Petteri Rimpinen called Hugo Alnefelt a "fat Swede" - this is how the HIFK goalie responded to IS.

HIFK’s Swedish goalkeeper Hugo Alnefelt has responded to Kiekko-Espoo’s goalkeeper Petteri Rimpinen‘s harsh words. Rimpinen criticized Alnefelt during Friday’s Liiga match, which HIFK won away with a score of 3–0.

The situation began in the second period when Kiekko-Espoo’s Linus Öberg collided with Alnefelt. The HIFK goalie fell to the ice and did not manage to get back into position before the puck ended up in the net. HIFK challenged the situation as goalie interference, and the goal was disallowed.

The decision did not please Rimpinen, whose strong reaction was captured by the referee cam during MTV’s broadcast.

– He has five seconds to get up, and that fat Swede can’t get up, Rimpinen said.

After the match, Alnefelt was informed of Rimpinen’s comment. The Swedish goalie was surprised by what he heard but eventually responded sarcastically in an interview with Ilta-Sanomat.

– Did the opposing team’s goalie say that? Alnefelt asked.

– Well, he seems to be a bit younger than me and maybe a bit faster too.

– I probably need to go back to practice and learn to get up faster after being knocked down, Alnefelt quipped to Ilta-Sanomat.

Kiekko-Espoo’s head coach Jyrki Aho also criticized Alnefelt’s slow recovery. Alnefelt did not accept the claim of intentional delay.

– I don’t believe anyone would delay on purpose when the puck is still in play. The referee hadn’t blown the whistle to stop the game.

– I find it completely incomprehensible to say that, Alnefelt wondered.

Alnefelt reminded that it is not easy to get back on your feet quickly in goalie gear after falling to the ice.

Alnefelt stated that he did not want to dwell on the opponent’s comments.

– That’s not something worth thinking about too much.

Alnefelt recorded his first shutout of the season in the match. The victory was also Tommi Miettinen’s first as HIFK’s head coach.