Raimo Summanen poised to join HIFK coaching staff

Finnish ice hockey icon Raimo Summanen is set to return to the SM-liiga, with reports indicating he will join the coaching staff of HIFK in August. Summanen is expected to take on the role of skills coach for the Helsinki-based team.

"We certainly have the will for Rami to join the organization as a skills coach starting in August," HIFK head coach Olli Jokinen told Iltalehti. Summanen, who had a long career as both a player and coach, won a world championship with the Finnish national team in 1995. He also coached HIFK to an SM-liiga championship in 1998 and led the national team from 2003 to 2004.

His coaching experience extends to other clubs, including Jokerit, Switzerland's Rapperswil, and Russia's Avangard Omsk. The 64-year-old's most recent head coaching position was with the Austrian team Black Wings Linz during the 2021-2022 season. HIFK finished 10th in the regular season last year and was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by KalPa. The past season marked Olli Jokinen's first as HIFK's head coach.

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Yes, we certainly have the will for Rami to join the organization as a skills coach starting in August.