Pekka Kangasalusta is transferring to Milan. © Red Bull Munich

Coaching team complete: This Finn will assist Shedden

Following the signings of head coach Doug Shedden and goaltending coach Sakari Lindfors, HC Milano has officially announced the signing of Finn Pekka Kangasalusta as their new assistant coach.

June 17, 2026

From: pm

The 48-year-old Kangasalusta arrives in Milan with an impressive resume, built at the highest level of European ice hockey – both as a player and as a coach. He is the last missing piece of the puzzle for the newly promoted team's coaching staff.

The skilled defenseman came up through the youth ranks of Ilves Tampere and spent most of his professional career in the Finnish Liiga. There, he played for Ilves, HIFK Helsinki, Kärpät Oulu, TPS Turku, and Ässät Pori. After retiring as a player, Kangasalusta moved behind the bench. Following initial stints in youth hockey and the Finnish second division, he established himself in the Liiga and the KHL as head coach and assistant coach for HIFK, Jukurit, and Jokerit Helsinki.

Extensive experience

He subsequently moved to Slovan Bratislava, where he won the Slovak Extraliga championship. This was followed by stints in the DEL – first as head coach of the Bietigheim Steelers, then as an assistant coach with Red Bull Munich. Most recently, he worked as an assistant coach in the Swiss National League for the SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers and Genève-Servette HC.

"The conditions for being competitive from the outset are in place." Pekka Kangasalusta

At the international level, Kangasalusta served as assistant coach of the Finnish national team in 2018. In this role, he participated in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics (quarterfinals) and the World Championships. In 2023 and 2024, he was part of the coaching staff of the German national team, with whom he won the silver medal at the 2023 World Championships.

“I am highly motivated for this new challenge,” Kangasalusta is quoted as saying. “I know both Shedden and Lindfors and I am confident that we will develop excellent team dynamics. The conditions are in place to be competitive from the outset. The team currently being assembled has great potential.”