Kai Suikkanen (left) made history in Bolzano. © APA / EXPA/JFK

Sensation: Cortina signs Bozen champion coach

A piece of news that has shaken the local ice hockey world: Kai Suikkanen, who led HCB Südtirol to the EBEL championship title in 2018, has signed up with the AlpsHL – but not in South Tyrol.

July 22, 2024

From: do

SG Cortina held a press conference at the weekend to introduce the Ampezzo team's new head coach. Last season, the team was led by Giorgio De Bettin, who led Cortina to the final of the Alps Hockey League, which they lost 0-4 to the mighty Rittner Buam. Now Cortina is relying on a name that brings back many memories in South Tyrol: Kai Suikkanen.

The Finn has made a name for himself especially in Bolzano. In the 2017/18 season, he led the Foxes to the EBEL championship title, even though the team was still bottom of the table in January. The euphoria in the state capital was boundless and the name Suikkanen was celebrated royally. The Finn was under contract for two seasons, with interruptions, with HCB Südtirol (2017-2019) and was most recently with the Hechten in Kaltern (IHL).

Suikkanen won the EBEL with Bozen. © APA / EXPA/JFK

In addition, the experienced Finnish coach has not only coached in the first Finnish league (Liiga), but also in the KHL with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Between 2019 and 2023, Suikkanen gained further head coaching experience in Dornbirn (ICE and EBEL) and with the Augsburg Panthers in the DEL.

Cortina is therefore relying on a lot of international experience and in-depth knowledge of the Italian and Austrian leagues as well as the ability to win titles. The approach to the players is different, as the club management also announced in the press conference. Cortina is still relying on many players from last season and plans to strengthen the squad with some young talents.