follows the SM league finals moment by moment on its website. The Hockey Tour broadcasts every league final live. All finals will be heard live at Areena, the third final also on Radio Suomen’s soundwaves. The preliminary studios of the ice hockey round can be enjoyed in video form for the first time in the finals.
Tappara’s companion and captain for many years Jukka Peltola achieved three championships during his career. The most significant of all was the first gold medal achieved in 2016.
Before the first championship, Peltola had lost three finals. For example, the previous spring, Peltola had sat blankly on the ice of Raksila. Tappara had just lost to Kärpi in the overtime of the seventh final.
– In the background there was such an absurd amount of failures and work that seemed pointless, which in retrospect really wasn’t pointless. Losing many times taught me to win and put things into perspective, Peltola tells Urheilu.
The championship against HIFK was also decided dramatically in the sixth final. of HIFK Teemu Ramstedt shot the puck into the net from the zero corner Tomi Karhusen through the flipper. Tappara interpreted the buzzer as having already sounded and started celebrating the championship.
– I think the guy from Meikälä was still in the center circle when I tried to throw myself at some line hockey, when Yohan Auvitu there was a puck on stage. Ramstedt was able to put it in the goal from some corner.
Chief Justice Teemu Salminen interrupted Tappara’s party for a while. He checked to see if the goal had been scored before the final buzzer.
– Henrik Haapala had already thrown his glove somewhere on row 13. We didn’t know whether to continue the game or not. When the whole thing came to fruition, it was incredible.
Peltola was confident at first, because Karhunen’s reaction to the situation had clearly told the situation. However, the end result was exciting.
– Of course, there was a little fear that what’s going on here. It would be quite a job to wind the thread tight when you have already won in your mind. I tried to keep a calm mind, although it was not possible when people are shouting in the audience and everyone is half-celebrating even on the ice.
Patrik Laine, fresh from the shower
According to Peltola, the championship was celebrated more or less every day of the week. A few days passed in Tampere. After that we moved to Spain.
The Tappara legend has remembered a particularly funny detail from the championship night in Hakametsä. When he arrived at the booth from the ice, according to his words, he had been hit on the head with a stick and hugged his wife.
– Half an hour after the game, I had taken my clothes down to my pants. He was wearing ice skates.
Having achieved his first championship Patrick Laine had already returned from the shower. The young man tightened his tie.
– I asked, where are you going, we just won the Finnish championship, Peltola recalls.
– I promised the family that we would go for pizza after the game, Laine answered according to Peltola.
Behind several disappointments
The contrast between the all-time loser and the young star of the future was big.
– I had lost several finals in a row and winning was an absurd blow. This one guy then arrives in the big limelight, plays an incredibly good season and plays a big role in the playoffs as well. Then he just goes out for pizza with the family.
Peltola describes how he had been “knocked down” so many times, just like many other players on the team.
– The wave was just that this is how it had to go. Let’s win now that we came to win once.
– It was quite normal for him. I didn’t know how it should have been when the championship had been chased for so long. It’s still a big deal to me.
Peltola’s gold medals and also lost medals have their own place in his home. In retrospect, he also appreciates the silver medals very much, because they increased the value of the first and other championships won.
– Thanks to them, I realized how difficult it is to win and reach the finals.
Peltola emphasizes how achieving championships requires really good work over many months and years.
– Tappara’s level of demands, which the leading players and the coaching staff still maintain, is absurd. It’s a really tough job year after year. I hope it continues, says Peltola.
‘s advance broadcast starts at Areena 45 minutes before each match. On Wednesday, Radio Suomi is included from 18:02.
Sat 20.4. Tappara – Pelicans at 17:00, Areena
Mon 22.4. Pelicans – Tappara at 18:30, Areena
Wed 24.4. Tappara – Pelicans at 18:30, Radio Suomi and Areena
Fri 26.4. Pelicans – Tappara at 18:30, Areena
Sun 28.4. Tappara – Pelicans at 17:00, Areena (if necessary)
Mon 29.4. Pelicans – Tappara at 18:30, Areena (if necessary)
Thu 2.5. Tappara – Pelicans at 18:30, Areena (if necessary)