Finland’s game started to get rough, but the five-goal final set brought a happy look to the faces of the Leijoni players. Finland had seven different goal scorers on Friday.
TAMPERE. The lion team relaxed strangely in the final set of the Hungary game and scored five goals in the last 20 minutes. Friday’s World Cup game was two rounds of quite a bit of tar fighting, but the end brought a happy look to the whole group. Finland beat Hungary 7–1.
– After all, if there is no result, the game goes to waste. I did have a smile on my face the whole time, skipper of the Lions Marko Anttila your inches.
Anttila and Hannes Björninen a World Cup debutant was now seen next to him Walter Merelä, who had a 6–1 hit to his name. From the movement of the puck and Anttila’s gesture, I got such an idea that the captain guided the rookie in with a sharp shot. Anttila immediately raised his other hand to mark the goal.
– I don’t know if it hit or not. I can’t say at all, Anttila dodged.
He is not one of those players who goes around talking about goals in his own name.
– Let’s hope it was my goal. At least Marko didn’t say anything, but brought me the puck after the goal. A really nice gesture, Merelä thanked.
In the previous game Ahti Oksanen completed his first World Cup goal from Anttila’s preliminary work. Now Merelä got to enjoy Anttila’s moving mask. It will remain an eternal mystery who scored Finland’s sixth hit. It hardly matters more than that.
Merelä effusively praised how the Lions’ leading players have taken the newcomers on board.
– This is not a typical hockey team with a mix of youth and experience. Everyone here is used to fighting, Merelä described.
The letter C is still carried by Anttila. He created his legendary reputation at the 2019 World Cup in Slovakia, beating NHL stars to the hilt of Russia and Canada.
– I was in Lahti with friends at the time. We left for Lahti Market by car.
Did you fall for “Mörö”?
– It all started! When you score big goals, people like it.