Jarno Karttunen
Born and raised in Finland, Jarno got his love for hockey on the frozen lakes in central Finland. Learning the game of hockey with the local youth association and their hockey school. Apart from playing hockey, he also spent time at the local rink to help work the stands for the local minor league hockey team.
As a teenager, Jarno moved to Dallas And played in the local travel programs as well as high school hockey including for DMHA independent midget AAA team as well as defending state champion Coppell High School Hockey Team that went on to win USA Hockey’s Rocky Mountain Championship. He went on to train with JYP of Finlands top U20 league and ended up back in the US initially with Texarkana Bandits of the NAHL and ended up in Tulsa Oklahoma in 2005-2006 playing for the Tulsa Blues in the WSHL. In his final year of junior eligibility, he ended back in Finland to play with Diskos U20 team in the Finnish Mestis league. While in the jr. Mestis for Diskos, he served his mandatory military duty in the Finnish Defence Forces. In his final years of playing, he suited up in the Finnish third division for Karstulan Kiva.
After retiring, Jarno has worked in the learn to skate/play programs in Dallas as well as assisting in his youth club back in Finland as well as private lessons.
Working with players as a private lesson coach, Jarno prioritises the development of the main skill foundations. Jarno also works to develop players spatial awareness, enabling them to better read the game and make strategic decisions. By developing this skill, athletes can anticipate opponents' moves, find passing lanes, and position themselves optimally on the ice.
COACHING PHILOSOPHY
My philosophy for coaching is an environment where the player feels comfortable with the learning process. I make sure that the player is always busy working on the basic skill development while pushing to be in a zone that they are not familiar with. I emphasize the need for the player to become a multi-tasker on the ice, forcing the player to learn heads up hockey and making them good at improvising by learning to make plays while still working on the basic skill foundations.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Texas Warriors - 2022-Present
• Head Coach 12U-A - 2023-Present
• Assistant Coach 10U-A1 - 2022-2023
Dallas Stars Youth Hockey - 2009-2014
• Learn to skate program
• Learn to play program
• Private lessons
Karstulan Kiva, Finland - 2010-2013
• Youth Coach
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
Karstulan Kiva, Finland 3rd Division - 2009-2013
Tulsa Blues, WSHL - 2005-2006
Dallas Metro Hockey Assn, Ind. AAA - 2004-2005
Coppell HS Cowboys Varsity - 2003-2004
• USAH Rocky Mountain Champions
HOBBIES
Former rider in Ice Cross Downhill. Ice cross downhill is formerly known as Red Bull Crashed Ice, downhill ice skating.