Jukka Jalonen immediately dictates the line

Jukka Jalonen immediately dictates the line

Jukka Jalonen è has been appointed head coach of the Italian national ice hockey team. A prestigious and experienced coach, who has won everything with Finland and has accepted a new challenge: that of guiding the Azzurri to the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.

"È a challenging task – told Luca Tommasini – FISG National Ice Hockey Press Office -. The Olympics are approaching and I think it is interesting to be part of it with the Nation that will host it; è a challenge, but also an opportunity’that Italy can’exploit to make a leap forward. I have already had the opportunity to coach here in 1999, in Alleghe: it was obviously a smaller environment, but I have kept beautiful memories, I love the culture, the food and the Italian landscapes. But I am here to give my best for Italian’hockey".

"My task as a coach will not change; the goals are relative – he added -. As in every National Team we will have few tournaments to prepare ourselves at our best for the World Cup: players will come from different clubs and different systems of play, the task of the coaching staff è to quickly make the group compact, create a good atmosphere, a relaxed environment where everyone can&rsograve; compete at their best".

"The biggest difference will beà related to the fact that in Finland I knew all the players perfectly, here I will have toò get to know each one of them: especially at’the beginning it will be hard work, becauseé I will want toò take time with them even before and after practice. It remains forò clear what I want: competitive players, who want to win" concluded the Scandinavian.