Luleå HF already won the fifth consecutive Swedish ice hockey championship. The “Finnish team” got an extra boost for the third final match from their injured captain.
Last season, Luleå HF and Brynäs IF played five matches before the SDHL ice hockey championship was decided by the “Finnish team” Luleå. This season, Brynäs was almost the opponent, as Luleå took the win directly with match wins 3–0. The last match ended with the same numbers for the home team.
Luleå’s will to fight in the last match was boosted by the fact that the team’s captain Jenni Hiirikoski was dramatically injured in the previous game. Hiirokoski got a cut on his neck from an opponent’s skate. However, he was with the team in the third match and was able to lift the championship trophy for the fifth time in a Luleå shirt.
– Everyone wanted to play this victory for Jenni as well. That gave you an extra boost, a teammate reached from the championship party Viivi Vainikka told Urheilu.
Other players also conveyed the same message. Petra Nieminen told For Aftonbladet (you will switch to another service), that the players knew Hiirikoski was fine, but the captain was involved in everything. When Hiirikoski lifted the championship trophy into the air, the audience in the hall burst into loud applause.
– This means so much. This team has given me so much. I appreciate everything, Hiirikoski told SVT yourself (you will switch to another service).
For the 21-year-old Vainika, the championship was the third in Luleå. In addition to Vainika, Hiirikoski and Nieminen, the championship was celebrated Ronja Savolainen, Nora Tulus and Jenna Pirttijärvi. It was already the sixth championship for Tulus, the fifth for Savolainen, the fourth for Niemi, and the second for Pirttijärvi.
The Finns were well represented in all the finals. In the third game, Nieminen scored his team’s opening goal and Pirttijärvi scored the other two into an empty net.
According to Vainika, the championship always tastes good, and there hasn’t been a big difference between them.
– Every time you win this league championship, nothing feels as good. However, the Swedish championship and the best series in Europe, that’s a big deal, Vainikka beamed.
– Of course, this didn’t come easily, it took a lot of work to get to the championship, but we got a win in three games and ended this streak, so it’s a really good feeling.
This year’s championship was Luleå’s fifth in a row and sixth overall. According to Vainika, there is a simple explanation for the success:
– We have a good atmosphere, good culture and good players, Vainikka said, before retiring to spend time with the team and celebrate the championship.