Floorball: Heikki Iiskola tells how he got on the Finnish World Cup team

Last in the spring Heikki Iiskola26, made a bet with his friend about whether he would be selected for the Finnish team for the World Floorball Championships.

The bet was a daring one, as it had been more than six years since Iiskola’s previous and career-only men’s international matches. And because Iiskola’s leg was broken.

The odds of the Oilers forward, which seemed unlikely, were taken into account in the bets. Iiskola hit the pot with 50 euros, the guy 100 euros.

In floor bandy, you can get to the national team games on the league screens, but you can claim a place in the World Cup only on the screens in the national team. As the fall progressed, it started to seem that Iiskola would not get a place on the Finnish jersey.

Last spring in the playoffs, Iiskola was in great shape. He led the playoff scoring market as the Oilers went on a winning streak.

In the second game of the semi-final series played against Espoo’s local opponent Indians, Iiskola was taking a step when the opponent’s foot unluckily bumped into his shin. The next step felt painful.

“During the set break, they tried to tape the leg tighter. When I tried to walk, I realized that nothing would come of it,” Iiskola remembers.

The next day, the doctor gave the sad news. There was a fracture in the leg. The outermost bone of the metatarsal, the so-called Jones’ bone, was broken. It was a hard blow for a player who had struggled for years with various injuries.

“The team’s game went well, and personally it went really well too. I wonder if this is where it’s going to end up. Otherwise, I had been able to keep myself together, and then such an unfortunate fracture happened.”

However, Iiskola did not give up. He missed a couple of games, talked to the team doctor, and decided to try playing again with the anesthesia spikes. Spikes were put on before each game and at each break.

“The effect of one spike lasted half an hour, then I needed more. It depended on where the spike hit and what felt good.”

In the days between games, the striker tried to put as little stress on the leg as possible. Walking was difficult. Somehow, he managed to play the last two semi-final matches and all seven finals.

“At first, running felt really strange when I couldn’t feel half of my leg. I realized that you had to use your head more than your legs, think about what is smart and where you should move. My dock pair Aaro (Astala) worked for the monk.”

In the final series played against Classic, Iiskola totaled 6+5=11 points. In the decisive seventh final, he finished with two goals as the Oilers won the Finnish championship.

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“I was already wondering if this was it. I had done everything I could, but I didn’t get a screen slot.”

Championship party after Finland’s head coach Esa Jussila invited the Oilers forward to the summer national team camp.

“With a small risk, I could have gone, but I didn’t feel it was reasonable. I had to announce that I will not go there under any circumstances.”

The rehabilitation went well, but it took the whole summer. Iiskola was able to run straight, but in the changes of direction characteristic of the sport, you had to proceed with caution. He was able to return to sports in August.

The contact with the national team coaching remained in one message. Iiskola congratulated head coach Jussila for winning the Finnish Fantasy Premier League game.

When the summer camp passed and there were no invitations to the national team tournaments in the fall, the competition dream seemed to be shattered. Iiskola was not selected for the EFT tournament of the four top countries in September. And not for the October EFT games in Rauma, which was the last place to give World Cup displays.

“I was already wondering if this was it. I had done everything I could, but I didn’t get a screen slot.”

Then Jussila called. A few players had to miss the national matches in October. Iiskola, who was named as a reserve player, was able to participate.

The venue was a match against Switzerland. That’s when Iiskola pulled off a hat trick. It spawned a match against Sweden, where Iiskola also scored.

Iiskola had a feedback discussion with head coach Jussila. At the end of the meeting, Jussila unexpectedly shared the happy news: Iiskola is on the World Cup team.

When the team was officially announced in November, the guy transferred one hundred euros to Iiskola.

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“Heikki aptly said before the event that he will adapt quickly. The comment was well covered.”

The head coach Jussila says that Iiskola was monitored throughout the two-year competition period.

“Heik’s abilities to play have been known all along. It tells about the player’s level that he is able to score in difficult situations, such as with a broken leg in the WC finals,” says Jussila.

The way in which Iiskola redeemed the race ticket is exceptional.

International top indoor bandy is different from league indoor bandy. The tempo is harder, the game more physical and the referee line more permissive.

Skilled players like Iiskola usually take time to adapt to the national team game, where there is less space and time.

Iiskola came to the national team practically completely cold and finished with four goals in two matches. He succeeded in a place where he simply had to succeed.

“Heikki aptly said before the event that he will adapt quickly. There was a lot of coverage for the comment,” Jussila muses.

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“People hear what they hear, but no one is at my house to watch what I eat.”

in West Vantaa Iiskola, who grew up, was a super promise when he was young. In his first full season in the league, the 18-year-old winger hit a point-per-game pace. In the following season, the scoring increased to two points per game.

At that time, he made his debut in the men’s national team, at the age of 19, in the World Cup qualifiers in February 2018. The road to stardom was open.

A universal feature characteristic of the best ball games stands out from playing in ice school: playing seems easy and effortless. There is no rage, no twist. Iiskola combines gambler-like intrigue and a high-class skill level.

Iiskola has been a star league player for years. Why has it taken so long to develop into a World Cup player?

“Probably because of the injuries. After the injuries, playing was cautious, even a struggle for survival at times. I didn’t get intact episodes, and the main cop wasn’t involved either,” says Iiskola.

He has had enough injuries. There have been back problems, an athlete’s hernia and thigh injuries. The other leg has also had a Jones fracture.

It is partly bad luck, but a clear explanation has been found for some of the injuries.

“My running style put a strain on the outside. The athlete’s hernia was also caused by the running style. My running style has strained pretty much everything. Hamstring injuries have also resulted from it.”

Iiskola has tried to fine-tune his step, but it is difficult. You don’t have time to think about your running style on the field.

“More than that, I’ve tried to strengthen everything around the running style: hips, hamstrings, so that they can withstand stress.”

Ice school those who know him describe him as a relaxed and carefree person. A similar image is conveyed in a cafe in Espoo, where Iiskola answers interview questions.

Other kinds of images have also been born from the relaxed nature. He has been considered a top player, but not necessarily a top athlete.

In the Oilers locker room, Iiskola has been making fun of bad lifestyles for years. About how much junk food he eats.

“It might have a crayon with it. There has been no major problem with the diet. People hear what they hear, but no one is at my house to see what I eat,” says Iiskola.

He says that he pays attention to getting the right amount of carbohydrates and protein, and that there is not too much fat. Iiskola has received tips especially from his older brother. Tuomas, who is six years older, also plays for the Oilers.

“It’s been said a lot that my lifestyle is too much, but I haven’t been able to care about it. In the booth, sometimes people shout for food and I like to add a little extra to things. Someone might have taken it seriously. However, in my opinion, I have pulled quite well.”