World Championship gold medal celebration

30,000 people showed up on the Hakametsä rink parking lot. The celebration followed the usual format, with popular artists entertaining the fans before the team took the stage, first the support staff, then the assistant coaches, and then the players in the order of their jersey numbers, except for two. Head coach Jukka Jalonen, a fan favourite, and the face of the team, got on the stage under an arch the players made with their hands. Jalonen has coached Finland to the gold medals in the World Juniors in 2016, the Worlds in 2011, 2019, and 2022, and the Olympics in 2022.  The second to last person to get on the stage was the tournament MVP, goalie Jussi Olkinuora and then, last but not least, it was time for Valtteri Filppula, the captain, to take his place on the stage, with the World Championship trophy in his hands. 

Performers who entertained the audience were Juha Tapio, Haloo Helsinki, Ramses II, Poju, Vesala, Osmo’s Cosmos, JVG, Joona Jalkanen and Waltteri Torikka. The team . 

Air Force jets did a fly-by over the Tampere celebration. 


+17C, showers, some sunshine