CHL - Finnish News

KalPa

Everyone who knows hockey can tell you that a goalie on fire is one of the most important things if you want to go all they way in the playoffs. Maybe Eero Kilpelainen will become that goalie for KalPa Kupio in this season's CHL campaign. 31-year-old Kilpelainen has already proven himself in the Finnish Liiga, winning the bronze medal in 2012 and having the best goals-against average in 2015. In the Round of 32, he has now shown the rest of Europe his skills, saving 60 out of 62 shots in the two games against Djurgarden Stockholm. But the goalie himself would rather talk about his team than his own game.
“I played okay,” he began humbly after the 2-1 loss, which gave Kalpa a 3-2 win on aggregate. “But I think we played pretty well as a team too. Even though Djurgarden where kind of pressing hard, we played smart and stuck with our game plan.”
Kilpelainen, who leads the whole CHL with 358:58 played, has an impressive 94.44 save percentage, and in Finland right now he has the second-best save percentage in the league at 92.5.
When asked about the reasons behind his success, he answered, “It's pretty much the same as before. I've been working hard every day. That gives you good results in the long run.”
Kilpelainen, who made one appearance with the Finnish national team last season, and KalPa now Swiss team Fribourg-Gotteron in the Round of 16. This is KalPa's first-ever journey into the CHL playoffs, but Kilpelainen already has big expectations for the rest of the tournament.
“We can win the whole thing,” he said confidently. “Right now we're just doing our thing and are not thinking to much. There's no magic tricks.”
After this performance against Djurgarden, can we expect more of the same against Fribourg?
“I'm just gonna go out and play and then we'll see what happens,” he finished with a smile. 

SaiPa

Perhaps the most memorable play from the two-games between SaiPa Lappeenranta and Tappara Tampere in the CHL Round of 32 was the toe-drag goal scored by SaiPa's Mikael Kuronen after receiving a drop pass from linemate Tomi Leivo in the second period of the second game. He now has 3 goals and 2 assists in six CHL games this season. Kuronen along with Leivo and centre Eetu Koski were SaiPa's best line in the game. Koski and Kuronen both scored once and assisted once, while Leivo assisted on two goals.
Kuronen – a native of Tampere whose childhood club is Ilves, the crosstown rival of Tappara – was satisfied with himself as well and his team after the game.
“Our goal was to make our way to the next round. Now we've done it and of course we are happy,” the 24-year-old said after game.
The trio has played several games together but recently many injuries have mixed up the lines. SaiPa head coach Ari Santanen is happy that the injured players are getting healthy and the coaches now have the opportunity to make the lineup as they want.
“The Leivo-Koski-Kuronen line was re-united this game and the boys played a good game. I hope we can continue this way with our players staying healthy,” Santanen said in the post-game press conference.
Mikael, your linemates in this game were Leivo and Koski. You were great together, as you were when you played together previously. 
“It is nice to play in same line with Leivo and Koski. We have good chemistry and understand how each other play the game. The game went well with this line and I hope that we can continue together.”
Not only your linemates, but you also had a great game personally. What led to your success?
“I don’t know is there's any specific reason. You just try to do the things the same way in every game, it doesn’t matter is it in the Finnish league or in the Champions Hockey League. It just feels that I've had a lot of success in the CHL. It is nice this way.”
What about Tappara?
“Tappara was good tonight, as well as in previous games. Our scoring efficiency was excellent, which helped us a lot. It's easier to play with the lead.”
Is there anything you still need to work on?
“There are little things in every part of game. We have already fixed them a little bit and watched video on it. I think there are still some things left that need to be fixed but the coaches will tell us more about them.”
What is your overall opinion of the Champions Hockey League?
“I like these games. Before the Liiga started we had games abroad and those games have made us a team. Personally, I see the CHL as a great tournament.”
You just finished with a Finnish team in the CHL, but next you will play a team from Sweden, the Vaxjo Lakers. What do you think about going to play abroad again?
“Those are great games. It is great to go and see how the other teams in different countries play.”

Teemu Laine

Teemu Laine is a valuable veteran presence on HV71 Jonkoping. The 34-year-old Finnish winger first arrived in the Swedish city in 2008 and, except for a three-year period in the KHL with Dinamo Minsk and Donbass Donetsk, has played there ever since. This is now his third Champions Hockey League for the club, including the original 2008-09 season. So far this season, he has a goal and an assist in four CHL games. He was back in his native Finland against Lukko Rauma to help HV71 gain a spot in the Round of 16. He spoke after the game.
How would you describe the game and series?
“We started well in the first game, got the 2-0 lead and kept it till the end. We had a little bit of trouble in the first shifts (in the second game) because the rink is smaller here and Lukko pressured us well. During the game we got the hang of it and found a way to win.”
After every Lukko goal you pressured very hard and scored the equalizer shortly after. Did your coach gave you instructions about that?
“Yes, a little bit. In any case, we can’t be satisfied with tonight’s game. We have played well in the SHL and this game wasn’t good. It’s hard when you play against teams from different countries and they have different styles.”
Lukko strives to play same kind of hockey as most of the teams in the SHL. Did you recognize any similarities?
“Lukko played this game better than they played on our home ice. It’s a trend nowadays. In Sweden, every team play fast and north-south hockey. On the basis of my CHL experience, Finnish teams play more careful hockey and try to keep possession of the puck more.”
HV71 have started well in the SHL. Does that momentum help you in the CHL?
“Of course. We've won quite a few games in a row. We have mostly the same team as last year and have added a couple coaches to the staff. We've kept doing our own thing and it works.”
NOTE: The team had won six games in a row following the return game in Rauma – four in the SHL and two in the CHL. That ended with a 5-3 loss to Orebo Hockey in the SHL on Thursday.
Swedish and Finnish clubs have dominated the CHL the last two seasons. Can you give any reason for that?
“I don’t know. I would say that the SHL is best league in Europe after the KHL, with the Finnish league after them. Nordic hockey is top class.”
Speaking of the KHL, you played there and have also lived many years in Jonkoping. Have you given any thought about coming back to Finland eventually? 
“Never say never. But I live in Sweden, I have Swedish wife and Finnish-Swedish kids – or Swedish-Finnish kids, however you want to put it. I've settled down in Jonkoping. I've lived seven or eight years there and I have a life in Sweden.”
So you haven’t ruled out finishing your career in Sweden?
“Absolutely not. It’s too early to say, though. Let’s try to get the knee back in good shape and we’ll see how it goes.”
Domestic League Round Up
Weekend of October 15-16
After the return legs of the Round of 32, the teams headed back into their own leagues – some even playing the next day – as domestic hockey continued around Europe. We take a look at how our remaining 16 Champions Hockey League teams got on as they returned to local action.
* Starting in the Czech Republic, where three teams remain, only Sparta Prague sit inside the league's top six – although all teams involved in the CHL have played a game less than everyone else. Sparta's 5-0 win in Pilsen Sunday night saw the home side part company with their coaching staff in a week which saw them lose two Extraliga games and get knocked out of the CHL. Liberec scored four points in their two games over the weekend, while Vitkovice find themselves in 11th after a win and a loss.
* Across the border in Germany, the DEL's sole remaining representatives in the CHL, Eisbaren Berlin, find themselves the victims of a shocking result in Bremerhaven, where the Fischtown Penguins came away 3-1 winners. That came after a 7-4 win in Nuremberg and puts the Polar Bears down to sixth in the table.
* Moving down to Switzerland, two wins for ZSC Lions Zurich over Geneve-Servette see them top the NLA outright over EV Zug, who were eliminated from the CHL last week by Berlin. SC Bern and HC Lugano sit sixth and 11th respectively – the former beating rivals Langnau at home but losing the away game and being blanked, while Lugano were thrashed 5-0 in Zug just a day after beating them on home ice. Fribourg-Gotteron took five points from their two games with Ambri-Piotta but find themselves still one place above last.
* Finland saw its league leaders and defending champions, Tappara Tampere, eliminated from the CHL last week, meaning that second-placed KalPa Kuopio are the top-ranked team in the Liiga currently still in the Champions League, with wins in Turku and Rauma keeping them a point off the lead. IFK Helsinki met TPS again after having knocked the Turku side out of the CHL midweek, and won 2-1 away to consolidate their position in the league in sixth; while JYP Jyvaskyla sit 12th and are without a regulation win in four. SaiPa Lappeenranta are a team whose CHL form is in contrast to their league performance – with one win in five Liiga games they are are two places off the bottom.
* Finally to Sweden, where the ninth-place Vaxjo Lakers were back in SHL action just 24 hours after eliminated Munich in the CHL. The schedule didn't help them though as they went down at home to high-flying Karlskrona in a shootout, leaving the Lakers winless in five. HV71 Jonkoping and Frolunda Gothenberg are tied for third in the league after a win and a loss each, while Linkoping HC sit 10th after eight rounds.
Weekend of October 22-23
* ZSC Lions Zurich continue to lead the Swiss NLA after 17 games, tied in with EV Zug, who went out of the CHL in the last round. The Lions haven't lost in five as they face fellow CHL Round of 16 side SC Bern tonight in Zurich. Bern are fourth in the league, and within touching distance of the top three, especially if they win games in hand. HC Lugano sit mid-table, while Fribourg-Gotteron had a good run of wins ended over the weekend but have moved up a place to 10th.
* In Germany, the sole surviving team in the CHL, Eisbaren Berlin, had wins over Augsburg and Adler Mannheim over the weekend to keep themselves fifth in the table. Grizzlys Wolfsburg, who went out in the Round of 32, have moved into top spot in the DEL after some excellent recent form, although they have played a game more than Kolner Haie below them. Over in the Czech Republic, * Sparta Prague stay in the top four thanks to a win over Dynamo Pardubice on home ice, while three wins on the spin have propelled Bili Tygri Liberec up to sixth. The other remaining CHL club, Vitkovice Ostrava, sit 10th out of 14, having losing in Chomutov after two straight wins.
* Finland's Liiga continues to be led by Tappara Tampere, with SaiPa Lappeenranta still the highest-placed team left in the CHL in third – four points behind the Tampere club. IFK Helsinki are down in eighth, while JYP Jyvaskyla are further back in 11th after two straight losses. SaiPa have finally run into some decent from, and thanks to three wins in the last four climb up to 13th in the 15-team league – something that makes their excellent CHL run all the more impressive.
* Finally in Sweden, Frolunda Gothenburg have brought the gap on league leaders Malmo Redhawks back to a point with three wins on the spin, most recently over Skelleftea AIK. A couple of defeats in their last few games see HV71 Jonkoping down to sixth at the moment, losing their last match to Lulea Hockey, who went out of the CHL in the group stage. Linkoping HC and the Vaxjo Lakers occupy places nine and 10, respectively, with the latter having taken a tumble of late, winning only one of their last seven SHL contests.
Weekend of October 29-30
* Starting in Germany, where Eisbaren Berlin went down to lowly Straubing on Friday, before a narrow 1-0 win at home to Schwenningen two days later to get back to winning ways.
* Down in Switzerland, ZSC Lions Zurich ended a run of two straight losses with a penalty shootout victory over local rivals Kloten Flyers, keeping them top of the NLA. SC Bern have moved up to second thanks to five straight wins, while Lugano sit seventh after two losses – including a 5-0 hammering in Geneve-Servette two nights ago. Fribourg-Gotteron are only a place off last after two losses on the spin, going down in Davos last time out.
* In the Czech Republic, Bili Tygri Liberec were the only remaining CHL team to win Sunday night, overcoming Dynamo Pardubice 4-2 to stay in the top four to record their fifth win in as many games. Two losses in their last outings have seen Sparta Prague drop to seventh, while Vitkovice Ostrava cling on to the top 10 having lost last night – two wins in the last three.
* In the SHL, a loss in Karlskrona Thursday night saw Frolunda Gothenburg drop to second, although their win in Skelleftea means they've only lost one in six as they head into the CHL. HV71 Jonkoping are in the top five, winning their last game but having been on a win/loss sequence for a few games. Three wins in a row have the Vaxjo Lakers two points outside the top six, while a win in Lulea saw Linkoping HC climb into the top 10.
* Finally in Finland, KalPa Kuopio continue to try and hunt down leaders Tappara Tampere, two wins in their last pair of games, cutting the gap to four points. IFK Helsinki's three-game winning streak came to an end in Tampere two nights ago, but they stay just in the top six. JYP Jyvaskyla are now inside the top 10 thanks to two straight wins, while SaiPa Lappeenranta's win in Turku in a shootout was their first win in three.