Tappara, who reached the finals of the Ice Hockey Championship League, has been steadily beating throughout the season. Now, like the HIFK series, it can use the break to develop its game.
The team that reached the championship must have gone through some kind of difficulties during the season. After overcoming them, the team is even stronger. It has grown into a united, winning team.
This is a cliché that comes up every now and then in sports. This season, however, Tappara has been pounding through the season steadily without any problems.
Will Tapparan need to face adversity to win the championship?
– This is an eternal question, does Urheilu’s expert need to Top Nättinen pondered in the Ice Hockey round.
– This cliché is invented by teams and people who have experienced difficulties. Those who have swept through the season with a clean record and without adversity have not had to come up with those and console themselves on the mental side.
However, Nättinen notes that failures are often places for growth.
– A coaching legend once said that the most dangerous thing in sports is winning, because then you don’t have to look in the mirror. Or easily not looking in the mirror because you trust that we won.
– After spinning, I would say that you don’t have to experience difficulties to win. They are not required in the rules, Nättinen throws.
Time off available for Tappara
Tappara’s head coach Jussi Tapola admitted to Urheilu that the first two semi-final matches were games with bad rhythm from the team. However, the three-day break gave Tappara time to review his game.
Tappara also gets to the final series starting on Wednesday the 19th, rested. There are eight full days in between where the team can rest, train and heal their minor injuries.
– Tappara can now train and improve his fitness. It should not be misunderstood that any high-altitude camp would be made there. But now they can practically skate, fight, whistle and get injured players in shape if there are minor injuries, says Nättinen.
In any case, Tappara’s final opponent has a tough Savotta in front of him. Ilves and Pelicans will play at least until Thursday, but the series can stretch to Saturday as well.
– The chances of Tappara’s opponent lie in those moments when Tappara is not at the core. Those moments need to be recognized and used when Tappara is asleep, says Nättinen.
A two-part season at HIFK
The season of HIFK, who bowed to Tappara with 1–4 wins, was very divided. In the fall season, the team was even a league jumbo for a while, and 38 points were accumulated from the 30 matches of the early season. The second half of the regular season was great, as it got 59 points and was the best team in the fitness club during this period.
In the end, HIFK struggled against Lukko from the quarter-finals to the next round.
– Considering all the circumstances, when you look at this season’s game, it is on some level a miracle that HIFK made it to the top four and is playing for medals. When you look at the spring season, it is minimal, even disappointing. As it certainly is for many players.
– The spring was so good that HIFK’s players certainly thought they even “deserved” a place in the final as a result.