AIFs nye coach: ”Kiruna is well known outside of sweden”

Juhani Matikainen är namnet bakom den nya rösten i båset som ska leda Kiruna AIF under de kommande säsongerna. Han beskrivs av media som en hockeyvagabond och kommer nu alltså till Kiruna för att hjälpa AIF in i framtiden efter några säsonger i Italien.

Vi tog ett snack med vår nya huvudtränare:

First of all Juhani, welcome to Kiruna AIF!
– Thank you. Im very excited for this new challenge.

You come from Italy most recently, what can you say about the league and the country?
– First of all Italy is a great sports country. The Italian hockey league is a interesting league of the coaching point of view. There a lot of different coaches from different countries playing different styles of hockey.

So now you come to Sweden and Kiruna after many years in Italy, how did that happen?
– I heard of interest towards me and after a videocall our ideas matched and we decided to go together in the future.

what do you know about kiruna as a city and AIF as a team?
– Kiruna is well known for the biggest ore mine in europe and its unusual location. As hockey Kiruna a well known name also outside of sweden. AIF is a team with long traditions and history. And of course Börje.

what do you know about hockeyettan as a league?
R

11; I have followed hockeyettan a little bit throughout the years, but mainly results wise. It’s a competitive league and a lot of young talents come through it.

You come from a real hockey family where both your father and brother are coaches at a high level (Petri Matikainen, tränare med meriter från bl.a. finska högstaligan, KHL samt finska landslaget och Santeri Matikainen nu i Schweiziska ligan reds. anm.), was it obvious for you to also invest in the coaching career?
– I started young at the age of 22. At the start it was more of a coincidence to get involved in coaching but very fast i found my calling to it. Ofcourse it was a  obvious as we are a hockey (coaching) family.

How does it work when you have a dad who has the same job, do you send a lot of tips between each other?
– Surely it helps a lot when your dad is one of the best in the business. We do send tips here and there but its more about finding your own way and having your own ideas. Every team or level is different and you have to adjust to that environment.

What are your expectations for the coming season?
– I expect us to give our best everyday, in practice and games to be able to compete and develop.

How will we see AIF play in the future?
– We will work hard and play simple hockey. We want to play what the game is asking from us, when to play trap or to forecheck hard. Definitely we will defend like animals and never give up.

How would you describe yourself as a coach?
– Honest, demanding and communicative.

What is your long-term goal with Kiruna AIF?
– To develop these young guys and get kiruna to allettan is my first big goal.

What does the near future look like for you and when will you arrive in Kiruna?
– Right now we are renovating our apartment back home in austria. i will arrive in kiruna probably around the end of july.

Your sister is together with Ilari Melart who is well known in sweden after playing in Luleå, Färjestad and most recently with Växjö who was crowned with winning the Swedish championship. Will you try to persuade him to come to Kiruna in the future?
– Haha. He would be great. I will do my best!

We look forward to you coming and for the season to start. Is there anything you want to say to everyone who supports Kiruna AIF?
– Greetings to everyone supporting AIF. We need the support of every fan out there because only together we can do it! i’m really excited to get the work started and to be part of AIF.

Vi tackar Juhani Matikainen för pratstunden och ser fram mot att se honom i AIF-båset