I owe so much to Jalonen, says Rob Wilson

Mar 3 2010 by James Hunter, The Journal

NEWCASTLE Vipers chief Rob Wilson has revealed the debt he owes to Olympic bronze-winning coach Jukka Jalonen.

Jalonen was in charge of the Finland side which beat Slovakia to clinch third place in the Winter Olympics in Vancouver last weekend.

Yet a decade ago Jalonen was coach of the Newcastle Riverkings and their successors the Jesters – sides which included Wilson and which qualified for the play-off final in 1999-2000 and the cup final the following season.

Wilson, who is now head coach on Tyneside, said: “Without doubt Jukka is the best coach I have played for.

“Technically he is brilliant, tactically he is so aware.

“He comes across as being so calm and relaxed, but he is a tough customer and knows when to bawl out a player and when to put an arm round people.

“The year I had with the Jesters was probably my 12th season in the UK, but still I learned from Jukka and improved as a player.

“I would like to think I have taken the best bits from his coaching style – as I tried to do from all my coaches - and incorporate it into my coaching techniques.

“I am delighted for Jukka to have won the bronze medal.

“He had a tough time with the Jesters, but since then he has gone from strength to strength and his success is richly deserved.”

Host nation Canada were the gold medal winners in ice hockey’s showpiece event and their coach Mike Babcock also spent time in the North-East coaching Whitley Warriors in 1987.

While the eyes of the wider ice hockey world were on that final between Canada and the USA, the Vipers were triumphing 3-2 against the Capitals in Edinburgh on Sunday – but Wilson says there was healthy rivalry between the Canadian and American contingents in his squad as they watched the Olympic finale.

Wilson added: “Our team this year has a mix of Americans and Canadians so there has been some good-natured banter these two weeks.

“We played in Edinburgh on Sunday when the final was on, and we stayed after the game and watched the final as a squad.

“The emotions went back and forth I can tell you.

“At the end of the day, the Canadians in the squad had the last laugh and I am sure the US players will be reminded of the result each day in practice this week.”

With finances tight, the Vipers are hoping the prime-time coverage of the Olympic final will attract new fans to the sport and encourage them to turn out and support their local side.

Wilson said: “It has been great having so much hockey on the television for non-hockey fans to see, and hopefully then become interested in our great game.

“To have the final on live prime-time on Sunday evening, the British clubs could not have asked for a better advertisement.

“What we have to do now is try to bring some viewers from their armchairs into the rinks and arenas.”