The Finnish hockey icon Pentti Matikainen has died after a period of illness, writes Finnish MTV Sport.
He became 74 years old.
In October last year, Matikainen was struck by severe cancer in the brain, and underwent treatment. The disease development looked positive, but during the spring his condition worsened again, and on Sunday morning the former hockey coach died.
Matikainen was Finnish national team captain between 1987–1993, and took Finland to their first championship medal when they took silver at the Olympic Games in Calgary 1988. It also became World Championship silver under Matikainen's leadership in 1992.
He also trained several clubs in the Finnish top league, took several second and third places, and was named coach of the year in the Finnish league in 1984.
