Ahead of the start of the upcoming Champions Hockey League season, we asked the Head Coaches of the Lahti Pelicans' six Regular Season opponents what their thoughts are on the Finnish team - here's what they had to say!
Växjö Lakers Head Coach Jörgen Jönsson: “The Pelicans have a team with several famous names from the SHL and a number of Swedish players. I expect good structure and hard work from them.”
Vítkovice Ridera Head Coach Miloš Holaň: “Most of the team are Finnish players, so maybe it is going to be a classical Finnish style of hockey. Will they play like other Finnish teams – fast skating, north-south play? Or will they try to play like the Finnish national team with precise defending and a very complex system? We’re looking forward to finding out!”
Oceláři Třinec Head Coach Zdeněk Moták: “The finalists of last year’s Finnish league, which says a lot. Although they lost goaltender Patrik Bartošák and forward Lukáš Jašek for this season, it will still be a tough test for us.”
Rouen Dragons Head Coach Fabrice Lhenry: “Lahti enter the CHL off the back of a very good regular season and a great performance in the playoffs where they reached the final. They’re a team with a lot of young players but very well coached by Tommy Niemelä.”
HC Bolzano Head Coach Niklas Sundblad: “Playing against the Liiga finalists will be a great challenge. They have a great coach and a great team –
I expect structured and fast hockey.”
Red Bull Salzburg Head Coach Oliver David: “Lahti’s club history is one of survival, of finding a way to not only survive but thrive in every league they have competed in. It will be exciting to welcome them to Salzburg and have the chance to compete against them.”
Find out more about the Lahti Pelicans in the video below!