Captain Eemeli Finland explains why Tampereen Ilves will leave for the semi-finals of the Finnish Championship as a pre-favorite. Watch the main video of the story to watch the expectations of Tampere supporters before the playoffs.
The first semi-finals of the Finnish Championship League will be followed in the Puheen Hockey Tour on Sunday from 15.45.
One of the hockey players in the Finnish Ice Hockey League Eemeli Finland answers the phone on the ice of Lake Näsijärvi when STT reaches out to him during a preliminary interview with the playoffs. The captain of Tampere’s Ilves is not an active ice man, but he came up with nice and out-of-the-box things to do for the day.
– My acquaintance is wondering what we could do. We went fishing. I will try to reset before the games continue. Of course, we’ve been waiting for the playoffs all year round here, but now we haven’t thought about them, Finland said on Wednesday afternoon.
The release from hockey just a day after the end of the regular season was in place, but as we talked, the gaze slowly began to sharpen towards the semi-finals starting on Sunday, where Oulun Kärpät will meet. In the regular season, Ilves was on the neck and took the victories 4–0. The same balance would apply in the playoffs, but Finland does not give too much weight to winter encounters.
– Flies is a top class team. There’s a “koutsi” changed, and there are quite a few new players too, so it’s not the same gang we played against a long time ago.
In Tampere, there is a decent amount of puck under the playoffs. Ilves and Tappara play in a new hall that spectators have found.
The spectator averages of Tappara and Ilves were the best in the regular season (Tappara: 4,330, Ilves: 4,304). In the main video of this story, you can see what local supporters expect from the playoffs. The people of Tampere already have a dream final in mind.
Fresh playing out
However, before the dream finale, there is a lot of hockey to play. In the lynx, the first challenge in the quarterfinals is tough.
At the transfer border, Kärpät acquired, among other things Julius Junttilan and David Sklenickan, but Ilves was not left without confirmation either. Hooker Marko Anttila may be an important man in the spring games, but a decade younger 26-year-old Finland emphasizes the importance of the success of the whole team.
– We have to be a four-field team and get a fresh play. We need to focus on keeping the top five tight and we can also attack.
Two years ago, Finland played the most effective regular season of its league career so far, when it knocked out 26 + 31 = 57 in 57 matches. The lynx slammed in a good headwind towards the playoffs, which were ultimately not played because the corona pandemic cut off the season. A year ago, the go froze in the handling of the future champion Rauma Luko in the semi-finals.
– A couple of years ago I had a similar feeling about the team as now and even then I could genuinely believe that we can do it. Now there are great feelings that we can measure the level, Finland said.
The World Cup camp will be under the playoffs
With the experience of seven leagues from Ilves, there has been no need to change to another club in Finland. In early March, the Tampere Society reported on Finland’s continuation agreement, but the attacker admits that the tuning was abroad.
– Ilves was a clear option in Finland. There was interest in a few countries, but I made an agreement here, Finland formulated.
In the previous four seasons, Finland wore a national team uniform, but this season is becoming the Interim Season for international games. The World Cup medals will be awarded in May at his home hall. When there are no previous national team displays for this season, the World Cup camping should take place as early as the beginning of April. Finland wants to continue through Ilves for so long that the ice in the lakes has melted.
– Everyone dreams of playing at home games, but the focus is on getting along with Ilves.
The last question is, has the icefish come from prey?
– A couple of perch, Finland ends the interview.
They are not enough for the captain of Ilves, but in addition to Ilves and local competitor Tappara, who won the regular season in the spring games, there are many other teams.
The championship yacht continues with semi-final pairs Tappara – Lukko, Jukurit – KooKoo, Ilves – Kärpät and TPS – HIFK. Ilves has a tough job ahead for the team to win their first championship after 1985 or even their first medal after the 2001 bronze.
Below you can see the comparison of the points average of the semi-finals of the Finnish Championship and the match program of the semi-finals.
Schedule of the semi-finals (for the semi-finals with four wins)
Tappara – Lock
Ma 28.3. Tappara – Lock
Ti 29.3. Lock – Tappara
To 31.3. Tappara – Lock
The 2.4. Lock – Tappara
Su 3.4. Tappara – Lock
Ti 5.4. Lock – Tappara
Wed 6.4. Tappara – Lock
Jukurit – KooKoo
Ma 28.3. Jukurit – KooKoo
Ti 29.3. KooKoo – Jukurit
To 31.3. Jukurit – KooKoo
The 2.4. KooKoo – Jukurit
Su 3.4. Jukurit – KooKoo
Ti 5.4. KooKoo – Jukurit
Wed 6.4. Jukurit – KooKoo
Ilves – Flies
Su 27.3. Ilves – Flies
Ma 28.3. Flies – Ilves
Wed 30.3. Ilves – Flies
Fri 1.4. Flies – Ilves
The 2.4. Ilves – Flies
On 4.4. Flies – Ilves
Ti 5.4. Ilves – Flies
TPS – HIFK
Su 27.3. TPS – HIFK
Ti 29.3. HIFK – TPS
To 31.3. TPS – HIFK
The 2.4. HIFK – TPS
Su 3.4. TPS – HIFK
Ti 5.4. HIFK – TPS
Wed 6.4. TPS – HIFK