Below are several comments from teammates in support of Niinimaa.While we're waiting for the story to come out,why don't you post comments from the players saying Niinimaa overreacted and the coach wasn't out of line.
Maybe some comments from players saying they'll gladly play under this head coach in the next international tournament?
The links are several days old and you may need to go to the site archives, for the whole articles.
http://www.wch04.com/countries/fin/notebook090604.html
Turmoil-ridden Finns will take win
By Risto Pakarinen
Sept. 6, 2004
Twenty hours later, defenseman Janne Niinimaa had left the team, citing "chemistry problems" with the coach as the reason and 15 hours from that, the rumour around the press center was Summanen might not even show up behind the bench and that there was a revolt in the making on the Finnish team, with several players ready to call it quits.
www.canada.com/ottawa/ott...1b81e0d06a
Niinimaa's departure overshadows Finnish win
But the players were also clear in their support of Niinimaa, Summanen's favourite whipping boy. "You're always surprised when something like that happens, but everyone knows what the situation on the team is," said defenceman Teppo Numminen. "Everyone supports Janne and he is still a member of our team, and I think everyone was really professional in preparing for the game, but it wasn't easy."
He practised with the team on Sunday and appeared to be in good spirits. But around 7 p.m., according to team officials, he told several players and team general manager Kalervo Kummola he was leaving. "I didn't expect it," said Finnish captain Saku Koivu. "I had a long phone call with him and said I wished this wasn't happening. But I said we had to go on. We had a game and life goes on.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/09/14/sports1921EDT0435.DTL
"We don't think that he did anything bad," Nieminen said about Niinimaa. "We heard the conversation and it was truly acceptable that he left. "After the Germany game we went to his house for a couple of beers. I think that says something about this team that we care about each other and we care about Janne Niinimaa."
Even though he wasn't there for the final game, Niinimaa had not been forgotten by his teammates as they entered the biggest hockey game in their country's history.
"Janne is a really good friend of ours and we're there to help," forward Teemu Selanne said. "Janne is part of this team still."
