The Lions play the quarter-finals in confusing surroundings - Armia: "A bit like returning to Isomäki"

MILANO.

The Lions will play in the Olympic quarter-finals on Wednesday.

The men’s hockey tournament will be held almost entirely at the brand new – and somewhat unfinished – Santagiulia Olympic Arena. Santagiulia can accommodate 12,000 spectators.

However, the first playoff round match between Switzerland and Italy, and Finland’s quarter-final match against the winner of that game, will take place at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena on the other side of the city.

It is a slightly different venue, a temporary solution that holds fewer than six thousand spectators, built in a convention center. The rink and stands are isolated from the sales booths and other common areas by huge-looking garbage bag strips.

We asked Espoo native Miro Heiskanen if the arena reminds him of the legendary old Matinkylä arena, also known as Lado.

– Maybe a little, there’s a lot of the same, Heiskanen said.

Porvoo native Joel Armia shared similar sentiments when asked if this feels a bit like returning to Isomäki.

– A bit, yeah, Armia said.

– A slightly smaller arena, quite nice looking. There wasn’t a lot of seating. The atmosphere will probably be even better. In a small arena, everyone is packed together. It will definitely be a great hockey night.

A bit like a smaller SM-liiga arena?

– Exactly. Really well done. There are good facilities here.

Heiskanen is also unfazed by the changed facilities.

– When the tournament was in Herning, Denmark, it was somewhat similar. Familiar stuff. I don’t think it affects anything. We have good facilities. The ice felt good, Heiskanen said.

The team had a day off on Sunday, and each spent it in their own way. Both Armia and Heiskanen said they watched a bit of the game between Canada and France.

The game surprisingly featured a fight when Tom Wilson challenged Denmark’s Pierre Crinon to a bout. The scuffle was preceded by Crinon’s rough tackle on Nathan MacKinnon.

WATCH: Tom Wilson challenged the French giant to a fight – coach: “That’s pretty easy for him”

– Maybe a bit [surprising]. You don’t see that much in major tournaments. It wasn’t a huge brawl, Armia said.

With the fight, Wilson completed a Gordie Howe hat trick, meaning he scored a goal, an assist, and had a fight in the same game.

– Yeah, for sure, you don’t see that [often in major tournaments]. It’s a bit different with fights than what you get used to in the NHL; they don’t happen that often. We saw one now, Heiskanen said.

In the end, Heiskanen mentioned where he still needs to improve.

– Maybe in efficiency. We had a couple of successes in the last game, maybe that will open things up.

Jaakko Perttilä
X: @JaakkoPerttila