MEET THE COACH: Elias Winter 🇫🇮 APHC Camp 2027

Elias Axel Wilhelm Winter is a Finnish coach with a clear focus on high-performance powerchair hockey. He was also part of APHC Camp in 2025, when he was introduced as the newly appointed head coach of the Finnish national team. Since then, Elias has continued to develop his role within Finnish powerchair hockey and led Finland at the 2026 World Championship, where the team finished 7th as one of the strongest teams in the world.

Elias describes himself as demanding of his players, his colleagues and himself. His approach is analytical, ambitious and energetic. He believes improvement requires consistency, honesty, motivation and the willingness to take responsibility for your own development.

Outside hockey, Elias works with children, so working with young people is already part of his everyday life. And when he is not coaching or working, you might find him taking an unplanned road trip, coffee stop included.

<br>

<br>

🧠 Elias in his own words

QUESTION ONE

‘How would you describe your coaching style in three words?’

Elias wants players to think about their game rather than simply follow instructions. He believes that understanding why something works is an important part of becoming a better player.

<br>

QUESTION TWO

‘What is your strongest coaching quality?’

For Elias, creating the right energy within a team is an important part of performance. He wants players to be motivated, engaged and willing to take responsibility — both individually and as part of the team.

<br>

QUESTION THREE

‘What should players leave camp with?’

<br>

<br>

💡 One thing Elias wants players to think about

A common issue he sees is players relying too heavily on one strong skill. Being excellent at one thing can be valuable, but Elias believes players should also work towards becoming more complete and understanding different roles, developing different skills and being able to contribute in more situations.

<br>

Why should international players join APHC Camp?

For Elias, one of the exciting things about an international camp is the opportunity to learn from different playing styles and approaches. Playing alongside athletes from different countries exposes you to new ideas and challenges you to adapt.

<br>

Meet Elias at camp

If you enjoy thinking deeply about your game, taking responsibility and pushing yourself outside your comfort zone, Elias will give you plenty to work on.