Story Summary
HIFK dismissed head coach Olli Jokinen, assistant coaches Anders Carlsson and Mika Hyvärinen, and goaltending coach Riku Helenius on Wednesday. Carlsson, the Swedish assistant known as “Masken”, said the outcome had not come as a surprise after a difficult start to the Liiga season.
HIFK had collected 15 points from 14 games and stood 15th in the Liiga table when Jokinen and his staff were removed because of poor results. Tommi Miettinen has been appointed as the club’s new head coach, with Ville Viitaluoma and Jan Lundell joining his coaching staff.
Key Facts
- HIFK dismissed head coach Olli Jokinen, assistants Anders Carlsson and Mika Hyvärinen, and goaltending coach Riku Helenius on Wednesday.
- HIFK had taken 15 points from 14 Liiga matches and sat 15th in the standings when the coaching changes were made.
- Anders Carlsson joined HIFK’s coaching staff for this season, making his spell with the club brief.
- Carlsson said the dismissals were fairly expected, citing injuries and results as problems for the team.
- Carlsson described Olli Jokinen as a very good coach and said injuries had prevented the staff from playing the hockey they wanted.
- Tommi Miettinen has been named HIFK’s new head coach, while Ville Viitaluoma and Jan Lundell have joined his staff.
IHM Discussion
Carlsson’s comments provide a direct defence of Jokinen after a coaching change driven by HIFK’s league position and return of 15 points from 14 outings. He did not dispute the results, but argued that the extent of the team’s injury problems had restricted the coaching group’s ability to establish its intended style.
The dismissals were broad rather than limited to the head coach, also ending the tenures of both assistants and the goaltending coach. Miettinen now takes over with Viitaluoma and Lundell as the incoming additions to the staff.
Why It Matters
The change places immediate responsibility on Miettinen and his new staff to improve HIFK’s position from 15th in Liiga. Carlsson’s remarks also underline the central challenge inherited by the new group: finding results while dealing with the injury situation he said had affected the club’s ability to implement its preferred approach.
Mini Q&A
Why did HIFK dismiss Olli Jokinen and his coaching staff?
The coaching group was dismissed after poor results, with HIFK taking 15 points from 14 matches and falling to 15th in Liiga.
What did Anders Carlsson say about Olli Jokinen?
Carlsson called Jokinen a very good coach and said injuries had limited the staff’s ability to play the hockey they wanted.
Who has replaced Olli Jokinen as HIFK head coach?
Tommi Miettinen has been appointed head coach, with Ville Viitaluoma and Jan Lundell joining his staff.
What Comes Next
The next confirmed step is the start of Tommi Miettinen’s tenure as HIFK head coach alongside new staff members Ville Viitaluoma and Jan Lundell.