Jani Naumanen returns to the Finnish league as a World Champion. Photo by Mikko Hyvärinen
Last Sunday Finland won the World Championship for the first time in floorball. All of the six tournaments before this year’s event in Czech Republic ended with Sweden celebrating the championship but at last the sport has a new champion.
Sweden had been unbeaten for 40 matches in the World Championships since 1996 until Tero Tiitu of the Finnish team struck the game-winning goal on overtime last Sunday. Finland beat Sweden 7–6 in an amazing game where Finland at best lead 4–0 and at worst trailed 4–6.
Of Mosa’s own players, Jani Naumanen, 26-year-old superb goalie for Tapanilan Erä, represented Finland in the tournament. He played against Denmark and Norway, and with Henri Toivoniemi formed what very likely was the best goalkeeping duo in the tournament.
Mosan Omat met Jani Naumanen on Wednesday evening. Here’s what was discussed.
According to Mika Kohonen, the final game on Sunday was the craziest he has ever played. Was it yours, too? What is the craziest game you have played in club level?
– What happened in the game was pretty much the same when measuring craziness than the fifth game in the semi-final series against Classic last year. (Classic won on penalties after losing 8-3 lead in the last seven minutes of the game. Erä equalized three seconds before the third perion ended. Of the total of 14 penalty shots fired in penalty shoot-out, only 3 went in.)
– In both of those games was so much going on that it’s hard to say which was crazier. The World Championship Finals is a bigger event, of course.
People who saw the game know what happened in the rink but what happened on the bench? When Sweden took the 6-4 lead in the third period, there already was bitter statements made by Finnish fans on Facebook. What happened on the bench that made Team Finland rally from behind and get back into the game from the hole they have dug themselves into?
– Before the game we talked about that no matter what the situation was, heads must stay up and we must keep on fighting. There was players of high callibre in the team, and they acted accordingly. I remember Mikael Järvi setting a great example.
Roles for goalies were set before the tournament. How did that help you prepare for the tournament?
– That didn’t affect me. And in the tournament, I prepared for every game like I was going to play in it.
You played against Denmark and Norway. What were they most dangerous in?
– Both are dangerous on counter attacks. And especially Norway had their power play prepared very well.
In the beginning of November you played against Sweden in the EuroFloorball Tour tournament in Kuopio. If we forget all the things surrounding these games, how did they differ?
– In the game in Kuopio, fewer mistakes was made. And Sweden didn’t forecheck that high up that they did in the World Championship final. Otherwise the games were similar.
Jani Naumanen plans to keep developing as a player. Photo by Mikko Hyvärinen
Not counting Henri Toivoniemi, who of your goalkeeping colleagues impressed you in the tournament? And who of other players?
– There wasn’t that much time to see other goalies play. Against us, goalies of Denmark and Estonia played very well but I don’t know about their other games.
– Henrik Quist is quite a player. He’s big, quick and skillful, and it’s no surprise he got into the All Stars line-up.
How did the Finnish players spend their free-time on the tournament week?
– Mostly resting and playing with their computers. On Friday we went shopping in Prague, and met with friends there.
What dare you to tell us about how the team celebrated winning the championship?
– We went to sauna in our hotel, and then hit the city nightlife. Unsurprisingly, we went to sauna in Finland, too.
In earlier years, World Championships have ended season but now even the Christmas break has to wait because Erä will play against SPV Seinäjoki in the Finnish league. Who will world champion get back into his everyday routines?
– I’ve tried to get some sleep and not catch a cold. There is some sleep debt, and that doesn’t help in trying to stay awake at school. Luckily it helps that the Finnish cuisine is OUTSTANDING.
So, what are your goals in international floorball in the future?
– My goals are strongly in club level because without succeeding there one cannot get into the national team. In general I aim to live a life of an athlete, become better and more professional and first and foremost, to develop as a player.
Markus Huhtimo and his famous somersault. No need to tell who has just scored. Photo by Mikko Hyvärinen
This season hasn’t been the easiest for Erä so far, but signs of improvement are clearly showing. Last Friday Erä won a derby against AC HaKi superbly 12–5 at home, and on Monday Erä was victorious against Classic in Tampere 8–6. It was the first time ever Erä has won Classic in Tampere on regular time.
The human aeroplane pictured here is Markus Huhtimo who is known for celebrating his goals with somersaults. Against Classic, Huhtimo scored twice. First the equaliser to 6–6 at 57.32 and then the last goal of the game into an empy net. Jani Helenius and Jussi Kosola also scored twice in the game, Kosola netting the game-winning goal.
On Sunday at Jyväskylä, Erä got to play overtime against Happee but Happee scored and sent Erä home with no points.
Nevertheless the weekend was pretty good for Erä. Erä is now 8th in the league looking up. Getting into TOP 4 and getting home advantage in playoffs is a challenge but a challenge the team is willing to take.
Erä has two games left before the Christmas break. First they will face NST at Lappeenranta on December 3th, and on 21st they will host SPV Seinäjoki at Mosahalli. There are no unimportant games for Erä in this situation but especially the game against NST will be very interesting. Erä and NST both have 8 points in the league and they both are currently trying to establish their place in the playoffs.
Emanuel Antener was the best scorer in EFC Qualification Tournament in Helsinki with 6 goals in 2 games. Photo by Olli Laukkanen
Floorball Köniz’s left winger Emanuel Antener is steadily making his breakthrough to international floorball fame. His deadly shot has made him one of the most dangerous players your team can face whether you play in the Swiss league or EuroFloorball Cup.
And when the World Championships begin in December, Antener will be making his debut in World Championship level.
This August, Antener was with his team in Finland at Mosahalli, Tapanila, to play for qualification to EuroFloorball Cup Finals 2008. With two losses, both 4–5, Köniz failed to qualify, and instead of the Swiss team, it was the host of the tournament Tapanilan Erä who got their chance.
The finals were played in October in Winterthur, Switzerland. Antener was there watching the games, and in late October, early November, Mosan Omat (this site), was lucky enough to get this interview with him.
Since the interview, Antener has risen to top the top scorers list with 15 goals and 8 assists, and his team is now leading the Swiss league.
Emanuel, was Wiler’s second place finish in EFC Finals a surprise to you?
– Half yes, half no. They do have a really strong team with many players on a high level from Swiss point of view. So, I wasn’t surprised they got to the semi-finals even though I thought they would lose to AIK, Warberg and SSV. But because of their physical strength, it’s difficult for any team in the world to play against them.
Did you see Erä play? How do you think Erä performed in the EFC Finals?
– I saw them only in the game for the fifth place. They performed with a lot of quality in their passing game and creativity in their offense. However, from my point of view, they had some trouble with shooting. Bigger problem was not having luck with the drawing. It’s no shame to miss the semi-finals behind Warberg and SSV, two of the best teams in the world.
Who would you have picked to the all-stars line-up of the tournament? Why? [The all-stars chosen was Daniel Streit (goalie, Wiler), Peter Fischerström (defenceman, AIK), Juha Kivilehto (defenceman, SSV), Niklas Jihde (left winger, AIK), Roger Gerber (centre forward, Wiler), Lassi Vänttinen (right winger, Wiler).]
– I think they came up with a right line-up for the all-stars. Every player in the line-up showed his best qualities. In addition, I was impressed by the performance of all the Nilssons, especially the young defender of Warberg, Simon, and Karl-Johan, whose performance was decisive both in semi-final and final game. In the third place final, the SSV offense with Mikael Järvi, Harri Forsten and especially Santtu Manner showed great floorball as well.
Finnish players were very well represented on the top scorers list (five players in the TOP 10 including Wiler’s Lassi Vänttinen) but Finnish teams didn’t succeed that well. Why do you think that is?
– I don’t think those two things relate to one another that directly. Sure, a team that scores many goals has a good chance of winning game, but to function well as a team is more important. Finnish players often have great individual skills, especially they know how to score goals and points. But for example, one of the problems SSV had in the semi-final against Wiler was that they stopped their offensive efforts when leading with two goals.
In the Swiss league, you lost your season opening against Wiler but since then you’ve won five out of five games. Has Köniz played well?
– We’re happy about our performance since the first loss. We weren’t at top of our game then, and Wiler showed impressive stability and efficiency. Since then our team and especially our defense has performed very well and we have been able to be better from game to game. So, our winning spirit and self-confidence grows the longer our winning streak continues.
You are second on the top scorers list with 13+7=20 points. Are you happy with your performances?
– The most important thing is that the team is performing well and is successful. I try to help the team the best I can to improve every day and reach our goals. So far I can be happy with my personal effort and performance, though there’s still a lot of things for me to progress in.
Daniel Calebsson (jumping) and Emanuel Antener (with the ball) make a superb duo for Köniz. Photo by Olli Laukkanen
Your centre forward Daniel Calebsson is leading the top scorers list, so you guys have done well. Still, have you missed your EFC qualification tournament ”wingman” Stefan Kissling who is spending his autumn here in Finland and practising with Erä? Who have you played with?
– Sure we miss ”Kise” Kissling who with his speed, physical strength and especially his leadership has been an important member of the team. His ”replacement,” 19-year-old Dario Wälti, has done a great job in balancing our line, especially considering this is his first season in our team.
Looking back, how do you think the EFC qualification tournament in Helsinki has affected your team? I’m sure you were disappointed with the results but has anything good come out of the experience?
– Sure we were disappointed in being unable to qualify but it was great to see that we are on a good track that we in general can keep up with top teams from Czech Republic and Finland. It was an important experience for our young team and a nice opportunity to continue to build up team spirit. I think we can thank the tournament and the experiences we had there for our good start in the Swiss league.
The rumour has it you are an Erä fan of some sort. Is that true, and if it is, how have you ”found” Erä?
– I don’t know Erä enough to say I’m a fan but I am a sympathizer of some sort. It all started at the EFC 1999 Finals in Bern where Erä women were playing. Being a little boy back then, I was amused by the team’s name and impressed by the technical ability of the team, for example Anne Suomalainen with her Zorro move. Later on, I noted that there were always many Erä players in the Finnish U19 national teams, and because I liked their style of play, my sympathy for Erä continued. And when I saw Olli ”Olba” Oilinki play in Switzerland, it was great to see him play the same way.
There’s not that much stuff on the net about Finnish floorball in English. Is it possible to keep up with what’s happening in Finland?
– It’s difficult, but possible. Sure one doesn’t understand much from Finnish texts but names, pictures and dates as well as stats and figures can be understood. And if I’m interested more about some topic, I try to get information on other ways. For example through Finnish players who play in Switzerland or through Swiss players who’ve played in Finland, like Stefan Bürki who played for Classic some years ago, or Mario Scherrer who played for the Gunners.
What about Sweden, then? Can you keep up with what’s happening there? And how does the Swedish league seem from your point of view?
– It’s easier to follow the Swedish league than it is the Finnish for several reasons. First, Sweden is considered the best country in floorball so everyone has the focus there. Second, there are many Swedish players who you can ask about what’s going on in there. And third, the language is much more similar to German than Finnish. Without any previous knowledge, it’s possible to ”understand” a Swedish text enough to know what it is about.
This is a familiar sight: Antener, ball and a goal. The Erä defender pictured here, Anssi Pärssinen, is one of the many Finns who have played in Switzerland. Photo by Olli Laukkanen
In the Swiss league, there have been many foreign players playing there over the years which isn’t at all the case with the Finnish league. Very few players have come to play here. How does the Finnish league seem from your point of view?
– I think Finnish floorball is more technically oriented and profiled by individual players than in Switzerland. Here it’s always the team which is in the centre, and I don’t say that in negative sort of way. More individual skill would improve the Swiss floorball, I think. If Swiss players had more individual skill it wouldn’t be necessary to recruit so many foreign players.
What do you feel foreign players have contributed to Swiss floorball?
– For the development of the sport, the top foreign players help Swiss floorball in many ways. One is that they make a team better, they raise the level and the competition in the teams, which helps the Swiss players to improve their game. Second, there are many junior players who look up those players and try to imitate their style. And third, through their influence with the different ways of playing the game, as a world class player from Finland differs from one from Sweden in many ways, and as well does one of Czech Republic and so on, the Swiss floorball can benefit much.
You are playing alongside Swedish star player Calebsson. How has that been?
– During last two seasons, I’ve mostly played together with David Blomberg which, for me as a young player, was absolutely amazing. I’ve learned truly a lot from him. And after Calebsson transferred to Köniz last season, it was incredible to play alongside both of them at the same time. I think that’s what every junior player dreams about.
In Finland, there has been some talk about differences in tactics between Swedish, Finnish and Swiss teams. How do you see the differences?
– Sure there are differences, and from my point of view they are extensive. In Sweden and Finland, tactical aspects are more focused than in Switzerland, and the individual tactical level of single players and their understanding of the game is generally much higher, even if there are significant differences between them. As far as I can see, in Finnish floorball the offensive thinking and qualities are highlighted more, and in Sweden the biggest focus is on the control of the game and the opponent.
In EFC Finals, teams that reached the finals were AIK and Wiler. ”Results cannot lie,” they say, but do you think AIK and Wiler played the best floorball in the tournament?
– AIK played the best floorball on a constant, high level, so they deserved to win, no doubt. In what comes to Wiler, Warberg, SSV, Erä and Tatran, there are a couple of things to think about. One side is that ”theoretically,” on the paper, Warberg and SSV have the better rosters than Wiler. But it’s hard for any team to play against Wiler’s physical strength and balance in the defense. Because they were on the top of their game when it counted, in group game against Tatran and semi-final and on overtime against SSV, they deserved to reach the final.
What is the situation with floorball in the whole sports scene of Switzerland? How do non-floorball people generally feel about floorball?
– Floorball is ranked third in licensed players in team sports with about 30 000 players. It is often played in school, so every child knows the sport. Among adults sometimes, it is known as ”icehockey without skates and played in gym halls” so one has some idea what it is about but not in detail.
– Another problem is that there are only three regions where floorball is really well known in the population and where it is played on a high level, the regions of Bern (Wiler, Tigers, Köniz), Zürich (GC, Winterthur and women’s team from Dietlikon) and Graubünden (Chur, Malans). Apart from that, the Swiss association and clubs try to get more attention in the media. In TV, there is only few programs to see about the sport, mostly during the playoffs or the World Championships. And in print media, it is growing and has a certain importance in the local newspapers but not that much in the national newspapers.
The Force is strong with Tom Strömsten. Photo by Mikko Hyvärinen
Last Sunday, Finland became World University Championship Champions in floorball for the second time ever as Team Finland score nine goals against Czech Republic’s three and took the trophy in Seinäjoki, Finland.
– Absolutely fantastic. We got what we wanted. It’s always great to win, says Tom Strömsten who plays for Erä.
Strömsten was one of two Erä players who represented Finland in University Championships. The other was Jaakko Rissanen who Mosan Omat interviewed earlier this season.
The guys got to celebrate their victory for a one whole day. This Tuesday Erä will face SSV in the Finnish league. Strömsten is convinced his experiences with Team Finland will be a benefit later on this season.
– It was great to get to know the other members of Team Finland. Personally, I got a boost in self-confidence which I now hope to bring with me to league games.
Next Tuesday Erä will face SSV in a hot derby between the two Finnish League teams from Helsinki. The game is also a clash between last season’s Finnish cup winner (Erä) and Finnish League winner (SSV).
And we shouldn’t forget that the game is also the first time in over four years that Finnish crowd will see Lauri Kapanen and Jani Kukkola not in the same line but in opposing teams.
If you happen to be in Helsinki area, do come to Energia Areena, Vantaa, on Tuesday at 6:30 pm and witness the best game of this autumn.
Last Wednesday Erä lost to Oilers 4–6. Oilers haven’t lost a game in league this season and by winning Erä they now top the table.
Jani Helenius demolished the Pori defence in Finnish Cup 4th round. Photo by Mikko Hyvärinen
Erä’s run in the Finnish Cup begun last Sunday in the 4th round against FBT Pori (from Pori) with a ”ridiculous” victory 18–9. (Match stats @ Erä website)
– This was a nice result, for a change. We’ve had difficulty scoring goals this season, and when you score only something like four goals per game, more than often you are at the mercy of your opponents. So the feeling is a bit different today, commented Erä head coach Petteri Bergman after the game on Sunday.
Especially all three left-wingers on the Erä roster on Sunday were at their best form. Jani Helenius (5+2) and Lauri Kapanen (3+2) were excellent but perhaps the most profilic player of the game was Rein Kivi (3+1) who superbly ridiculed the Pori defence on a few occasion. Also defenceman Sami Lehtinen scored a hattrick in addition to assisting three goals.
Neither of the team had their mind set on defence on Sunday which added to the scoreline more than ”necessary.” Erä coach Bergman didn’t see that as that big a thing this time.
– Goalie should have had more help from the team but we won’t be lecturing them today that much. We will focus on the positive side of this game, said Bergman referring to the 18 goals scored by his team.
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