The Finnish Kloten engine

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He has a permanent grin on his face. Minutes earlier, EHC Kloten clinched a pre-playoff spot with a 4-1 win in Davos. Miro Aaltonen played a key role in this with two beautifully played goals. But the Finn says: “What a team effort. We believed in it and wanted to show what we are capable of.” The climbers succeeded.

Aaltonen has been impressing Kloten all season. However, because his teammate Jonathan Ang often provides spectacle (goals), Aaltonen remains in his shadow. The 29-year-old deserves applause. He recorded the same number of scorer points (49) as Ang, simply scoring one goal less. In February, Aaltonen scored five goals and two assists, and in the last two qualifiers in March, he scored the two important goals in Davos.

“Orchestrating power play great”

But the striker is so much more than a goalscorer and playmaker. “He’s the engine of our team,” says coach Jeff Tomlinson. “He has the whole package. Miro is fast, talented, smart, intense. He is the most consistent player.” The coach describes his protégé as a leader on and off the ice. “He orchestrates the power play excellently. And he stands up in the cloakroom when he has something to say.” In addition, his sense of humor is great.

Aaltonen is still grinning. The joy and pride of pre-playoff qualifying is immense. “Now everything is possible. The SCB suits us,” says the playmaker. That sounds like a warning to Bern. “We have nothing to lose,” says Aaltonen. Kloten and Bern each won two of the four matches in the regular season.

Source : Blick