Tero Lehterä responded to the criticism - significant speech on TikTok talks

MILANO.

The Women’s Lions finally got out of the eye of the storm in the match against Switzerland.

The team has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons throughout the tournament. First, there was talk of a norovirus, which even led to the postponement of the Canada match. Then came a record number of goals, and the latest controversy arose from head coach Tero Lehterä‘s TikTok comments.

Lehterä said after the lost game against the Czech Republic that on the day off, the team players tend to film TikTok videos.

Now the Women’s Lions have finally broken their goal drought. At the same time, they achieved their first victory of these Olympics, defeating Switzerland with a score of 3-1.

– I’m happy for the ladies; they worked hard. We got three goals today; we could have scored a few more. It was great that we created those goals, but we had even more chances. That means we are on the right track, Lehterä said after the Switzerland game.

Soon after that, the discussion in the mixed zone focused on the TikTok comments. Lehterä gave a lengthy speech on the topic.

– I hope you criticize me more than the team because they have given their all and couldn’t have done better, Lehterä said.

– If I say something here, come up with something from it and leave those ladies alone, as they haven’t actually done anything wrong.

– I would like to respond to this [TikTok issue]. We discussed this last weekend. The ladies and [Ice Hockey Federation Communications Director] Henna [Malmberg] can confirm this. We went through that this is perfectly fine as long as the timing is right for taking those pictures.

– It’s about them branding and promoting themselves and their sport. This has also been a request from the PWHL that this is done. When it’s done at the right time and place, I think it doesn’t matter if they eat pears for those extra ten minutes.

– We do the work first, though. We have our focus on that. What they do with the rest of their time, like yesterday when they took those pictures, is great because they deserve their accolades when we talk about someone not having to donate money at some point.

– By promoting this way, they get new partners, a TV deal, they get money for that league. No one has to donate money from the oligarch’s own, but we are actually building.

– I believe the PWHL is owned by the same guy [editor’s note: Mark Walter], who owns the [NBA team] LA Lakers and [MLB team] Dodgers, if I remember correctly. They know more about sports marketing than I do. I’m not going to argue against that.

– I think it’s great if the situation arises where women can earn money from this.

– This is the athletes’ greatest event. What everyone does in their own time is up to them. We have extra ice out there, and there’s nothing else on the schedule but recovery after two games.

– We will go through the power plays, and as you saw today, especially the second power play worked excellently. If I mention that, then give me [criticism] if it’s wrong to mention.

– But in this case, I would also give myself absolution because I was asked, “how does the team atmosphere remain high.” I explained in order what we did yesterday: first, we took a team photo, then we took these pictures, and then you know we went to the empty rink for the six-on-five, we went through the goals, we went through what its function is, and literally those power play patterns. At least the first goal today came purely from that.

Finally, Lehterä commented on the toughest game of the preliminary round, which was played simultaneously in another arena. In that game, the United States crushed Canada 5-0.

– Oh?! It didn’t surprise me at all. Canada has an excellent team and outstanding players. But I have always said that the USA plays such versatile hockey, Lehterä said.

– The patterns they have in their offensive play and power play, I haven’t seen any women’s team, any PWHL team, or any international national team presenting those patterns. It’s a tough team to beat.

Jaakko Perttilä
X: @JaakkoPerttila