Tuomas Tuokkola takes over from Raipe as Head Coach

Tuomas Tuokkola starts his role as head coach immediately, he was due to start at the end of this season, but Raimo Helminen has been relieved of his duties after a very poor run of form that has seen us become out of sight at the bottom of the league.

It is the right choice in my opinion as it will give Tuokkola a chance to play around with his squad and develop his tactics for the next couple of months so he has a much better idea of what is expected by the time the new season starts in September.

Without doubt Raipe is one of, if not the biggest icon in the history of the club, even with so many losses in his career as Ilves head coach that will never tarnish his reputation as the very best, a true legend, gentleman and champion. #41 will always live on in spirit even when he is not on the ice or in the team benches.

Tuomas Tuokkola will have the backing of everyone and we all give our best wishes to Raimo and hope that it’s not the last we see of him, thanks again for everything!

Tuokkola’s first match will be the biggest, a home derby against 4th placed Tappara, a win in this game and he will start his Ilves coaching career off to the best possible start!

KIITOS RAIPE!

Tuomas Tuokkola Next Ilves Head Coach, Kiitos Raipe!

Tuomas Tuokkola will take charge of Ilves starting next season after Raimo Helminen decided to step down from his position as head coach at the end of this current season. Tuokkola, 36, was head coach of regular season winner KalPa last year. He has also worked with JYP in a coaching role outside of the first team. Tuokkola starts with Ilves 1.5. 2013.

Personally I’m sad to see the legend Raimo Helminen leaving, he’s been my favourite hockey player/personality ever since I first became a fan of hockey, he’ll always be number 1 (well 41) for me. I’m excited to see Tuokkola arrive though as we do need a fresh injection of ideas, coaching, philosophy at the club and he may well be the man to do it, I’m excited for next season already!

On vain yksi Raimo Helminen, hei! Raimo Helminen, Hei! Raimo Helminen!

 

Niilo Tammisalo – 118th birthday

15th October 1894 one of Finland’s most important sportsmen was born, this is his story..

He started out as a young man playing with HJK as a goalkeeper in 1911 and stayed with the club until 1926, in those years he won 7 titles,  1911, 1912, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1923 and 1925.  He represented Finland from 1919 – 1926 winning 29 caps. Amazing for a man who had to play throughout his career without glasses and in a time before contact lenses.

He also won 4 titles in the sport of Bandy in 1921, 1923, 1924 and 1928 all for HJK, he was also capped 8 times for Finland at the national level.

In Ice Hockey he won the SM-Sarja title in 1929 with HJK before then moving to Tampere and in 1931 he won the title with TaPa. It was after that that in 1931 he was part of the group responsible for creating Tampereen Ilves he was the first President, Captain, Coach and Player-Coach in the team’s history. He also won a cap for the Finnish National side.

He won a bronze medal in his final season as a sports player in 1934 with Ilves before becoming the Head Coach and leaving his player-coach role. Then in 1935 he guided Ilves to our first ever final, losing to his former side HJK.

It wasn’t until the next year that Ilves under the leadership of Tammisalo won the first of our 16 Finnish League Titles, in 1936 Ilves beat KIF.  Then the following year Tammisalo’s Ilves regained their title in 1937.

He then left the club and amazingly went to work with Finland at an international level in his 4th different sport. In 1939 he was the first ever president of the Finnish Basketball association and held that position until 1943.

He then went back to where he started and became the chairman of HJK in 1946. He died on the 5th of February 1982. He was inducted into the Finnish football Hall of Fame in 1993.

A truly legendary player for a number of teams, in a number of jobs in a number of sports the like of which we will never see again.

 

Ilves in crisis as entire Board of directors quit!

Vince Manngard at the centre of another row.

This morning the entire board of directors, CEO, Chairman of the board, Head lawyer, Vice chairman, Managing director.. in total these 10 men.

Jari Koivunen
Tero Luoma 
Markku Tuominen
Jari Hakovirta
Reima Wiskari
Timo Tuomi
Jyrki Lumme 
Pasi Huura 
Jukka-Pekka Annala 
Juha Koivunen

Manngard has since spoken to Aamulehti and tried to reassure fans that things are going to be alright and Ilves will get over this problem and has called for a shareholders meeting as soon as possible.

I’ve had my fears for the last few years that Ilves might fall to the Mestis if we performed badly in the play-out matches, but now that seems like no problem at all, I’d much rather see a guarantee that my team will survive and continue to play hockey and function as a company.

Our next game is against Jokerit on Thursday night, I hope it’s a sell out to show to the team and the absent board members that the fans aren’t ready to give up on Ilves and neither is Tampere.

Ilves Retire Jukka Tammi’s Shirt Number!

Great to hear that Ilves will retire the #30 jersey of Goalie Jukka Tammi on the 10th of December before our 80th anniversary match against HIFK.

Well deserved!