Hockey HIFK fans gathered in the yard of the ice rink when they could not enter – a league match was played on the other side of the wall

When On Monday, the Regional State Administrative Agency of Southern Finland decided to “relax” the audience restrictions on sporting events to 50 people, and the Helsinki IFK office did not jump for joy.

“Nordis has 8,150 seats empty. It is not clear to us how absolutely necessary and proportionate it is, ”the CEO of the club Jukka Valtanen purnasi.

HIFK was frustrated with the news, but was not left without a treat. The club decided to hold an outdoor event in the yard of its home hall, where it was possible to watch the HIFK – Pelicans match being played in the hall at the same time on the big screen.

Sales Director Markus Lindström according to HIFK had designed an après-ski open-air lookout several times during the pandemic. Now the idea was put into practice.

“We said it was a good time. Saturday game and a great winter day. We have hard missed supporters and supporters miss our community. That’s where the idea came from, ”Lindström said.

Winter the day also brought challenges. During the night and in the morning, the snow was blowing non-stop, and the front yard of the Helsinki Ice Rink was also buried in the cinemas.

“There was staff here overnight in the snow to get the yard plowed. I have to thank and raise my hat, ”the CEO said.

An hour before the match began, music began to play in front of the hall as the gates opened. The crowd flowed in at a calm pace – there wasn’t much crowding since this afternoon.

In addition to the screen, tables and a drinking point had been brought into the courtyard of the hall. HIFK tickets were also raised. There was a sledge hill plowed out of the snow and even a small trough that the most avid fans attacked to play with.

However, the ice – if it was in the yard at all – was not quite in the same condition as the league games. The discs bounce sharply in the handling of even the most skilled pens.

IFK fans Aino Jalonen17, and Riina Lamberg, 47, took apart a measure in a trough. The outdoor competition spectator was to Jalonen’s liking in every way.

“Yes, we had invested in this, the lights and everything. It looks nice, ”he praised.

According to Lamberg, there was a logical explanation for the small crowd in the afternoon. It was an après ski event.

“It looks like part of the gang is still left to ski,” he snapped.

Camping chairs snowshoe Jaakko Kuikanmäki54, and Tomi Juvonen49, they also struck their eyes on the disc tray.

“It may be that you have to go a little scurvy. I have always been more of a goal scorer when I was once a master painter, ”Kuikanmäki crocheted.

Did the gentlemen still believe the mood would rise to after ski readings during the evening?

“It depends on how much you drink here. That’s where it all starts, if you take a decent drink right, ”Kuikanmäki said.

Jaakko Kuikanmäki (left) said that he had shouted his handsome hat for 180 euros from the auction. He also persuaded Tomi Juvonen to perform IFK tests. Picture: Mika Ranta / HS

The HIFK-Pelicans match is pending.