Former Lions champion coach Jukka Jalonen is trying to bring Italy back to the main level of the World Cup. The First Division Games are currently underway.
In his opening game, Jukka Jalonen’s Italy overturned Japan, but felt a point of point against Ukraine. EPA / AOP
The Ice Hockey World Championships will be played in Sweden and Denmark as of May 9, but the reality of the national team hockey is already on the lower series stairs.
The gold finger of the lions Jukka Jalonen Pilot in the Italian Division 1A, the top two teams of which will be rising to the World Cup head level for 2026 after the ongoing tournament.
For Jalonen’s Italy, 2026 is also important as the country hosts the Winter Olympics in February. The Italians play in a tough A-A-in Canada, Sweden and Switzerland.
Loss to the underdog
Italy opened its 1A diva against Japan with a 4-1 win on Sunday. On Monday, Ukraine rose to the division by winning the lower 1B series last year. Italy was a pre-favorite in the game, but he experienced a critical 2-3 defense loss.
Italy was last in the World Cup in Finland in 2022. Ukraine, in turn, last hockey in the main series in 2007. Pekka Saravo When making the Lions winning goal.
The point loss against Ukraine was a hard knock on Jalonen’s Italy, as the rise back to the main level is not a foregone conclusion. The UK and Poland, which have fallen from the main level last year, are the toughest of the Italian rivals. The British won the Ukraine with a win of 4-3. Poland opened the tournament with a 4-1 victory over Romania.