today 14:15
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The “Covid” season in Košice did not turn out well. The final ninth place meant the worst result for the Easterners since the establishment of the independent Slovak highest competition. However, the “steelworkers” were happy to finish the year at all due to the summer’s financial difficulties. In the next extra-league edition, they want to aim much higher.
The celebration of the centenary of Košice hockey awaits them, which should make the fans more pleasant with the improved results of the team led by a new coaching pair from Finland.
TIMO SAARIKOSKI, a member of the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame, will also appear on the HC Košice substitution
The people of Košice hired 47le-year-old Kalle Kaskinen as the head coach. His assistant will be less than five years older compatriot Timo Saarikoski.
“With the arrival of the Finnish duo, we have laid the foundation stone for success next season. Our goal is to prepare a competitive team, “ stated at yesterday’s press conference the president of HC Košice Július Lang, who also indicated the financial possibilities of the club in the season 2021/22.
“We are pleased to have played in the extra league at all last year. Already during it, we focused on the next season. The player budget will definitely be higher. I believe that local entrepreneurs will help us, but we also have large partners in development. It is essential that stadiums are open. If we want to think of leading positions in Košice, we need spectators in the stands, “ Lang explained.
WEEKLY VISIT
The arrival of new coaches represents for Košice the first step on the way to returning to the top of the Slovak extra-league. In the second largest city in the country, they reached for experts who have not yet trained in our region.
However, Kaskinen has extensive experience from the Finnish Liiga, the transnational KHL, or the Finnish youth teams. His colleague Saarikoski worked for the junior team Lukko Rauma for a long time and most recently led the French Chamonix. He started as a player at two World Championships and the 1992 Albertville Olympics.
“We had a choice of quality coaches and I believe we decided on the best. Kalle Kaskinen also worked for the Finnish Hockey Association from 2010 to 2014. Since then, the local hockey has gone up. He also led TPS Turku, was an assistant coach at the Jokerite Helsinki in the KHL and also worked with young people. Saarikoski is especially remembered by those born earlier, as he played for the Finnish national team. “ HC Coach Gabriel Spilar introduced the coach to the coach.
from left HC Košice sports manager Gabriel Spilar, HC Košice president Július Lang, HC Košice head coach Kalle Kaskinen and HC Košice coach coach Timo Saarikoski
Source: TASR
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The forty-year-old newcomer to the position of office indicated what the Finnish couple’s program would be like in the coming days.
“They came to Košice for a week. We will watch the play-off semifinal matches together to see our four best teams in the league. At the same time, we will begin to discuss the composition of the staff. I don’t think we’ll fill all the legionary positions in the team with only the Finns. We will not look at the nationality of the players. In the first place, they must meet our qualitative ideas, “ doplnil Plays.
SLOVAK-FINNISH MERGER
Interestingly, Kaskinen and Saarikoski have not led a team together yet. The former had a work break this season, the latter came to Košice from France.
“The hockey world is small and Kall and I met several times in it. We always had something to say about hockey. When Kalle had an offer, he called me and I agreed to cooperate. “ explained Saarikoski, a member of the Siena Hall of Fame of Finnish hockey since 2007.
Both Finns have visited Slovakia in the past, but only now is they getting to know the local hockey culture. “I thank the club for their trust and chance. So far, I’ve only been in Slovakia for a day, so I can’t talk much about Slovak hockey or Košice. I believe that we will gradually get to know each other in the club and build trust with each other. “ said Kaskinen.
The native of Turku would like to connect the Slovak and Finnish mentality. “I have been to Slovakia several times as a member of the implementation teams of the Finnish national team, or as an assistant coach at the Jokerite Helsinki in the KHL. I have pleasant memories of the country. Slovaks are energetic and passionate about the game. I hope that in Košice we will be able to combine Slovak and Finnish positive qualities, “ concluded Kaskinen.
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