka has sometimes said out loud that he wouldn’t have joined other people’s coaching teams, but he wanted to join me in that role, Myrrä said.
Myrrä calculates that she has known Poikonen for 17 years.
– He has been in the top 3 of those who understand the game for me these years. After the Ilves years, I have followed Tuuka’s activities.
– And I do give him a lot of responsibility. Why wouldn’t I, because he is excellent at what he does.
During the match, Poikonen plays with the defenders. Pasi Liesimaa
Real going
Myrrä says he doesn’t like the way the media talks about “Jouko Myrrän’s KooKoo”.
– If you have to speak by name or give a face, then it is KooKoo from Jouko Myrrä’s coaching team.
KooKoo’s coaching team consists of five people. It includes Myrrh, Poikonen, Manu Lähteenmäki, Jarkko Rissanen and Matt Ranta.
According to Poikonen, “game stories” are strongly his plot.
– Underpowered, sometimes a little overpowered to help guys and 5 on 5 games. Jokke sees strongly the things of the attacking game. In practice, my thing is completely in the defensive game, Poikonen clarified.
According to Poikonen, the strength of the coaching group is that its members see the big picture in the same way, but if there are different opinions, they can be discussed in a good spirit.
– Joki’s strength is that he is not any kind of dictator. He wants the players to play with their strengths but also for the coaches to coach with their strengths.
According to Poikonen, Myrrä’s public image is in line with the head coach who operates behind closed doors in the training booth.
– There is no role where you portray a good-natured person and then when the door is closed, you pull your wrists open and bark at all your coaching buddies and everyone else.
– An honest Finn, a very smart colleague. The appreciation is strong in that direction.
Jouko Myrrä shares the honor with his assistant coaches. Jussi Saarinen
Exact instructions
It is therefore easy to make a large division. Poikonen coaches the defensive game and Myrrä the offensive game.
Poikonen’s name may have come to the fore this year, because last year KooKoo’s flight stopped already in the opening round of the playoffs, when the game of the team that attacked well in the regular season did not work in the playoffs.
According to Poikonen, there is no exercise in ice training that does not include both elements.
– In that sense, things are very smooth for us also that I always see things from the defense side and Jokke always from the other side. It includes both perspectives at the same time.
Poikonen also gives tactical instructions to the players during set breaks.
In the opening match of the final series at the Nokia Arena, KooKoo had a nervous start, and the team’s opening game did not work.
After the match, Myrrä said that he had relaxed the players, and Poikonen also gave detailed tactical instructions.
This is normal operation.
– I often either finish or open, and in addition, Tuuka gives a detailed drawing, Myrrä said.
According to Myrrä, Manu Lähteenmäki comes from the upper loft with a computer at the beginning of the set break and shares his observations with Myrrä and Poikonen.
After this, the coaches agree on what the booth talk will include.
– Now [lauantaina] for example, during the second set break, I asked Tuuka if there is something that needs to be emphasized by drawing.
It wasn’t.
– I talked without drawing where our third striker should be and how we play certain situations. This works seamlessly for us with Tuuka, and I think the team senses it too.
Poikonen leads a lot of training, which is why the players are used to listening to instructions from the assistant coach.
– So it doesn’t matter which of us is the loudest, Myrrä said.
