Jukurit scored seven goals in HPK’s net.
More details about the opening round of the SM league season in Urheilu’s follow-up article.
Kiekko-Espoo’s season in the men’s hockey league started with a 2–5 away loss to HIFK.
The home team scored the most points in the local match in the capital region Luke Martin (1+2) and Jori Lehterä (0+3). Both goals were scored by the Espoo team, who returned to the main league map Cameron Hillis.
Jukurit took a 7–3 home win over HPK and a 3–2 home win over KalPa SaiPa. The encounters between Sport and Kärppie and Luko and KooKoo were decided in overtime. In both matches, the home team was disappointed, as Sport lost 2–3 and Lukko 3–4.
JYP and Tappara also succumbed to a home defeat in the end. JYP lost to Pelicans 3–4 and Tappara lost to TPS 2–3. Both matches were decided only in the race for the winning goal.
As many as 16 teams are playing in the League season that started on Tuesday. The series expanded by one club from last season, when Kiekko-Espoo was promoted from Mestis to Liiga.
Under the name of Kiekko-Espoo, men’s major league ice hockey was played in Espoo for the last time in the 1997–1998 season. After that, the Blues played in the main league until the club’s background company went bankrupt in early 2016.
Jukurien Ellis scored points
No less than ten goals were scored in the match between Jukurie and HPK.
The number one player of the match was Jukurien Max Elliswho had three hits and one assist. Jukurien too Peter Abbandonato collected four power points (1+3).
Last season’s jumbo group SaiPa led their match against KalPa, but ultimately succumbed to a narrow away loss. Ilves’ player-legend debuted as SaiPa’s head coach Raimo Helminen.
In the match between Sport and Kärppi, the team from Oulu Teemu Turunen flew into the shower in the third period from a knee tackle. Kärppien scored the decisive goal of the match in overtime Reid Gardiner.
KooKoo became the overtime hero with his hit Riley Sawchukwho scored two goals in the match.
In the meeting between JYP and Pelicans, Lahti people scored the most points Rasmus Kumpulainenwhich gathered powers 2+1.