Ice hockey | Ville Peltonen continues as HIFK’s head coach

Helsinki IFK and head coach Ville Peltonen have agreed on a continuation. Peltonen, 50, continues as HIFK’s head coach with a two-year contract.

The Helsinki club announced a contract extension until spring 2026 on Tuesday evening.

“When something like this came up, it wasn’t a difficult decision to continue. For the past few years, we have been working together daily as ‘Tobbarin’ (sports director Tobias Salmelainen) in the same spirit. That’s why the contract negotiations went in a good spirit,” says Peltonen.

For Peltones, it is an honor to continue specifically at HIFK.

“I have a strong desire to coach, and I can’t really find a more meaningful place than HIFK. I still have the same feeling when I joined the club. The stadium is my home and HIFK is a dear and important club.”

Peltonen is coaching HIFK in his third season. The lion legend signed a three-year head coach contract with HIFK in the spring of 2021.

“When you look back, time has passed quickly. A little over two years can accommodate a variety of experiences. The most important thing is to act according to values, and at the core of that is building trust with the entire team and staff. It has been confirmed. There are good elements here to continue,” Peltonen feels.

HIFK is one of the biggest champion favorites in the SM league this season.

The star team, strengthened by famous players seasoned on international courts, is currently in second place in the league standings after Tappara.

HIFK has collected 27 points from 14 matches.

“We wanted to succeed right from the beginning of the season and make a strong effort from the start. We have succeeded in that. Of course, tenacity has been tested during this season as well and there have been a lot of injuries. There are still many elements in the game that we can improve and strengthen.”

The difference from a year ago is radical. At the beginning of last season, HIFK plowed for a long time in the bottom of the series.

“In the big picture, we’ve gotten off to a better start than in years, but I don’t think anyone is satisfied,” Peltonen emphasizes.

“Maintaining constant hunger is important. As autumn darkens, these are the moments when finding focus for every match and practice is important. The mission we have gives strength to everyday life. We are on a good track.”

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“Maintaining constant hunger is important.”

Peltonen in the opening season 2021–22, HIFK fell to TPS in the quarterfinals. Last season, HIFK’s wall stood up in the semi-finals against the champion Tappara. In the bronze game, HIFK lost to Ilves.

Peltonen announced before the start of his game that HIFK needs to clarify the club’s core values ​​and bring them to this day. How has this been successful?

“I like that results are measured, but you also have to look at everyday activities. I consider competitiveness, sportsmanship and the players’ dedication to be successful. Our tenacity has been constantly tested, but we’ve cracked a lot even in that. There is a strong spirit in the booth and we want to improve all the time,” says Peltonen.

“This is a constant turning of the rocks and finding a competitive advantage. Here it is good to challenge oneself outside the comfort zone, where ultimately development takes place. That courage has been getting stronger all the time.”

Before After moving to HIFK, Peltonen worked as a head coach for one and a half seasons at Lausanne HC, which plays in the Swiss premier league.

Before this, he worked as an assistant coach for two seasons Kari Jalonen coaching at SC Bern.

Before moving to Switzerland, Peltonen worked for two seasons as HIFK’s head coach and in the U20 team’s coaching group.

Peltosen also has experience as an assistant coach for the Lions and the German national team.

Peltonen ended his long and successful playing career in the spring of 2014 as HIFK’s captain.

During his playing career, Peltonen won World Championship gold, four World Championship silver and three World Championship bronzes in Leijon. At the Olympics, he won silver and three bronze medals. At the club level, Peltose has two SM golds and two Swiss championships.