Hockey Petteri Wirtanen was recruited as emergency aid for HIFK’s defense: “We have agreed that if necessary,”

SaiPa – HIFK 2-3 vl.

Helsinki IFK traveled to the eastern border knowing that it would have to face SaiPa in Lappeenranta without several of its regular players.

In particular, the absence of the defense led to a radical solution: the number one pair of red shirts had been planted with a commonly known defensive central striker. Petteri Wirtanen.

Wirtanen, 35, has a long career experience in defensive gigs in defense, so he doesn’t have to Jordan Schmaltzin the couple had to.

“We’ve agreed to jesus that department if necessary and I’ll try to bring the same basic game there,” Wirtanen told HS after IFK had grabbed a two-point win with penalty shots.

“I had the same spirit in my game as the whole team: it was harder at first, but the grip improved as the game went further.”

SaiPan the head coach was strongly visible in the extracts Pekka Virran handprint. Strong puck control and long feed chains are ingrained in the team’s thoughts just like Virta’s previous team at Lukko.

In Rauma, the four-year project culminated in the championship last spring. Although the process is still in its infancy in Lappeenranta, IFK was able to experience its potential in the opening round on Saturday.

“[Virran joukkueita] they must be able to do further haircuts as aggressively as possible so that they cannot spin back and control the puck. It’s hard skating work, ”Wirtanen said.

“In the first installment, we had a little shortage, and the opponent got to control the puck and keep the focus in our area. After that, we got skating and struggling to a level that we were also able to put pressure on. After that, the game looked quite different. ”

In the first minute, SaiPa missed two dangerous goals but not a third later. Kalle Maalahti forgotten the second wave free, and the defender taped the wrist shot past the IFK guard Niilo Halonen.

In addition to Maalahti as well Oliver Okuliar managed to pass Halonen in the opening round. However, the clearly upright IFK returned to the ice from the break, and a strong start quickly led to a reduction hit by Jordan Schmaltz.

I didn’t have to wait long for even leveling. IFK ‘s superiority, which reached its peak, immediately took its first opportunity when Juha Jääskä pressed the puck from the front of the goal into the net.

The home team, having lost their grip, was hungry for a while Niclas Westerholmin supported by top control. However, IFK lost one run after another and the final batch shifted from a 2-2 draw.

In addition to Westerholm, parade rescues were made by Brother Halonen at the other end of the field, so the same numbers were used until the winning goal competition. In it, IFK’s victory was decided Jere Innala and Eetu Koivistoinen, who both dipped the puck into the finish between Westerholm’s legs.

When the first third of the season is behind us, IFK can be found in the upper middle box of the league table. The positions will be worsened by the weak period at the turn of September-October, after which the team has gained a much better pace.

Saturday’s match was the first of two consecutive encounters between the teams. The second part of the battle will be seen on Wednesday in Helsinki.