TPS wanted its own players back to everyday life as quickly as possible.
TPS did not wait for that Jimi Finland, Kalle Väisänen and Aron Kiviharju leave Canada for Finland on a flight booked by the Ice Hockey Federation, but the Turku club takes its own players home at its own expense.
– Of course, we wanted them into our everyday life as quickly as possible. We have also had injuries, and this gives us opportunities, TPS head coach Jussi Ahokas said.
Nuoret Leijonat was eliminated from the World Cup after losing to Sweden in the quarter-finals Finnish time on Monday evening.
General manager of the team Kimmo Oikarinen told IL the team will fly back on Friday. The route is Halifax–Toronto–Reykjavik–Helsinki.
TPS paid for their own flights so that the players will be in Finland on Thursday – if only they can catch their flight.
However, there is no way the players will make it to Thursday’s league game against the Pelicans.
“It’s nothing”
Attacker Väisänen and defender Suomi played all five games of the Young Lions in the World Cup tournament.
The 16-year-old super-promising Kiviharju sat the whole tournament in the popcorn section, so to speak.
Kiviharju’s situation sparked a little discussion during the tournament. Some wondered if it was worth pushing a 16-year-old to sit in the stands, when the alternative would be training and playing in a club team
– The team was set up in such a way that if there was an injury, he would have made it into the lineup at that point and been able to play in special situations. Nothing in that sense, TPS head coach Ahokas said.
Ahokas himself was the head coach of the Young Lions before moving to the SM league manager.
– I hope Aron has practiced throughout the tournament. And he also saw now what that under-20-year-old competition is. And he wanted to go there himself.
Have a good day
This season, Kiviharju has played 13 games in the youth championship series and six games in the League.
Ahokas points out that if Kiviharju works hard, he still has a lot of games ahead of him in the League and in the under-20 competitions.
– For a 16-year-old, he is in a very good stage. The puck game and the way he sees the game and the court are at a very good level. He is very well on his way.
The league is a tactical series where duels come up here and there.
– Skating, defense and fighting game, Ahokas lists development targets in the sense of what is required for the League.
– And the understanding that young people can still play certain games… Stability and certainty. The level varies, which is clear when talking about a young player. The most important thing is that he gets to do quality everyday life and focus on this moment, then good things will surely happen.
TPS will pay for Kalle Väisänen’s return flight. PDO