Tough situation in Jokers – A sharp comment from Tomek Valtonen

Jokerit returns to the Liiga after a 12-year break, backed by significant investments.

Behind the bench of the red and yellow team is Tomek Valtonen, who led Jokerit to the Mestis championship last season.

SuomiKiekko-site interviewed Valtonen at the Liiga media event on Tuesday.

Valtonen has been satisfied with the Helsinki team’s preseason.

– I am pleased with where we are currently and where our game is heading in three weeks. It’s unnecessary to focus too much on results, but we have achieved good outcomes. The most important thing is where the game is going and in what direction. It doesn’t help if it develops for a week or two; it needs to progress throughout the season towards spring. In the big picture, I am satisfied.

Intense competition for positions

A large number of last season’s Mestis champions continue with Jokerit in the Liiga, and a lot of experience from the top league level has been brought in around them.

The roster will include quality players like Teemu Turunen, Olli Juolevi, and Patrick Curry this season.

Valtonen sees the tough competition as a positive thing.

– An extremely positive thing. We play 64 games, and we also have a partnership with Kiekko-Vantaa. Injuries and illnesses will occur during the season, so we need players. At the same time, genuine competition for positions arises, and that pushes everyone forward in practice.

– All our contracted players have been given opportunities, played to their strengths, and performed well. I don’t have a single player about whom I could say that I’m not satisfied. However, in this profession, you can’t always please everyone, Valtonen commented.

Back to the Liiga after 12 years

It has been a while since Valtonen’s last Liiga stint.

Valtonen last coached in the Liiga in 2018 as the head coach of Vaasan Sport.

Since then, Valtonen, who has also coached the Polish national team, was part of Jokerit’s coaching staff during the club’s previous Liiga season in 2013–14.

At that time, Valtonen rose to the position of head coach mid-season.

However, Valtonen believes that the league hasn’t changed much in the past twelve years.

– In the big picture, I don’t see that the game has changed significantly. Of course, the game evolves and there are small changes, but fundamentally, it’s played in the same way, even though there are minor marginal differences.

Valtonen was found behind the Jokerit bench when the team last played in the Liiga. Photo: AOP

Valtonen’s return to the Liiga is also marked by local derbies, as Jokerit and HIFK will finally compete for supremacy in Helsinki after a long time.

Valtonen believes that the legendary matchup will benefit both clubs.

– Competition always drives progress, including for players as individuals. The same can be seen, for example, between Tappara and Ilves. And we shouldn’t forget about Espoo, nor the rivalry between Rauma and Pori. Local competition pushes organizations, teams, players, and coaches forward. It’s only a positive thing.

However, Valtonen does not see Jokerit entering local games as the favorites this season.

– We are not really going into any battle as the favorites. Our goal is to win games and make it to the playoffs. This is a new situation for us, and we will try our best to win as many games as possible.

The Liiga season starts on September 1. Jokerit will begin the series with an away game against Vaasan Sport.

Väinö Helenius