Veteran Finnish hockey coach Hannu Jortikka expressed surprise at the recent resignation of Kari Jalonen, revealing he spoke with Jalonen less than a week prior and received no indication of the impending decision. Jortikka lamented the potential impact of Jalonen’s departure on the Finnish hockey scene, stating Finland is beginning to experience a shortage of qualified coaches. The conversation between the two coaches offered no clues about Jalonen’s plans to step down from his position. Jortikka’s statement highlights the concerns about the future of coaching within Finnish hockey. Jalonen’s departure leaves a gap in experienced leadership for the national team and Finnish hockey leagues. The lack of available coaches is becoming a pressing issue for Finnish hockey development.