Current Ilves right winger Carl Klingberg (right) playing for the Winnipeg Jets in 2014. © Brad Rempel-Imagn ImagesTappara’s three-year reign as Finnish Liiga champions is over following the team’s quarterfinal sweep at the hands of local rival Ilves. Both teams play their home games in Nokia Arena – Finland’s largest arena that currently functions as a hockey rink – and all four games were played to capacity crowds of over 12,000.
“It’s like when we go to the same lunch places, we see each other there and in the rink,” Ilves left winger Samuli Ratinen told MTV about facing Tappara in a playoff series. “There was a good and honest fight there. This was a bit different.”
As unique as it might be for Ilves to get the upper hand over Tappara, this was not an upset by any means. Ilves finished second in the Liiga standings and Tappara finished ninth. Tappara then had to beat Kiekko-Espoo three games to two in a play-in series while Ilves rested up.
Ilves’ roster includes former Minnesota Wild prospects Mike O’Leary and Simon Johansson, former NHL right winger Carl Klingberg, and prospects Lukas Svejkovsky, Jakub Málek (New Jersey Devils), Kalle Väisänen (New York Rangers), Samu Bau (Utah HC), Sebastian Soini (Minnesota), and 18-year-old St. Louis Blues prospect Ondřej Kos, who won a bronze medal with Czechia at the World Junior Championship.
While Tappara’s reign is over, Tampere’s might not be, as Ilves now chases its first national title since 1985. Historically, the two Tampere teams are Finland’s most decorated – Tappara is the all-time leader with 20 titles while Ilves is second with 16.
Ilves, Lukko and SaiPa all won their quarterfinal series in sweeps to fill three of the four semifinal spots. KalPa and Ässät is the lone remaining series – KalPa leads 3-1 with Game 5 slated for Friday. If KalPa advances, the semifinals will begin on April 11 with Lukko facing SaiPa and Ilves taking on KalPa.
