Joni Ikonen arrives to the coffee shop in the centre of Kuopio directly after having had an on-ice training session with some teammates. He is relaxed and looks ready to start the season in a minute. It is obvious that he is in the middle of the pre-season even if it is only April.
“We started yesterday — a team meeting new coach and new players — then we have had physical tests. It will be a physical buildup, but we will still be on the ice twice a week. We will be doing skills on the ice rather than to practise a system.