Raimo Helminen joins Ilves coaching staff as an assistant coach. Helminen’s contract covers the 2022–2023 season.
Raimo Helminen has joined the Ilves coaching staff led by head coach Jouko Myrrä. The 58-year-old Ilves icon’s previous coaching role was at an Italian club HC Pustertal last season. Helminen signed for the club as head coach in November and helped lift the team from the bottom of the multinational ICEHL league to the fifth spot in the regular season.
After ending his playing career in 2008 Helminen started his coaching careet at Ilves. He worked as an assistant coach during the 2009–2011 seasons and as head coach the first half of the following season.
Helminen continued his coaching career at club level in the KHL. In total he spent five seasons as an assistant coach in the league and worked for Barys Astana, Dynamo Riga and Jokerit. His latest stint as head coach in the Finnish league was in 2020–2021 when he led TPS to the finals but finished second.
At national team level Helminen operated as an assistant coach for the Finnish U20 national team in 2009–2011 and 2014–2014 and as head coach in 2011–2012 and 2019–2020. While coaching the Barys Astana in Kazakstan Helminen was also an assistant coach for the country’s men’s national team. Helminen belonged to the Finnish men’s national team coaching staff during the 2019–2020 season.
– When we got the chance to sign Raimo Helminen we saw it as an excellent opportunity for the coaches to concentrate on even smaller details in the different aspects of the game both on the team level and individual level. After we had discussed the matter with our head coach Jouko Myrrä the decision to add Raipe to the coaching staff was very easy, says sports director Timo Koskela.
– Raipe has a lot of experience and diverse knowledge he can share and help our coaches and the team. He will put a lot of effort to develop our game on special teams, which is an even more crucial part of the game in the spring when the most important games are played.
Raimo Helminen, who joins the team practice today, is excited for his return to Ilves. The former Ilves forward has liked the way the club has developed over the recent years.
– When I was asked to join the coaching staff I liked the idea and was even more convinced after the talk with head coach Jouko Myrrä. I’m excited to join the coaching staff and to add my own input, says Helminen.
