Coach changes goalies after every goal until one of them refuses to go back out
When you're mired in a long losing streak, sometimes you'll try just about anything to get out of it. The coach of Kiruna AIF decided to shake things up Sunday as his team was taking on Piteå in Hockeyetten, Sweden's third tier league. Kiruna AIF was in the midst of a nine-game losing streak, and Juhani Matikainen said he wanted a reaction. He got it, but I'm not certain it was a positive one.
Matikainen told AftonBladet after the game that he had decided beforehand that he would switch his goaltenders after every goal his team gave up. That led to starter Hugo Engsund getting replaced by backup Aleksanteri Heiskanen just over three minutes into the game. They would switch again, and again, and then once more until after the fifth goal. With the score 5-1 for Piteå, Heiskanen refused to go back in.
It was pretty much settled then. Heiskanen said he would not be in goal again and I respected that," said Matikainen
The game ended 6-2, with Kiruna AIF taking it's tenth straight loss. As for his reasoning behind doing what he did, Matikainen insisted it wasn't about punishing the goaltenders.
"I wanted to show that there are consequences if we don't backcheck and don't block shots. That's why I did that yesterday," said Matikainen
"I do whatever it takes to get our players to react. Maybe it makes them feel bad about how the goalkeepers are treated. It's a bit embarrassing for them, so I wanted to get the players to do more. To block shots and be stronger defensively. That was my only purpose for the changes."
"I do whatever it takes to get our players to react. Maybe it makes them feel bad about how the goalkeepers are treated. It's a bit embarrassing for them, so I wanted to get the players to do more. To block shots and be stronger defensively. That was my only purpose for the changes."
As for how his netminders reacted, Matikainen admits they were stunned.
"Hugo, who started the game, was really shocked. He wondered what was going on and why I substituted him," he said. "I quickly explained to him on the bench that if we let in another goal, he would have to go out again. But I've talked to the goalkeepers in more detail today and explained why I did that. It was an extreme situation and I've never done it before."
I have a feeling he may not bother trying it again, either.
Source: AftonBladet
Top 10 latest hockey stories
