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Jussi Ahokas is hoping to receive a shot coaching at NHL level down the road
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Photo credit: Kitchener Rangers-OHL
Michael Coyle
Jun 10, 2026, 07:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 9, 2026, 22:47 EDT
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Jussi Ahokas is quietly becoming a household coaching name across Canada after leading the Kitchener Rangers to the 2026 Memorial Cup championship. 
The Rangers head coach helped guide Kitchener to a 47-14-5-2 record, good for first place in the OHL’s Western Conference, and then saw his team defeat the Saginaw Spirit, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Windsor Spitfires, and then the Barrie Colts to claim OHL glory. The Rangers’ record across the playoffs was 16-2, followed by four more victories in the Memorial Cup to cap off one of the most dominant junior hockey seasons in recent memory. 
On Tuesday, Ahokas joined Leafs Morning Take with Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill from his home in Finland to discuss this season with the Rangers, what it takes to win at both the junior and professional levels, and his aspirations as he continues on with his coaching career. 
“I thought we’ve been building this for three years, and we were actually building our story for the fourth year when we wanted to host the Memorial Cup. Guelph got it for next year, so we decided okay we will go for it and add some players,” Ahokas said. “The course of the playoffs, and with the Memorial Cup it’s like 65 days so that’s a long run, but of course what helped us was we got the series done quite fast, so we always got a little rest in between which I thought was a big key to our success.” 
Throughout Ahokas’ coaching tenure, which began in 2004-05 in Finland in the U-16 league with SM-Sarja, has led him to stops in both junior hockey in Canada and Finland while also working in Liiga, Finland’s top professional league. While working with players at different levels and various ages can be difficult, Ahokas touched on how this has helped him have success at each of his stops along the way. 
“I think to be a winning team, you have to have an identity on the team. The players have to buy in, play for each other, have good chemistry, and be willing to do whatever it takes to do what you need to do to win,” Ahokas said. “I think the key issue is that guys buy in, and they know what works. I think the recipe is not actually that hard, but it’s just hard to do it and stick to the plan.” 
Ahokas’ recipe has now led him to a Memorial Cup, an OHL championship in 2026, a World Junior gold with Finland in 2019, and a Liiga Coach of the Year trophy. With success being flashed at various levels, Ahokas has his sights set on continuing to earn his place at the higher ranks in the professional coaching circles. 
“Someday my goal is to coach in the NHL; that’s why I came to North America. I knew being European, and not having played in the NHL, I needed to come over, show my work, and kind of pay the hard dues over here in the lower levels and work my way up,” Ahokas said. “I’m hoping someday I’ll get that chance to coach in the NHL. I still have a year left with Kitchener, but then go to the AHL as a head coach or assistant, move on from there, and go step by step. I’m not in any hurry.”
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