Jori Lehterä summed up HIFK’s season after the stalemate that ended in disappointment.
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of HIFK captain, star center Jori Lehterä, 36, was the man who sold his land on Tuesday evening in Lahti. HIFK had just lost a thriller, the seventh match of the quarter-final series to Pelicans with a score of 3–4.
Falling out in the quarterfinals was a huge disappointment for HIFK. An expensive and famous team had been assembled in Helsinki, which had to do well especially in the spring.
Criticism head coach From Ville Pelto towards grows. He coached already in his third season – only one place in the semi-finals. Peltosen has an extension contract until spring 2026.
However, Lehterä strongly defends Peltos.
“Ville loves this sport. He’s been in the hall longer than anyone, he’s the first to arrive and the last to leave. Gives us the keys to win every day”, Lehterä said.
HIFK, coached by Peltonen, has been criticized for being lazy and lacking in relaxation. Lehterä does not sign these claims either.
“At least I haven’t experienced it that way. It’s more about the mental side of the players. We wanted to win and score goals so much that sometimes the most important things were forgotten”, lamented Lehterä.
A grove underlined the players’ responsibility.
“I, at least, take a big responsibility as captain. I should have been able to bring more relaxation, patience and composure. We got those things better in three games in this match series.”
Success goes around HIFK. Lehterä won the Finnish championship in Tappara last season and has seen many different puck holders. He now played his first season at HIFK.
What does Lehterä think is rotten in the Helsinki club?
“I don’t know if it’s about the pressure to succeed, it’s more about trying too hard that we want to win too much. I wanted to win so much myself that sometimes I had to be treated in the rink”, Lehterä admitted.
His friend Niko Hovinen, 36, on behalf of Lehterä was happy. The experienced goalkeeper was one of HIFK’s key figures when the Helsinki team came from a 0-3 deficit to the seventh match. Hovinen became the Helsinki team’s number one goalkeeper for the third match of the series.
Hovinen has talked openly about his difficulties, for example his addiction hell.
“He gave us the opportunity to turn this series around. I’ve known the guy since I was about 13, and we’ve been like shirt and butt. It was great to watch him play,” Lehterä said.
SM league Tappara, KalPa, Pelicans and Kärpät continued to the semi-finals.