Finland’s head coach: here is the team’s greatest strength in the World Cup
The under-18 national team is preparing for the youth World Championships starting on April 23.
The SuomiKiekko website interviewed head coach Tuomo Ropo before the national team’s second training camp at the Pikkuleijonat media event on Tuesday.
– We are heading towards the upcoming World Championships with good spirits. The three-year journey with this age group culminates now, and we have been looking forward to this.
Ropo emphasizes that the young Pikkuleijona group is expected to show complete dedication above all.
– We will give it our all and immerse ourselves in the games. We will showcase our strengths from one shift to another and from game to game.
A theme also emerges from within the team that will play a significant role in the upcoming championships.
– What is important for us is living in the moment. For the past three years, the theme has been that through strengths, everyone becomes the best version of themselves. This will also be visible during this journey as the championships approach.
According to the head coach, the team’s greatest strength on the ice lies in the versatility of the individuals.
– One of our biggest strengths is that we have many different players, each with their own unique strengths. This age group has been broad since the Pohjola camp, and the team has a lot of expertise.
In the upcoming World Championships, Finland will play in the same group as Norway, Latvia, Slovakia, and Canada. However, according to Ropo, the focus is still on the opponents in the training camp.
– The level of play in the championships will be high, but time will tell. Now we are heading to the second World camp, which will culminate in a practice match against the United States on Sunday.
– Once we wrap up the camp on Sunday, we will turn our attention towards the World Championships on Monday, Ropo adds.
The final World Championship team will be announced on Monday, April 20. The World Championship tournament will kick off next Wednesday in Trenčín and Bratislava, Slovakia.
Pikkuleijonat will face Norway in their opening match on Wednesday.
Väinö Helenius
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