Finnish bench-boss Jussi Ahokas brings tremendous resume to Kitchener

By Joelle Wood July 28, 2023

One of the most decorated bench-bosses in European professional hockey, the Kitchener Rangers announced Monday that Finland-native Jussi Ahokas has been named the 25th Head Coach in franchise history.

Moving to Canada with 20 consecutive years of head coaching experience, there’s no doubt that Ahokas’ impressive history will benefit the organization.

“Jussi’s resume speaks for itself. He has already accomplished so much at the club and international level in Finland,” said Kitchener Rangers general manager Mike McKenzie. We are thrilled he has chosen to take the next step in his decorated career by coming to North America and thankful it will be here in Kitchener.”

Named the Alliance of European Hockey Clubs’ (EHC) 2019-20 Coach of the Year, the Espoo, Finland native has also earned two prominent gold medals while serving as the head coach of Team Finland on the international stage in 2016 and 2019.

Drawn to Kitchener’s prestigious reputation, Ahokas jumped at the opportunity to take command behind the Rangers bench.

“I’ve always wanted to coach in North America. Throughout my time coaching, hearing and visiting the country for the World Juniors, I’ve watched Finns play over here. All I’ve heard is that the Kitchener organization is great and that it’s a true hockey town. I’m excited, when the opportunity began to present itself I told my wife right away that we need to be here.”

European-born head coaches have been a rarity in the OHL. Former long-time Erie Otters coach and ex-NHL netminder Peter Sidorkiewicz, who was born in Poland, is one such example.

Ahokas has spent the last four seasons as a head coach in the Finnish Elite League (Liiga), Finland’s top men’s professional hockey league where he was awarded the Kalevi Numminen Trophy, given to Liiga’s Coach of the Year in 2019-20. After earning a promotion to be the head coach of Turku TPS in 2021, Ahokas led the club to back-to-back best-of-seven Liiga Playoffs series victories, en-route to a silver medal, in his first season in Turku.

With previous experience coaching junior hockey as the head coach of U16-through-U20 age groups for 15 years, as well as coaching Finland’s National Junior Team for six seasons, Ahokas knows what it takes to develop young players into professional athletes.

“You have to be more patient, there will be more mistakes for sure but it’s all about growing the players and getting them to their maximum potential. It’s not only about coaching and getting the individuals better, but also getting them better as a group.”

Looking to push the Rangers to the top of the Western Conference, Ahokas is excited for what’s to come as he embarks on this new journey.

“Last week I came in and took a tour around, wherever you walk, you can feel it; it’s a hockey town. It’s a great building here, I have to say it’s one of the best buildings in the league. It’s a great facility and they run it like the pros.”

Pending approval from Canadian Immigration, Ahokas, his wife Elina, and their three children will move from Finland to the Waterloo Region this August.

"Only thing you hear is what a great organization and what a great hockey town #Kitchener is. I said to my wife right away…if I get that job, we're going there." – Jussi Ahokas

📽️ Ahokas Presser: https://t.co/BhTXqAi4Fw #NewWave | #RTown pic.twitter.com/4eKIzkuWl0

— Kitchener Rangers (@OHLRangers) July 26, 2023

Finnish bench-boss Jussi Ahokas brings tremendous resume to Kitchener

Finnish bench-boss Jussi Ahokas brings tremendous resume to Kitchener

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