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!
Färjestad Karlstad Head Coach Tomas Mitell: “As always when it comes to the Finnish teams, they are really good. The Pelicans have a roster with a lot of familiar names who have played in the SHL, so it will certainly be a tough away game.”
Genève-Servette Head Coach Jan Cadieux: “You’d have thought that after losing Jussi Olkinuora, Lahti would have had a more complicated second half of the season. But they didn’t! Third in the regular season, they lost to Tappara in the Liiga playoffs. They can count on a good mix of young talent and veterans. We’ll have to be patient and not give away too much against a team that knows how to play with the puck.”
Skellefteå AIK Head Coach Robert Ohlsson: “A classic Finnish team and well organised. They also have several talented import players.”
SønderjyskE Vojens Head Coach Anders Førster: “A very strong Finnish team. They’ve made it all the way to the Liiga finals two years in a row! We know that Finnish teams are always good skaters. They have some very good import players and they play with a lot of discipline. A team with good structure.”
Dynamo Pardubice Head Coach Marek Zadina: “Lahti are another of our opponents that are one of the best in Europe. In the last two seasons, they reached the finals of the Finnish Liiga. They have a very high-quality team, including several Czech players. They will also play very fast hockey. They are a very well-organised team. I am really looking forward to our game and I believe it will be attractive.”
Rouen Dragons Head Coach Fabrice Lhenry: “The Pelicans finished in second place in the past Liiga regular season, marking a solid performance. They’ve reached the finals of the playoffs for the past two seasons, demonstrating their consistent competitiveness at the highest level of Finnish hockey. In the Champions Hockey League, the Pelicans have also performed well, reaching the Round of 16 in the 2023/24 season. We also faced them last season, and despite the departure of their Head Coach, the assistant coach was promoted to ensure continuity. The Lahti Pelicans are a well-established team, known for their structured play and robust defence.”