TURKU, FINLAND – The underperformer of the SM-Liiga, TPS, has fired its head coach. Again. Riku-Petteri Lehtonen has been relieved from his duties today and is the second head coach that TPS has fired this season. TPS announced that it has hired Jukka Koivu to serve as the coach for the remainder of the season.
The defending champions are last in the league with five points separating it from second to last team Pelicans. If TPS fails to climb out of the last place it is in danger to be relegated to Mestis as it would have to play against the winner of the Mestis for its survival in the SM-Liiga.
Jukka Koivu, the new head coach, worked as the head coach at TPS between 2003-2005 and achieved silver with TPS in 2004. He also served as the assistant coach under Vladimir Jursinov’s golden era in the 1990’s. Koivu also served as the head coach of Rauman Lukko.
Along with Riku-Petteri Lehtonen leaving his post, Antti Aalto is leaving the club as well, while Seppo Suoraniemi has been appointed as the assistant coach to Koivu. Suoraniemi has worked as TPS’ assistant coach in the early 1990s. Mika Alatalo, Urpo Ylonen, Hannu Raitala and Tuomas Liitola will remain in their posts with the club’s coaching staff.
Koivu, as the surname would suggest, is the father of Anaheim Ducks centre Saku Koivu and Minnesota Wild captain Mikko Koivu.
Contact Janne.Virtanen@prohockeynews.com
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