Tag: Liiga

Sport’s Kalle Miketinac sidelined into 2027

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

Vaasan Sport will be without Swedish forward Kalle Miketinac for several months because of injury, with the current assessment placing his return to the ice in 2027.

The 27-year-old has no precise return date at this stage. Sport has indicated that the recovery timetable will be clarified later, leaving the Liiga club without a firm date for when Miketinac may resume playing.

Miketinac is in his fourth season with Sport. He has played nine Liiga games this season, scoring one goal. Across his Liiga career, he has recorded 22 goals and 43 assists for 65 points in 141 appearances.

Key Facts

  • Kalle Miketinac is expected to be sidelined for several months because of injury.
  • Sport’s current estimate is that Miketinac will return to the ice in 2027.
  • No exact date for his return has been given, and Sport says the recovery timetable will become clearer later.
  • The 27-year-old Swedish forward is playing his fourth season for Sport.
  • Miketinac has one goal in nine Liiga appearances this season.
  • In 141 Liiga games, Miketinac has registered 22 goals, 43 assists and 65 points.

IHM Discussion

The immediate significance for Sport is the length of the absence rather than a short-term day-to-day adjustment. Miketinac will miss several months, and the present estimate rules out a return before the turn of the year.

Sport has not set a more detailed timetable, so the position remains open-ended beyond the broad 2027 target. That distinction matters: a projected return in 2027 is not the same as a confirmed comeback date. The club will provide further clarity only once the recovery schedule develops.

Miketinac brings established Liiga experience to Sport’s forward group. His 141-game league record and 65 career points provide the wider context to an absence that will continue well beyond his nine appearances this season.

Why It Matters

Sport have lost a forward with a substantial body of Liiga experience for an extended period. Miketinac’s absence is particularly notable because there is no precise return date attached to the current projection.

For now, the clearest confirmed point is that Sport do not expect him back on the ice until 2027 at the earliest. Any more specific assessment of his availability will depend on the updated recovery timetable the club has yet to provide.

Virtanen earns praise in Liiga coaching review

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

Jonne Virtanen has emerged as the leading figure in a Liiga coaching review that praised the early work of Jukurit‘s head coach alongside Porin Ässät boss Jarno Pikkarainen and Jokerit head coach Juuso Hahl.

Virtanen was credited with extracting strong results from a Jukurit squad described as limited, even when the team’s hockey has not always been attractive. Defencemen Andrej Sustr and Alex Lintuniemi were singled out as players who have flourished under his coaching, while Virtanen was also praised for not making excuses after poor nights.

Pikkarainen received recognition for keeping Ässät competitive despite several significant injuries. He was credited with getting the most from the available healthy players rather than using the injury list as an explanation. Hahl, meanwhile, was praised for changes made in a short spell behind the Jokerit bench, particularly in the team’s exits, defensive structure and the conditions facing its goaltenders.

The scrutiny was less favourable for HIFK head coach Olli Jokinen after the Helsinki derby against Jokerit. HIFK were judged not to have shown the fighting spirit their coach wanted, while Jokinen’s subdued demeanour on the bench and unusual behaviour at Liiga’s press conference were also criticised.

Elsewhere, TPS’s lack of production beyond its first line and the difficult starts of Joona Ikonen, Sisu Yliniemi and Aatos Koivu were highlighted. HPK winger Joonas Oden was also under the microscope after his role diminished during a lean start to the season.

Key Facts

  • Jukurit head coach Jonne Virtanen was praised for delivering strong results with a squad described as limited.
  • Defencemen Andrej Sustr and Alex Lintuniemi were identified as players who have improved under Virtanen’s coaching.
  • Porin Ässät head coach Jarno Pikkarainen was credited with getting the most from his healthy players amid several significant injuries.
  • Jokerit head coach Juuso Hahl was praised for improving the team’s exits and defensive work in a short period.
  • HIFK head coach Olli Jokinen was criticised following the Helsinki derby against Jokerit, with HIFK judged not to have displayed the desired fighting spirit.
  • TPS forward Joona Ikonen has three assists and no goals in 11 games; Sisu Yliniemi has one goal and Aatos Koivu has one goal and one assist.
  • HPK winger Joonas Oden has scored one goal in 12 games. Against KooKoo, he played on the fourth line for a little over 11 minutes and finished minus-two.

IHM Discussion

The review places coaching at the centre of an eventful Liiga week, which also included the Helsinki derby between Jokerit and HIFK and KooKoo’s first win of the season after changing head coach.

Virtanen’s case rests on repeatable qualities rather than a claim that Jukurit have been flawless. The assessment specifically acknowledges that the hockey has not always been easy on the eye, but values the results being produced and the apparent development of Sustr and Lintuniemi. That distinction matters: a coach can be judged on how consistently a group competes and improves, not solely on stylistic polish.

Pikkarainen’s commendation is similarly rooted in managing what is available. Ässät have had important injuries, yet the emphasis is on the players who have remained fit and the standard maintained by that group. There is also the prospect of a defenceman arriving in Pori, though that possibility remains unconfirmed.

At Jokerit, the positive assessment is more structural. Better sense in the exit game, firmer defending and less chaos in front of the goaltenders are all tangible areas of focus. Hahl was also praised for his assured and direct public manner, although the review makes clear that there remains significant room for improvement.

Jokinen’s criticism provides the counterpoint. The concern was not simply the derby performance itself, but whether HIFK’s bench found a way to draw out a more combative response when it was needed.

Why It Matters

Early-season coaching assessments can quickly become attached to players’ roles and production. At TPS, the issue identified is not a lack of skill beyond the first line but the absence of output from those lines. Ikonen’s 0+3 in 11 games, Yliniemi’s 1+0 and Koivu’s 1+1 put clear numbers to that concern.

For HPK, Oden’s one goal in 12 games has coincided with a reduced role. His fourth-line usage against KooKoo and minus-two mark in a little over 11 minutes illustrate how difficult the current stretch has become. The possibility of seeking him a place elsewhere was raised, but no move has been confirmed.

The broader significance is that the teams discussed are being judged on identifiable details: how they play out of their own end, how they defend around their goaltenders, how they handle injuries, and whether players outside the leading unit contribute offence.

Mini Q&A

Why was Jonne Virtanen praised?

He was credited with repeatedly producing strong results from a limited Jukurit squad, while Andrej Sustr and Alex Lintuniemi were identified as players who have flourished under his coaching.

What were the concerns around TPS?

The concern was a shortage of scoring from outside the first line. Joona Ikonen had 0+3 in 11 games, while Sisu Yliniemi had 1+0 and Aatos Koivu 1+1.

What is Joonas Oden’s current situation at HPK?

Oden has one goal in 12 games and played on HPK’s fourth line against KooKoo, logging a little over 11 minutes and finishing minus-two. A possible move elsewhere was raised, but no transfer has been confirmed.

Coach Mark Comment

The clearest coaching marker in this review is the connection between team structure and player confidence. Jokerit’s improved exits and more orderly defensive work were linked to a calmer environment for the goaltenders, while Jukurit’s praise was tied to contributions from experienced defencemen. Those are practical signs of a coaching message reaching the group, even where the overall performance still has imperfections.

IHM Final View

Virtanen receives the strongest endorsement in this Liiga coaching review, with Pikkarainen and Hahl also recognised for specific work with their teams. Jokinen, TPS’s secondary scoring and Oden’s diminished role form the more difficult side of the week’s assessment. The common thread is accountability: results, structure and individual production are all under close examination.

HIFK close to short-term loan for Olof Glifford

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

HIFK are reportedly close to bringing in Swedish goaltender Olof Glifford from HV71 on a short-term loan.

The 21-year-old has slipped to third in HV71’s goaltending order in the SHL, and the proposed move would give HIFK another option while Tim Juel is injured. Juel, the 32-year-old Swedish netminder earmarked as HIFK’s first-choice goaltender, is currently expected to be out for a further three to five weeks.

Glifford has made 18 SHL appearances across the past two seasons. Last season, he played 29 games in Allsvenskan with IK Oskarshamn and posted a .904 save percentage.

Key Facts

  • HIFK are reportedly close to agreeing a short-term loan for HV71 goaltender Olof Glifford.
  • Glifford, 21, has fallen to third in HV71’s goaltending hierarchy.
  • He has played 18 SHL games over the past two seasons.
  • Glifford made 29 Allsvenskan appearances for IK Oskarshamn last season and recorded a .904 save percentage.
  • The 195cm goaltender is an HV71 youth product and was selected by the Florida Panthers in the fifth round of the 2023 NHL Draft.
  • He has represented Sweden at junior international level over several seasons.
  • Tim Juel is expected to remain out for a further three to five weeks under the current assessment.
  • Hugo Alnefelt and Vili Varonen have been in goal for HIFK during Juel’s absence, although Alnefelt withdrew late from Saturday’s game.

IHM Discussion

The reported loan would be a short-term response to HIFK’s immediate goaltending situation rather than a confirmed long-term change. Juel’s absence has left Hugo Alnefelt and Vili Varonen carrying the workload, while Alnefelt’s late withdrawal from Saturday’s match adds further uncertainty to the depth chart.

Glifford would arrive with recent experience at two levels of Swedish hockey. His 29-game spell with Oskarshamn last season represents his largest recent workload, while his 18 SHL appearances show that he has also had exposure to HV71’s top-flight environment.

Why It Matters

HIFK’s reported pursuit is tied directly to Juel’s injury absence. A completed loan would provide an additional goaltender while the club manages a period in which its intended first-choice netminder remains unavailable.

Mini Q&A

Who is Olof Glifford?

Olof Glifford is a 21-year-old Swedish goaltender under contract with HV71. He is an HV71 youth product, a 2023 fifth-round Florida Panthers draft pick and has represented Sweden at junior level.

Why are HIFK reportedly seeking a goaltender?

Tim Juel is injured and is currently expected to be sidelined for a further three to five weeks. Hugo Alnefelt and Vili Varonen have been covering in goal during his absence.

Ilves win overshadowed by abusive Veikkaus chants

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

Ilves defeated Jokers 3-0 at Veikkaus Arena, but the result was followed by abusive chanting between the two clubs’ supporters.

Ilves fans had travelled in organised fashion for the Saturday-night fixture, and the arena atmosphere was described as loud throughout the game as home and visiting supporters backed their sides. The tone changed after the final whistle, when chants from both groups included language deemed unsuitable for children attending the event.

Ilves supporters chanted a derogatory obscenity directed at Russians, while Jokers fans replied with an insulting chant aimed at Tampere.

Key Facts

  • Ilves won the game 3-0 against Jokers at Veikkaus Arena.
  • Supporters from both teams generated a loud atmosphere during the match.
  • Post-match chanting between the two fan groups included language unsuitable for children.
  • Ilves fans used a derogatory obscenity directed at Russians after the game.

IHM Discussion

The 3-0 result was the sporting outcome, but the conduct after the match became the more significant talking point.

The chants were not confined to ordinary sporting rivalry. One was directed at Russians using a derogatory obscenity, while the reply from Jokers supporters insulted Tampere. The additional anti-Putin chant had a political context rather than a direct sporting one.

No disciplinary action, club response or arena measure is stated. The established facts are limited to the chanting, its post-match timing and the 3-0 Ilves victory.

Why It Matters

Supporter culture is a visible part of Finnish hockey matchdays, particularly when travelling fans are present. This incident matters because the language reported went beyond competitive noise and was described as unsuitable for children in attendance. The result remains a clear win for Ilves, but the post-match exchanges placed attention on supporter behaviour rather than the hockey alone.

HIFK forced into late goaltending change for KalPa

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

HIFK have made a last-minute change in goal before their evening Liiga game against KalPa in Helsinki, with Hugo Alnefelt dropping out of the line-up.

Eighteen-year-old Vili Varonen takes over the starting role for only the second Liiga appearance of his career. He has not yet played in the Liiga this season.

HIFK have also brought in Kiekko-Vantaa goaltender Severi Auvinen as the back-up. The club were already without their other Swedish goaltender, Tim Juel.

Key Facts

  • Hugo Alnefelt was initially named in HIFK’s playing line-up before being withdrawn ahead of the KalPa game.
  • Vili Varonen, 18, will make only his second Liiga appearance and his first of the season.
  • Varonen has recorded a 91.4% save percentage in the junior SM-liiga this autumn.
  • Kiekko-Vantaa’s Severi Auvinen has been called in to serve as HIFK’s back-up goaltender.
  • Alnefelt had recently helped HIFK, including in Thursday’s derby defeat to Jokerit, which ended 3-2 after overtime.
  • HIFK were already without Swedish goaltender Tim Juel.

IHM Discussion

The alteration leaves HIFK relying on a young goaltender with very limited Liiga experience at short notice. Varonen’s junior save percentage offers a positive recent indicator, but the KalPa match presents a substantial step up in responsibility.

The late change also affects the depth behind him. With Auvinen arriving from Kiekko-Vantaa and Juel already unavailable, HIFK’s usual goaltending options are notably reduced for the evening fixture.

Why It Matters

Goaltending was a recent strength for HIFK through Alnefelt’s performances, making his absence particularly significant before a scheduled league game. The immediate consequence is a first Liiga outing of the campaign for Varonen, with Auvinen providing emergency cover on the bench.

HIFK reshuffles top two lines before KalPa game

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

Olli Jokinen has made significant changes to HIFK’s forward lines for the Saturday meeting with KalPa after the Helsinki side’s 3-2 overtime loss to Jokerit.

Daniel Mäkiaho, Iiro Pakarinen and Niko Huuhtanen will form HIFK’s new first line. Eetu Liukas, Jake Leschyshyn and Vincent Marleau make up the reshaped second unit.

There is also a new name in the HIFK line-up, with Lauri Sinivuori coming in as the centre on the fourth line. The changes arrive during a difficult start to the Liiga season for HIFK, who sit third from bottom with 10 points from 10 games.

KalPa will again be without star forward Jaakko Rissanen, while retaining the same group that played on Friday. Aleksi Klemetti, Elias Vilen and Juuso Mäenpää are set to skate on KalPa’s first line, with Stefanos Lekkas continuing in goal.

Key Facts

  • Olli Jokinen has altered HIFK’s first and second forward lines for the KalPa fixture.
  • Daniel Mäkiaho, Iiro Pakarinen and Niko Huuhtanen comprise HIFK’s new first line.
  • Eetu Liukas, Jake Leschyshyn and Vincent Marleau have been placed together on the revised second line.
  • Lauri Sinivuori enters the HIFK line-up as fourth-line centre.
  • HIFK have collected 10 points in 10 Liiga matches and are third from bottom after losing 3-2 in overtime to Jokerit.
  • KalPa will play without Jaakko Rissanen for a second consecutive game.
  • KalPa’s first line features Aleksi Klemetti, Elias Vilen and Juuso Mäenpää, with Stefanos Lekkas in net.

IHM Discussion

The scale of the change is notable because it affects both of HIFK’s leading forward units rather than simply making an adjustment lower in the line-up. Mäkiaho, Pakarinen and Huuhtanen are being given the assignment, while Liukas, Leschyshyn and Marleau move into a newly configured second unit.

Sinivuori’s arrival at centre on the fourth line adds another change to the forward group. Jokinen’s selections come with HIFK under pressure after a poor opening 10-game return, while the club’s leadership has publicly maintained its backing for the head coach despite supporters calling for his dismissal.

Why It Matters

HIFK need an improved response after their overtime defeat by Jokerit and a start that has left them near the bottom of the Liiga table. The revised combinations give the KalPa game immediate importance as a test of how the new forward units function.

For KalPa, Rissanen’s continued absence is a clear constraint, although the side will keep the same personnel used on Friday and retain Lekkas in goal.

Pekka Jormakka explains Liiga return with Jukurit

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

Pekka Jormakka has said his return from Slovakia to Liiga action with Jukurit has meant a significant reduction in his net income, despite the greater financial incentive available in Zvolen.

The forward, who is on trial with Jukurit, said he would have taken home almost twice as much after tax in Slovakia. However, Jormakka said he wanted to return to Finland to be with his family.

Jormakka played six matches in Slovakia. The club attributed the separation to insufficient performances, while Jormakka said his agent told him the club had wanted to extend his trial by one month. He said that extension was not an option for him.

Jukurit head coach Jonne Virtanen then contacted Jormakka with an opportunity to show what he could do in Mikkeli, where the forward had previously spent three years. Jormakka now lives in Mikkeli with his family and is seeking a player contract after appearing in three scoreless games for Jukurit.

Key Facts

  • Pekka Jormakka is playing on trial with Liiga side Jukurit and is seeking a player contract.
  • Jormakka said his net earnings in Slovakia would have been almost double those available in Finland because of taxation.
  • He played six matches in Slovakia before returning to Finland.
  • Jormakka said he wanted to be closer to his family, while the Slovak club cited insufficient performances as the reason for the separation.
  • Jormakka said his agent told him the Slovak club wanted to extend his trial by one month, but he did not wish to continue it.
  • Jukurit head coach Jonne Virtanen offered Jormakka the chance to prove himself in Mikkeli, where he had previously played for three years.
  • Jormakka has played three games for Jukurit without recording a point and now lives in Mikkeli with his family.

IHM Discussion

Jormakka’s account presents the move as a personal and professional decision rather than a straightforward financial calculation. He has openly acknowledged the higher potential take-home pay in Slovakia, but said the chance to return to his family in Mikkeli carried greater weight.

There are differing accounts of how his Slovak spell ended. The club linked it to his performances, whereas Jormakka said he was informed by his agent that a one-month trial extension had been offered. Jormakka’s position is that he chose not to take that extension.

For Jukurit, the arrangement gives the club an experienced forward a chance to demonstrate his value in familiar surroundings. For Jormakka, the trial remains exactly that: three appearances without a point and no confirmed contract.

Why It Matters

The story underlines the practical pressures behind player movement in European hockey. Salary and tax conditions can create a substantial difference in earnings, but family circumstances can be equally decisive in shaping a player’s next step.

Jormakka’s immediate focus is his trial in Mikkeli. His prior connection to the city and the direct approach from Virtanen have given him an opportunity to pursue a Liiga deal, but his place beyond the trial has not been confirmed.

Niklas Rubin honours family on Kärppät mask

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

Kärppät goaltender Niklas Rubin has unveiled a mask design that places his family and childhood at its centre.

The most personal detail appears on the back of the mask: Rubin’s son Otto is depicted at the wheel of a tractor, accompanied by the family dog Dallas. A balloon bearing the letter P is a reference to Rubin’s wife, Pauline.

The tractor also reflects Rubin’s upbringing. He grew up in a farming family in Fjärås, around a half-hour drive from Gothenburg, and recalled regularly riding in his father’s tractor as a child.

Key Facts

  • Niklas Rubin is a goaltender for Kärppät.
  • The rear of Rubin’s mask shows his son Otto driving a tractor.
  • The design also includes the family dog Dallas and a balloon marked with a P for Rubin’s wife, Pauline.
  • Rubin grew up in a farming family in Fjärås, near Gothenburg.
  • Rubin said he rode in his father’s tractor almost every day as a child and enjoyed it.

IHM Discussion

Goaltender masks have long offered players a distinctive way to express identity, and Rubin’s design connects his current role with Kärppät to the people and experiences that shaped him. Rather than using the tractor only as a rural motif, he has made it a family scene, with his son taking the driver’s seat.

That choice gives the artwork a clear personal thread: the farming environment Rubin knew as a child remains present, while the image also includes his own young family.

Why It Matters

The design gives Kärppät supporters a more personal view of Rubin’s background. Its central image links his childhood in Fjärås with his family life, making the mask more than a conventional team-colour or graphic-led piece of equipment.

Only Two Finns Sit in Liiga’s Top 10 Scoring List

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

Ilves forward Luke Henman has set the early pace in Liiga’s scoring race, posting 14 points from 10 games on five goals and nine assists.

The top 10 of the points standings contains only two Finnish players: HPK’s Sami Päivärinta in seventh and HIFK’s Daniel Mäkiaho in eighth. The remaining leading scorers are from Canada, Czechia, Austria, Sweden, the United States and Denmark.

Elsewhere in the early Liiga table, HIFK, Jokerit and KooKoo occupy the relegation places.

Key Facts

  • Ilves forward Luke Henman leads Liiga’s early points standings with 5+9=14 in 10 games.
  • HPK’s Sami Päivärinta is seventh in the Liiga points standings.
  • Päivärinta and Mäkiaho are the only Finnish players in the top 10.
  • The other leading scorers come from Canada, Czechia, Austria, Sweden, the United States and Denmark.
  • Ilves’ Mantas Armalis and Pelicans‘ Patrik Bartosak have the best save percentages among Liiga goaltenders.
  • Seven Finnish goaltenders feature among the 10 with the strongest save percentages.

IHM Discussion

The early points table offers a clear contrast between the league’s scoring leaders and its goaltending list. Overseas players occupy eight of the top 10 scoring places, with Henman’s production for Ilves setting the standard after 10 appearances. By comparison, Finnish names are more prominent among the goaltenders with the best save percentages.

Päivärinta and Mäkiaho are therefore carrying the domestic presence near the top of the scoring chart. Their seventh- and eighth-place positions leave a notable gap between the league’s leading Finnish scorers and Henman at the summit.

Why It Matters

Henman’s 14 points have given Ilves the league’s most productive player in the opening phase of the season. The make-up of the top 10 also places attention on Päivärinta and Mäkiaho as the only Finnish players currently occupying those scoring positions.

The standings add further context for HIFK, whose scorer Mäkiaho sits eighth while the club is in the relegation places alongside Jokerit and KooKoo.

Hahl addresses bench claim after Jokerit derby win

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

Juuso Hahl described Jokerit‘s 3-2 overtime victory over HIFK in the season’s first Helsinki derby as his side’s most complete 60-minute performance so far. The Jokerit head coach said his team controlled much of the game, created numerous scoring chances and limited HIFK’s opportunities.

Hahl said Jokerit’s own lack of finishing and a strong display from HIFK’s goaltender separated his side from taking three points. Asked about HIFK’s performance, he declined to assess the opposition and said the statistics would show which side had performed better.

The match also featured a heavy hit by HIFK defenceman Ilari Melart on Jokerit’s Riku Tuomola midway through the third period. Tuomola missed some shifts for the remainder of the game, although Hahl said the player appeared to be all right despite taking several knocks.

Afterwards, HIFK forward Eetu Liukas alleged that a Jokerit staff member had shouted from the bench at HIFK’s Niko Huuhtanen. Hahl said he had not noticed the alleged exchange and directed questions on the matter to Liukas.

Key Facts

  • Jokerit beat HIFK 3-2 in overtime in the season’s first Helsinki derby.
  • Jokerit head coach Juuso Hahl called it his team’s most complete 60-minute performance so far.
  • Hahl said Jokerit created many scoring chances while keeping HIFK to few opportunities.
  • Hahl said Jokerit’s finishing and an excellent performance by HIFK’s goaltender kept the game from becoming a three-point win for Jokerit.
  • HIFK defenceman Ilari Melart delivered a heavy hit on Jokerit’s Riku Tuomola midway through the third period.
  • Tuomola missed some shifts after the hit, but Hahl said he appeared to be all right.
  • HIFK forward Eetu Liukas alleged that a Jokerit staff member shouted at Niko Huuhtanen from the bench; Hahl said he did not witness it.

IHM Discussion

Hahl’s assessment focused firmly on Jokerit’s control of play rather than the final margin. His comments pointed to a performance in which the team’s work without the puck and chance creation met its intended standard, even if the finishing did not deliver the regulation win he felt was available.

That distinction matters in an overtime result. Jokerit secured the victory, but Hahl’s post-match view was that the underlying balance of chances should have produced a clearer outcome. He offered no analysis of HIFK’s approach, instead keeping the emphasis on his own group.

The bench allegation remained unresolved in Hahl’s comments. Liukas made the allegation after the match, while Hahl said he had no awareness of the purported incident. Neither account establishes what happened beyond those respective statements.

Why It Matters

The derby delivered both a win for Jokerit and a strong internal benchmark from its head coach. Hahl’s description of the match as the team’s most complete 60 minutes gives particular weight to the way Jokerit managed possession, opportunities and defensive chances against HIFK.

Tuomola’s condition was also a notable post-match point after the third-period collision. Hahl’s indication that the player appeared to be all right was reassuring, while the fact that Tuomola missed shifts showed the immediate effect of the hit during the game.

The allegation involving the Jokerit bench adds an off-ice element to an already high-profile local fixture, but Hahl did not offer corroboration because he said he had not heard it.

Mini Q&A

What was the result of the Jokerit-HIFK derby?

Jokerit won 3-2 in overtime.

What did Juuso Hahl say about the alleged bench incident?

Hahl said he had not noticed or heard it and said questions should be directed to Eetu Liukas, who made the allegation.

How was Riku Tuomola after Ilari Melart’s hit?

Tuomola missed some shifts for the rest of the match. Hahl said he had taken several knocks but appeared to be all right.