The superstar of the floorball world, Veera Kauppi, injured her leg in Sweden, but may be able to return to the rink in a couple of weeks for the Champions Cup in Lempäälä.
With the star striker of the national floorball team Veera Kaupilla has had enough bad luck with injuries in recent years, but this time luck smiled on the person from Tampere who was chosen as the best female player in the world.
Kauppi, 25, who represents Team Thorengruppen from Umeå, was injured a week and a half ago in the Swedish Cup match against Falun, when he unluckily stepped on the stage after having weight on one leg in a shooting situation.
– It turned into an ankle rally and the knee twisted a little outward. The pains were quite severe and I felt that something had happened, but yesterday the doctor called with good news, says Kauppi.
– Nothing serious was found, and it was a pretty good Christmas present, because the feeling wasn’t good at all and I thought the worst at first. It was a pretty wild time waiting for the results of the MRI.
I can understand the fear, because despite the wild scores both in the club and the national team, the last few years have been tinged with injuries. Knee strain injuries have slowed down the national team’s all-time leading scorer in the past three seasons, and in January he broke his wrist. Intact weeks have been few and far between this season as well.
– You do think about it when something doesn’t match, but on the other hand, there has also been bad luck, like now. The situation is frustrating, but it doesn’t help to fall into gloom, because it doesn’t make things easier in any way. You have to try to go through Pos, even though this year has been terrible.
The rehabilitation schedule for the knee was given as four to six weeks, and the target circled on the calendar well in advance would wait for Epiphany weekend. In Lempäälä, Kaup’s home corner, the international championship tournament for club teams, the Champions Cup, has been played for a long time, and participation is still within the limits of possibilities.
– The forecast is really good, and I’ve already been able to try a little jogging and cycling. Of course, the leg still doesn’t feel normal, so let’s take it easy and see how far the leg can work.
In the games he has played, Kauppi has managed to collect 18+14 performances in the early season, and with 32 points he is eighth in the Superliiga point exchange. Twin sister I am is second after collecting the pot 24+15.
The reigning champion Thorengruppen has won all 15 of their matches, although in addition to Veera Kaup, key players also My Kippilä and Sofia Joelsson have been sidelined. Last spring’s final opponent Pixbo is second in the standings, seven points away, and Kauppi believes that Thorengruppen will be given a tough challenge in the world’s best league in the spring.
– Even though we are early favorites, there are plenty of challengers. We want to make sure that others don’t have a chance to pass by. The width in our team is quite unique, and we are able to drum at the same pace, even though the group has been away.