Story Summary
Tuomas Kiiskinen, a recently retired player who ended his career with KalPa‘s 2025 Finnish championship, has joined the Liiga club Ilves on a 1+2-year coaching contract. Kiiskinen arrives with little prior coaching experience but strong playing credentials, including two Swedish titles with Växjö Lakers and the 2025 Finnish title. He says he took a year away from hockey after retirement to reset before accepting Ilves’s offer during last season’s playoffs. Kiiskinen emphasises hard work, an active on-ice role and responsibility for specific areas of preparation; he also says he and the rest of Ilves’ coaching staff have divided roles evenly but is not disclosing the exact details. Ilves gathered as a group on 3 August, played four pre-season games before the 1 September start to the Liiga season and opened the campaign with a five-game away run, with the first home game coming in the third league week.
Key Facts
- Tuomas Kiiskinen ended his playing career with a Finnish championship at KalPa in 2025.
- Ilves announced Kiiskinen’s addition to the coaching staff on a 1+2-year contract.
- Kiiskinen has essentially no prior coaching experience before the 2026-27 Liiga super season.
- He has won two Swedish championships with Växjö Lakers in addition to the 2025 Finnish title.
- Kiiskinen took roughly a year away from the sport after retiring, spending time with family and stepping back from hockey.
- Ilves regrouped on 3 August and played four pre-season games before the season that began on 1 September.
- Ilves opened the season with a five-game run on the road; the first home match is scheduled in the third week of the Liiga campaign.
- Kiiskinen says he will be working on the ice and has specific areas of responsibility, but he declined to detail his exact role publicly.
- He describes Ilves’ daily work culture as positive and disciplined and has noticed operational differences between clubs he represented in Finland, Sweden and Russia.
- Kiiskinen supports the Liiga’s open, higher-stakes season format – the so-called super season – and sees added interest at both ends of the table.
IHM Discussion
Kiiskinen’s move combines a long, successful playing career with virtually no previous coaching experience. He says coaching had long interested him, but that he needed time away from the game after retirement before Ilves’ offer emerged during the previous season’s playoffs.
The former player will have a substantial role within an experienced Ilves coaching group, although he has not disclosed its exact details. He says the staff have divided responsibilities closely and that he will work on the ice, including leading practices. Video work, practice planning and reviewing games have all brought new demands as he adjusts to coaching.
Kiiskinen points to cohesion and a shared understanding of a team’s chosen style as common features of the championship sides he played for. With only four pre-season games before the Liiga campaign began, Ilves were still refining their attacking play, even as they conceded few goals in those fixtures.
Why It Matters
Kiiskinen brings championship experience from Finland and Sweden into his first coaching role. His on-ice work and defined responsibilities will make him part of Ilves’ daily preparation, while the experienced coaching group provides a setting in which he can learn the demands of the job.
The opening schedule presents an immediate test. Ilves began with five away games after a short preparation period, and Kiiskinen has said the team must move beyond overthinking and play with a clearer instinct for its intended style.
Mini Q&A
Who is Tuomas Kiiskinen?
Tuomas Kiiskinen is a recently retired player who finished his career with a Finnish championship at KalPa in 2025 and has also won two Swedish titles with Växjö Lakers.
What contract did Kiiskinen sign with Ilves?
He signed a 1+2-year contract with Ilves.
Does Kiiskinen have prior coaching experience?
No – Kiiskinen has essentially no prior coaching experience before the 2026-27 Liiga season.
What role will Kiiskinen perform at Ilves?
Kiiskinen says he has specific areas of responsibility, will be active on the ice running drills, and that the coaching roles have been divided evenly, but he has not disclosed precise role details.
How did Kiiskinen prepare before taking the job?
After retiring he took roughly a year away from the sport, spending time with family and stepping back from hockey before accepting Ilves’ offer during last season’s playoffs.
What immediate challenge does Ilves face at the start of the season?
Ilves opened the season with a five-game away run and have their first home game scheduled in the third league week, meaning the team must implement new routines quickly after a brief pre-season.
What Comes Next
Ilves began the Liiga season with five consecutive away fixtures, with their first home game not arriving until the third league week. The early schedule follows a compressed preparation period in which the team regrouped on 3 August and played four pre-season games.
IHM Final View
Kiiskinen begins his coaching career with a substantial on-ice role at Ilves after a long playing career that included titles in Finland and Sweden. His early focus is clear: hard daily work, a cohesive group and a team able to execute its chosen style.