The USA coach threatens the Women's Lions with a tough physical game - this is how Tero Lehterä responded

MILANO. Finland’s Naisleijonat will finally start the Olympics on Saturday with a match against the United States.

Originally, the Naisleijonat were supposed to play against Canada on Thursday, but the match was postponed due to a norovirus outbreak in the Finnish team.

On Thursday, Finland had only ten players fit to play. In Friday’s practice, 14 players were on the ice, three of whom were goalkeepers.

After the practice, GM Kimmo Oikarinen and head coach Tero Lehterä assured that the match against the United States on Saturday would take place, no matter what.

– Yes, we will play it, whether there are five, 15, or 23 [players], Lehterä said.

– Everyone understands now that if a hockey game were played 5+1 against four lines, I wouldn’t need to draw anything on the tactics board.

– [With three lines] I believe you can already play a hockey game.

The United States started their journey on Thursday and defeated the Czech Republic 5-1. After the match, USA’s head coach John Wroblewski expressed his frustration with the lenient officiating and issued a warning that also concerns the Naisleijonat.

– It’s the amount of hitting and holding. If the rules are like this, we are going to be ready for that kind of game, Wroblewski said.

According to Lehterä, Finland intends to be ready for a tough physical game.

– It has to be, if we want to win! If we think about the basics, it’s skating, shooting, and battling. We can’t develop in skating anymore, but we have to be ready for battles. We need to win them. If we lose them, it’s tough, Lehterä said.

Still after Tuesday’s practice, Lehterä was not satisfied with the Naisleijonat’s battling skills. Physically, things cannot be changed anymore, but battling is not solely dependent on physicality.

– Battling involves physicality, but it is also a skill and mental game. We have often seen that a small man can win a battle against a big man simply because he has better skills and a bit tougher mentality, Lehterä said.

Finally, Lehterä commented on the hockey legend Pentti Lindegren, who has passed away.

– Many good memories. Every time I met him, a true gentleman. A gentleman and a polite man.

Jaakko Perttilä
X: @JaakkoPerttila