Finn Tommi Hämäläinen Named New head Coach of Spišská Nová Ves
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Finnish coach Tommi Hämäläinen has been appointed as teh new head coach of Slovakian ice hockey club, Spišská nová Ves, competing in the Tipsport League. The club announced the appointment on their official website. He replaces Vladimír Záborský, who has ended his tenure with the A-team.
Coaching Change Amidst Challenging Season
Hämäläinen takes over a team currently in 11th place (penultimate) in the Tipsport League. he initially stepped in as head coach on an interim basis at the end of October following the departure of Petr Oremus. His first game behind the bench will be against Košice on Tuesday. He will be assisted by Martin Saluga and Štefan Fabian.
Experienced International Coach
The 50-year-old Hämäläinen brings a wealth of coaching experience from leagues in Sweden, Switzerland, and Finland. Notably, he previously coached Trenčín, where he is credited with substantially improving the team’s performance last season.
club’s Rationale for the Appointment
Richard Rapáč,the general manager of Spišská Nová Ves,explained the decision,stating,”For a long time,we intensively dealt with the expansion of the coaching staff. we considered several options and after several discussions, we decided on Tommi, who last season, in a very similar situation to the one we are in, was able to help Trenčín turn around an almost lost season.”
Rapáč continued, emphasizing Hämäläinen’s qualities: “he is a high-quality, modern coach who can get the most out of the players. We need to turn the course of the season around, and this is a step towards making that happen.”
Záborský’s Departure
The club acknowledged Vladimír Záborský’s contributions, with Rapáč stating that Záborský decided to step down from his role with the A-team.”Despite our efforts, he decided to end his work on the bench of the A-team this season. We respect his decision. I also want to thank him for the huge amount of work he has done for the club.” Rapáč also highlighted Záborský’s past successes with the club and expressed hope for future collaboration.
Looking Ahead:
The appointment of Tommi Hämäläinen represents a strategic move by Spišská Nová Ves to revitalize their season. Fans will be looking to see if Hämäläinen can replicate his success from Trenčín and guide the team to a stronger finish in the Tipsport League.