Interview: Olli Jokinen anticipates the Stadin derbies – one thing could become decisive

Olli Jokinen‘s first season as head coach of Helsinki IFK was difficult.

Injuries plagued the team, the club found itself at the bottom of the regular season in the fall, and the red shirts ultimately did not even make it to the quarter-finals.

However, the situation looks a bit brighter before the season that is about to start.

During the summer, Jokinen has been able to influence HIFK’s player acquisitions more significantly and build the team to fit his style of play.

SuomiKiekko interviewed Jokinen on Tuesday at the Liiga media event.

Jokinen admitted that this season’s team shows more of the Kuopio native’s own imprint.

– I was also able to influence the players who have come here and assemble this team. Yes, this group looks more like a team that can play this style of play and operate according to our ways.

The door has swung both ways during the summer. However, two names have risen above the others in Jokinen’s papers among the new faces.

– Eetu Liukas and Niko Huuhtanen have been very good. Specifically, their actions and performance are on a different level than anyone else’s.

“Some players are still needed”

The center position of HIFK has raised questions during the summer. The club acquired Canadian center Jake Leschyshyn and young Atte Joki in August, but there is still a need for new reinforcements in the middle.

IFK lost center Petr Kodytek after last season. Otto Somppi and Juhani Jasu also left the club.

– We believe in our young centers. Atte Joki and Anttoni Uronen can take their game to the next level and can improve every week and every month. Jori Lehterä is there as the more experienced center, and Iiro Pakarinen and Jere Somervuori have also played in the middle. Yes, we are still a bit short in some way. We need more depth, Jokinen commented.

When it comes to young players, potential national team assignments must also be considered.

– We have to remember that Joki, Uronen, and Somervuori are under 20 years old. We want those players to also play in the youth tournaments. In that sense, we definitely need some more players, Jokinen added.

Another headache regarding the lineup is the injury of Sebastian Repo, which HIFK confirmed on their website on Tuesday.

– It’s impossible to replace one for one. It’s a very unfortunate situation for the player, Jokinen said.

HIFK and Jokerit last met 12 years ago. Röda won the outdoor match played at Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium 2–1. Photo: AOP

HIFK will once again have a local rival in Helsinki this season, as Jokerit returns to the league map after a long break. Jokinen is looking forward to a unique atmosphere in the local matches.

– It’s great that Jokerit is back and that we get these local games, derby games. They will not be normal Liiga matches. They will be intense battles for the supremacy of Helsinki, and we hope that HIFK will be on the right side of the coin in those, Jokinen commented.

Jokinen himself played for HIFK in the 1990s, when facing Jokerit was one of the most anticipated moments of the hockey season.

The current head coach of the red shirts still remembers how much the local games were anticipated both within the teams and outside the rink.

– I got to play them back in the late 90s. Those games were anticipated as a player, and they were talked about a lot and reported on a lot. They didn’t feel like normal Liiga games.

“Measuring the man”

According to Jokinen, derbies test especially the mental strength of players and coaches.

– It’s a big part of how teams handle these local games. How players handle it, how coaches handle it, and whether emotions take over or if we can focus on what matters. In that area, we will measure the man.

HIFK’s season starts on September 4 with a home game against HPK. The first local clash of the season between HIFK and Jokerit will be played on October 8.

Väinö Helenius