Kohu Leijonissa! Kimmo Timonen slams Finnish media on HBO: “So typical”
The Lions continue their task in the Milano-Cortina Olympic tournament on Friday with an anticipated top game against Sweden.
On Friday morning, the media has been buzzing about the information published by Ilta-Sanomat that the Lions’ star players wanted Paul Maurice, who led the Florida Panthers to two Stanley Cup victories, to be part of the coaching team for the Olympic tournament.
This has generally been interpreted as a vote of no confidence in the current head coach Antti Pennanen.
HBO Max expert and NHL legend Kimmo Timonen does not understand the Finnish media’s desire to bring up controversies related to the Lions just before important games. Especially head coach Antti Pennanen has been subjected to monumental criticism in the media.
– I have been involved in top ice hockey for 30 years, and criticism is part of elite sports, but why this timing? Would there have been this criticism if we had won against Slovakia?
– It’s unnecessary backstabbing before big games, which is somehow typical of us Finnish media, Timonen remarks.
Another HBO Max expert Tuukka Rask shares a similar view.
– Criticism comes from the subject matter, but why does this have to come up just before the Sweden game?
The third studio expert Pekka Rinne understands the rise of the Maurice controversy better than his colleagues.
– In Finland, the Lions evoke so much passion and thoughts. It also reflects in the results: last year, with a weaker 4 Nations and World Championships, these (controversies) start to emerge immediately. I also feel that it’s definitely not fair, but the good news is that it stirs feelings and there is passion in Finland, Rinne reminds.
The Lions face Sweden on Friday in a group stage match starting at 13:10.
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