Does Jukka Jalonen's career continue after this season? This is how Jalonen responded.

MILANO.

The Italian Olympic team coached by Jukka Jalonen ended its journey on Tuesday. The team lost in the first round of the playoffs to Switzerland, which now advances to the quarter-finals against Finland.

Switzerland was better in the match with a score of 3-0, making the game significantly tighter than against the Lions. Finland crushed Italy with a brutal 11-0 score.

– Better than against Finland. We didn’t quite get the maximum out of it. Thanks to good goaltending, we stayed in the game for 50 minutes. If the ability isn’t there, there’s nothing you can do, Jalonen said after the game.

Switzerland has played in the finals of the last two World Championships, so the Lions won’t have an easy time.

– Switzerland is a top team, very mobile and disciplined. [Goaltender Leonardo] Genoni is an excellent goalie. It’s going to be a tough battle, neither will have an easy time. Somehow it feels like Finland is slightly on top, Jalonen said.

– Every game is different, it’s probably going to be a low-scoring game. Let’s hope the Lions handle it.

Jalonen was asked directly if he plans to help Antti Pennanen and share insights about Switzerland’s weaknesses.

– He doesn’t need help, he’s a proper coach. If he asks, of course, I can assist, but they have scouted Switzerland well enough that they don’t need my help. They have capable guys there.

Why did Jalonen originally decide to take over the Italian national team?

– I have been in Italy before, and it is a great country to be in many ways. There was an opportunity to try to advance Italian hockey, moving from B-league to A-league last season, which we succeeded in.

– Of course, the home Olympics were also interesting. I have been to the Olympics twice and know that it is a great event. I thought it would be amazing to be involved and see if we could get the team into a shape where we could perform well here. We didn’t perform well enough, but we played reasonably.

Jalonen evaluates his entire Italy project positively at this stage.

– Interesting in every way. Last year and this season. None of the players have been to the Olympics before, nor have they played against such good teams. It’s a fantastic experience for the players as well. Of course, it can be disappointing when you see that you don’t quite have what it takes, Jalonen said.

There are still World Championships left in the project. Jalonen confirmed that he will be in charge as planned.

– Yes, I will be, unless I get fired. That is our most important tournament of the season, not this one. The goal there is to maintain our league position. It won’t be easy.

However, there is still no information about the time after the World Championships. His career is coming to an end either after this season or quite soon.

– It’s completely open. There’s not necessarily a rush unless something special happens. If a really interesting offer comes from somewhere, I might have to change my mind a bit, but I am not actively looking for something all the time.

– I can’t say whether it will be a definite end or a break. But my own coaching is starting to feel like it’s at the end of the line after this season.

Jaakko Perttilä
X: @JaakkoPerttila