Iltalehti reports that HIFK has been courting 41-year-old Vesa Petäjä to join its new coaching team.

– Yes, he is one option for us, HIFK’s sports director Janne Laukkanen admitted to IL.

Petäjä is currently the head coach of Unterland, which plays in the Alps Hockey League in Italy. He worked in the coaching staff of TPS from 2021 to 2025 and is already familiar with HIFK’s new head coach Tommi Miettinen.

Petäjä also has coaching experience with Peliitat and the junior teams of Pelicans.

HIFK made a significant change to its coaching staff on Wednesday. The club fired head coach Olli Jokinen as well as assistant coaches Anders Carlsson and Mika Hyvärinen. The goaltending coach Riku Helenius was also let go.

50-year-old Miettinen was appointed as Jokinen’s replacement. On Thursday, HIFK also announced that Ville Viitaluoma and Jan Lundell will be part of the new head coach’s coaching staff.

HIFK is currently in 15th place in the league. Jokinen’s last game with the club was Tuesday’s 2–3 loss after a shootout against Lukko. The Helsinki team’s season continues on Friday with an away game against Kiekko-Espoo.

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Topics HIFK League Petäjä Vesa