Joe Wirkkunen

He led the national team at four Ice Hockey World Championships and two Winter Olympic Games, established a training camp at Vierumäki, and wrote three instructional books for coaches and players.

[2] In 1951, he began a six-month contract giving lectures and teaching clinics for the Finnish Ice Hockey Association, and helped the Finland men's national team prepare for the 1952 Winter Olympics.

[2] At the 1963 World Championships, Finland earned its first victory versus the United States national team,[3] and placed fifth overall with one win and one draw in seven games.

[8] At the 1964 Winter Olympics, Wirkkunen led Finland to victories versus the Switzerland national team and the United States, and sixth-place finish.

[11] His final international tournament as head coach was the 1966 World Championships,[3] where he led Finland to another seventh-place finish with two wins in seven games.

[10] Wirkkunen also wrote three instructional books for coaches and players, and was invited to travel with the Finland men's national team to competitions during the 1970s.

[2] He was remembered for teaching technical and tactical skills, building the foundation for future success of the Finland men's national team, and instilling "a relentless Canadian attitude" into Finnish players.

Black and white photo of three men wearing full-length suitcoats, standing in front of a dormitory building
Wirkkunen (left), Teppo Rastio (middle), and Matti Lampainen (right) at the 1960 Winter Olympics
Black and white photo of a hockey place on ice, holding a stick and wearing a hat
Aarne Honkavaara