SaiPa reacted to Raimo Helmisen’s departure – new head coach confirmed
SaiPa has named Janne Hietaniemi, 38, as their head coach for the upcoming season. Hietaniemi replaces Raimo Helminen, who will move to become the head coach of Tampereen Ilves with a two-year contract announced on Wednesday.
Hietaniemi’s contract is of the 1+1 type. He is already part of the current SaiPa coaching staff, so the Lappeenranta club opted for a familiar solution in searching for Helminen’s successor.
Coach Vesa Viitakoski and goaltending coach Tomas Duba will also continue with SaiPa on 1+1 contracts. The coaching staff will be supplemented later with one more member.
SaiPa’s sports director Harri Aho justifies the decision with continuity.
– After Raipen’s decision, we wanted continuity. We want SaiPa’s own playing identity to continue in the upcoming season, and therefore Janne’s selection as the next head coach was natural. It is great that Vesku and Tomas are also continuing with 1+1 contracts, Aho commented in the club’s press release.
Hietaniemi has a strong background in international ice hockey as well. He worked as a video coach for the Finnish national team under Jukka Jalonen from 2017 to 2024.
During that time, the Lions won Olympic gold and two world championships.
Hietaniemi has previously worked with Jokers, TPS, and HPK. Additionally, he has been involved in coaching the Italian national team at Jalonen’s invitation.
SaiPa wants to stabilize its coaching situation for the remainder of the season.
– With this announcement, we want to give the current team and coaching staff peace to focus on the present – now is the time to concentrate on the current moment. The time for thanks will be after this season, so we will not comment further on next season’s coaching matters until the current season ends, Aho states.
READ ALSO: Tommi Niemelä at the helm of HIFK!
Read more
- HIFK confirmed the big news – new head coach revealed!
- HIFK confirmed a huge news – new head coach revealed!
- Now it is certain – Raimo Helminen returns to Ilves!
- Urheilucast: HIFK is after two superstars of the League
- Huge uproar over Russia’s World Championship return – now the main sponsor has spoken: threatens to withdraw
- Urheilucast: Jokerit is selling its four stars – set its sights on the league’s top scorer
- Finnish drama in Dallas – Miro Heiskanen got injured, Mikko Rantanen made history
- Russia out of the Youth World Championships – Harsh decision from the Prime Minister of Canada
- A severe threat from Russia to Finland – the sports minister thundered about the World Championship boycott!
- NHL team’s harsh announcement – Brad Lambert is given his marching orders!