They are one of Finland's most successful teams in history, but after three straight agonizing losses in the Finnish Liiga finals, Tappara Tampere are finally on the winning side again after beating IFK Helsinki in six games. 

by Leo Runsas

TAMPERE – This year’s Liiga finals were a tough battle between IFK Helsinki and Tappara Tampere. The series started with both teams winning their first two home games but the turning point came in the fifth game when Tappara was able to steal the victory on Helsinki ice. HIFK couldn’t recuperate from that and Tappara powered to the championship in the sixth game.

The last game was a thriller in which all the goals were scored in the first period. HIFK took the early lead on Juuso Puustinen’s goal on the fourth minute but Tappara evened the score on Patrik Laine’s goal four minutes later and took the lead with Henrik Haapala’s goal three minutes after that. HIFK were able to put the puck in the net at the very end of third period but the goal was waved off as it came a split-second after the buzzer.

The sixth game was a good reflecting of the whole series. Both teams had their chances and both teams had their own strong phases. Both teams were able to win games in the series by bigger margins but all in all the series was tight. It had its controversies, denied goals, an offside-goal and a goal that was scored with the help of too many players on the ice, but there is no denying that the better team won.

Tappara forwards Stephen Dixon and Haapala gave credit to HIFK for the great series.

“This was a tight series right to the last second. Unbelievable,” Dixon said after the last game.

Haapala agreed: “HIFK gave us very strong opposition and they are a great team with great players. Also their fans are absolutely amazing.”

Tappara were able to recover from the previous years’ losses

Playing in the finals is nothing unfamiliar to Tappara. They are one of the most successful teams in Finnish history and have plenty of medals in their trophy case. The last three seasons, however, have been agonizing to ones as they the final series each year – once Assat Pori and twice to Karpat Oulu.

But all that means that this victory tastes ever so sweet to Tappara, as they were finally able to make good on their fourth straight appearance in the league championship finals. Dixon agreed that this was a huge motivating factor to the whole team, and especially to Jan-Mikael Jarvinen, Haapala, Pekka Saravo, Teemu Aalto, Markus Kankaanpera and Jukka Peltola, who have been with the team all four years.

“I think we had a surge from the coaches and our captains and older leaders from day one. I think they had a lot of unfinished business, as lots of these guys have been in the finals four times. The guys worked hard all year and put the team first and everyone wanted to win. This was awesome to these guys and to the organization.”

Tappara captain Peltola gave credit to the team’s spirit.

“This is an amazing feeling. This is such a culmination of a lot of hard work and so many guys’ blood, sweat and tears that this is something unbelievable. This is what team sports are all about.”

Both Dixon and Peltola agreed that this year’s team was something special.

“We had a good mix. We had the older guys that lead the team and then we had guys like Laine, who were leaders on the ice in their own way. The coaches also did a good work with the team,” Dixon stated.

“We were a solid team, no matter what the situation was. We managed to believe all the time in our own doing and our own playing. We were simply ready to win. We had our hardships along the way but we made through,” said Peltola, who is a prime example of hardships with the black eye that he got during the series.

Haapala gave also credit to the club's amazing fans. Both arenas were sold out for each final game and Tappara’s fans followed the team to Helsinki too.

“When you turn and look to that fan corner you see something absolutely incredible. I have said to everyone that this city and these fans truly deserve this.”

By becoming the Finnish champions, Tappara are ranked 2nd ahead the CHL Group Stage Draw next Tuesday in Zurich, behind CHL and Swedish champions Frolunda Gothenburg. IFK Helsinki are ranked 8th.