A new era is officially here in Poland as Pekka Tirkkonen takes over as the head coach for the men’s national team. The 57-year-old Finnish coach has been working with GKS Tychy since the 2024 season. Poland will aim to return to the Elite Division when it hosts the Division 1 Group A tournament in Sosnowiec in May 2026. 

The new coach will have a quick turnaround. Poland will kick off the 2026 European Nations Cup from November 6th to 8th. The white and red will have the home ice advantage as they take on Great Britain, Italy, and Slovenia in Sosnowiec. It was only Wednesday that Robert Kalaber bid his official farewell as the leader of the national team. Still, the move was expected after the election of Krzysztof Woźniak as the new PZHL president. 

At Thursday’s press conference, Tirkkonen remarked, “This is a great honor and challenge for me. I’m very happy and ready to get started. Poland has a strong hockey tradition, and I hope we can restore the national team to its rightful place in the world. I’m glad that the Division 1A World Championships will be held in Sosnowiec. For the players, coaching staff, officials, and fans, it’s a great thing that we’re playing at home.” 

Woźniak expressed the need for a fresh approach at the press conference. He cited Pekka Tirkkonen’s substantial experience in Finland and abroad and the knowledge of Poland and its players as major strengths. 

Tirkkonen’s hockey journey started as a player in the SaPKo program during the mid-1980s. He was a top Finnish prospect and represented his home country at the U18 and U20 international levels, winning gold at both. The Boston Bruins took notice of his potential and drafted him 34th overall in the second round of the 1986 NHL draft. While he never traveled to North America to play, he would have a long and successful career in Europe. He mainly played in Finland’s top level, but also had stops in Czechia, Germany, Sweden, and Denmark. During his senior career, the two-way forward played in 14 Liiga seasons, recording 420 points (173G-247A-420PTS) in 684 games. He also won three Liiga titles and another three in Denmark’s top level. During his playing days, Tirkkonen also represented Finland at two World Championships, as well as various other non-IIHF tournaments throughout his career. 

His coaching career began the season after he hung up his skates, as he took over the Mestis club SaPKo midseason in 2009. He would help save the club from relegation in his first year. He would lead the SaPKo for four seasons in total, taking home Mestis coach of the year honors in 2012. Starting in 2013, he would move up to the Liiga, taking over SaiPa. In his four years with the club, he would lead them to four playoff appearances. Before his arrival, the club had only made the playoffs once in the 2000s. His strong work with the Saipa earned him the 2014 Kalevi Numminen Trophy, an annual award given to the best coach in the Liiga. 

He would leave his home countty for the 2017 season, taking over National League club EHC Kloten. In his first year with the club, he helped them to the Swiss Cup, but was dismissed in October during the 2018 season. Tirkkonen then headed to Germany’s DEL. But it was short run there as well, only coaching a couple of months with Grizzlys Wolfsburg before being released.

He returned home to Finland in 2020, taking a job with JYP in the Liiga for two years. In 2022, Tirkonen once again left Finland to join Herning Blue Fox, where he spent four years of his playing career. He would lead the Danish club to two second-place regular-season finishes, making it to the finals in 2023. 

He would add a new country to his hockey career in 2024 as he joined GKS Tychy in Poland. In his first year in the Tauron Hokej Liga (THL), he would lead Tychy to a bronze medal. He followed this up with a perfect season in 2024 as Tychy won the Super Cup, Polish Cup, and THL championship. Tirkkonen will combine his national team duties with continuing to lead Tychy in 2025.

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Thumbnail Photo via polskihokej.eu