EHC Red Bull München's co-coach Pekka Kangasalusta in portrait

Friday, 07. July 2023 | EHC Red Bull München's co-coach Pekka Kangasalusta in portrait

Similarities and differences: this is Pekka KangasalustaSuccessful coaching team Söderholm/Kangasalusta reunited// PORTRAITAlongside our new coach Toni Söderholm, Pekka Kangasalusta will stand behind the boards as co-coach in the future. Not for the first time. The paths of the Finnish duo have already crossed several times, as the 45-year-old tells us.

The two birthplaces of Söderholm and Kangasalusta are just over 300 kilometers apart as the crow flies. While our coach was born in Kauniainen deep in the south of Finland, Kangasalusta comes from Jurva in the west of the country. Nevertheless, there have already been several points of contact. Like Söderholm, our new assistant coach used to play as a defenseman in Finland's highest division. Among others, Kangasalusta played for Ilves Tampere, TPS Turku and Porin Ässät.

Numerous injuries and operations, however, brought his playing career to an early end. His active career ended at the age of 28. Söderholm, on the other hand, was largely spared major injuries and only hung up his skates in 2016 at the age of 38 after becoming German champion for the first time with the Red Bulls.

Unser Co-Trainer Pekka Kangasalusta im Interview

// INTERVIEW

The beginning of a journey together

Kangasalusta remained loyal to the sport of ice hockey after his career ended and switched to the coaching side at a young age. In the 2014/15 season, the father of three worked as co-coach at Helsinki IFK. His captain at the time? Toni Söderholm. "I've known him for many years. I was employed as a scout when Toni was still playing," he reveals.

Via Mikkelin Jukurit, (Liiga), Jokerit Helsinki (KHL) and HC Slovan Bratislava (Tipos extraliga), the coach found his way to Germany in December 2022 in the PENNY DEL. With the Bietigheim Steelers, Kangasalusta worked as a head coach outside his home country for the first time. In addition, an exciting request from the then national coach Söderholm reached him. "Toni had invited me to be part of the coaching team at the Deutschland Cup." Kangasalusta accepted. With success: the DEB team won all three games in November 2022 and thus also the tournament.

"After that, Toni went to Bern and I went to Bietigheim. But we continued to be in contact the whole time," the ice hockey coach reports. "At some point, he asked me if I would be interested in becoming his assistant coach at Red Bull Munich." The decision was not long in coming. "I was ready for it right away."

European coaching stations at the highest level

In addition to years of experience in top European leagues and his work with the DEB, the Finn also brings further expertise at the federation level. In 2018, he assisted the Finnish national team at the Olympic Games in Pyeongchang and at the World Championship in Denmark.

"I want to bring all my knowledge to our team. The Red Bulls are a top organization in Europe and the expectations for coaches and players are high," Kangasalusta knows. So the targets are clear. "Of course, we want to win as many games as possible. That is our goal. I want to help in any way I can to achieve that," he explains.

Unsere Jungs sind im Skate Camp zurück aufs Eis gegangen

// AKTUELLES

"The Red Bull Academy is incredible"

He was able to get a first impression of the new field of activity back in June at the skate camp at the Red Bull Ice Hockey Academy on the Bavarian-Austrian border in Liefering. Kangasalusta was thrilled with the conditions. "The Red Bull Academy is incredible. I've seen pictures and heard stories. And I have Finnish friends who coach here. But to see all that as well is impressive," he enthuses.

He is already looking forward to his time in the Bavarian capital. Even if the metropolis of millions doesn't have much in common with his home. "My home town in Finland and Munich are of course very different. For me and my wife, it's a great opportunity to discover a lot of new things. There are so many beautiful places I would like to look at. I'm looking forward to that." First, though, the newcomer will spend a lot of time behind the boards at the Olympia-Eisstadion.