Pelicans dropped head coach news! “Brings a tremendous amount of experience”
The Pelicans announced their head coach for the upcoming season on Friday evening.
The Lahti club, which hinted at big news earlier in the afternoon, has signed a one-year extension with Sami Kapanen, who was hired as head coach in February 2025.
Sports director Janne Laukkanen emphasizes Kapanen’s importance to the entire club community.
– Sami Kapanen is very significant to this community. He brings a vast amount of experience from international arenas, but above all, he understands things in a broader context. He also understands what the Pelicans logo represents. We are very pleased that our journey together continues, Laukkanen commented in the Pelicans’ press release.
– Coaching is primarily teamwork. Sami is the perfect person to lead this team and project towards success. His experience, leadership style, and commitment to Pelicans’ values create an excellent foundation for the team’s development in the future, Laukkanen continues.
Kapanen made his Liiga coaching debut in the 2017-18 season at the helm of KalPa. The 52-year-old Kapanen, who had a long playing career in the NHL, also has coaching experience from being the head coach of Lugano in the Swiss league.
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