“I haven’t made a pound in two months, hell, I’m not pulling my safety”

As the buzzer at Tampa Arena rang to mark the end of the sixth Stanley Cup final, the Colorado Avalanche players ’gear flew into the air. Instead of a quieter home crowd, the hall was home to the outbursts of the visiting team.

Colorado defeated Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in the decisive sixth final and 4-2 in the series. The championship is the third in club history for Colorado.

For the second time, Finnish paint was included. When in 2001 the trophy was only allowed to be raised Ville Nieminen, now three Finns celebrated on the ice in Tampa. Solved in the sixth final Artturi Lehkonenin the final records the input records sidelined Mikko Rantanen and the goalkeeper coach who piloted the Colorado Brush Division Jussi Parkkila were the core pieces of the championship.

At the end of the match, Lehkonen was in the hills in Urheil’s ice level interview.

– It feels damn good! There is not much else to say here, this is a pretty incredible feeling, Lehkonen is in the mood.

The winning goal cannon immediately threw the interview to the side of the fun as well.

– The lifting of the Cup was a bit difficult, it was quite heavy. I haven’t made a pound in two months, I was a little stabbed not to be pulled to my safety there, Lehkonen laughed at the championship cap.

Lehkonen’s winning goal was born in the second installment. The solution for Turku, who fired solution paints several times in his career, was to shoot a bouncing loose disc in the back corner. The rubber spike hit the finish line handsomely.

– That’s how it really feels afterwards! It was a pretty cool feeling to make a championship goal. It’s hard to describe it in words, Lehkonen smiled.

The striker became the first Finn to complete the Stanley Cup final in 1987 and Jari Kurrin.

See the entire Lehkonen championship interview below.

Lehkonen already played in the Stanley Cup final last season. At the time, the Montreal Canadiens he represented lost to the Tampa in the finals. The transfer to Colorado at the transfer border was a jackpot for Lehkonen.

– The old proverb goes that “winning is more average than losing”. Last year’s loss was pretty heartbreaking in every way. Yes, it’s time to win here, Lehkonen said, looking at Tampa’s auditorium.

Lehkonen’s role in the team was also praised by a childhood friend from the Colorado constellation Mikko Rantanen. The Finnish star carrying the Deputy Captain A was very proud of the ability of his entire team to rise to victory after passing the first place.

– In previous years, we lost every second round. We talked yesterday that the previous game should be forgotten and progressed five minutes a day at a time. We did so from this morning. We’ve learned a lot on this team through our previous failures, he pondered.

There is plenty to celebrate now. Colorado’s first championship since 2001 is sure to get the “Mile High City” mixed up.

– I can promise to celebrate, for sure. While waiting for the Finnish summer, there is a bit of celebration there as well. I’ve used to say that three minutes can be celebrated or mourned, then let’s move on. Now you can celebrate a little longer, Rantanen smiled, referring to the playoff game he talked about a lot.

Rantanen’s family has reason to have a bigger championship party. Laura and Noora Rantanen earlier in the spring, they lifted the women’s floorball championship trophy in the shirt of the Turku Palloseura.

– Someone mentioned that “now you have to win too”. It was nice that the sisters were not the only ones, Rantanen smiled.

See the full Rantanen championship interview below.

Goalkeeper coach Jussi Parkkila is probably the most unknown of the Colorado cup trio. Parkkila made sure the Colorado goalkeeper game carried until the championship.

Of his guardrails in particular, the number one guard Darcy Kuemper even during the finals, he got plenty of his easy goals. The end result makes the championship even sweeter for the Finnish coach.

– This was a really difficult series for everyone and a difficult road. I myself have been under a lot of pressure, Parkkila said.

– The cup was surprisingly heavy. I never would have thought I would come to raise it during my career.

The role of the car park during the series was with both own and opponents. The coach gave his players an extra tactical briefing during the break, and after that Kuemper had solid organization. In addition, his duties included scouting the opponent’s number one goalkeeper Andrei Vasilevskiaabout which he gave information to the other coaching staff and the players.

Colorado contract goalkeeper Justus Annunen there was also equipment on site to accompany the ice to the party. However, Annunen was not entered in the playing line-up and was involved in the final as an emergency goalkeeper. Therefore, there are no guarantees about the Finnish championship ring.

See the full Parkkila championship interview below.