The champagne and gold caps were hidden and the championship pennant order inhibited. But Tappara equalized at 59.59 and secured the second straight league gold after extra time. Of course it went that way, writes Chriso Vuojärvi.
Why make something simple, when you can make it complicated? Tappara’s road to the fourth league title in seven years and the second in a row had a dignified end.
The Pelicans’ fairytale comeback in the fifth final was crushed in the most bitter way possible. At the same time, it should be said that Tappara’s astonishing turnaround is no big deal. Tappara is a winning machine. The playoff series the last two years have ended in Tampere’s favor with 4-1, 4-1, 4-1, 4-0, 4-1 and 4-1. In other words: 24 wins and five losses.
In Tappara’s dressing room, champagne was being sprayed wildly after the match but the smell of sparkling was surpassed by the pungent stench of sweat. The smell was a strong reminder of the main ingredient in the championship cocktail. Hard work and a ruthless attitude paved the way for the golden festivities in the Tampere Arena.
Jussi Tapola has not been a guarantee of success in Tappara.
Bild: Tomi Hänninen/Chilipictures
Jussi Tapola
Turning even games into victories was in the team’s DNA. A DNA that has been nurtured and developed under the leadership of Jukka Rautakorpi and Jussi Tapola. The two have effectively either served as the club’s head coach or sporting director for the past ten successful years as Tappara advanced to the semi-finals each time.
The stars delivered during the playoff spring
There were no weak links in this year’s Tappara. But some players stood out from the crowd.
Christian Heljanko was the safe last outpost in front of the posts. Heljanko’s regular season was mediocre and critical voices were raised about his capacity before the playoffs, but when spring came, he rose. Just like last year.
Mikael Seppälä and Veli-Matti Vittasmäki were the mean teddy bears in defense that it hurt to face. Such are needed in every winning team – goals and assists are not the only things that count.
Newly acquired Jori Lehterä was Tappara’s big offensive star. Lehterä’s determination in the playoffs was almost limitless as he chased his first title at the senior level. He will be extremely difficult to replace if and when he moves his Kapellmeistership to Helsinki IFK next season.
Jori Lehterä finally got a taste of segerns sötma.
Bild: Tomi Hänninen/Chilipictures
Jori Lehterä
And as icing on the cake: Veli-Matti Savinainen and Waltteri Merelä. Both personified will to fight as they barged in front of goal and chewed up the opponents’ barbed wire. Savinainen’s and Merelä’s fifteen hits this spring were a good reminder of what is decisive in the playoffs – it is important to stand in front of the opponent’s cage, take a beating and cut like a wolverine when the chance presents itself.
It was no coincidence that Savinainen equalized with one second remaining and it was only right that he was named the best player of the playoffs.
Unsentimental leadership
This year’s Tappara is still not the all-time league team. The glory days of the Finnish league were in the 1990s and this year’s golden squad pales in comparison to the cavalcade of stars that TPS had in 1995 or Helsinki IFK in 1998.
But Tappara can boast of having delivered the most successful season ever by a Finnish club team. Tappara was first in the regular season, won the league title and was crowned CHL champion. In addition, the club’s A and C juniors won FM gold.
The cornerstones of the dynasty are a long-term effort where the sporting aspect weighs more heavily than, for example, nostalgic factors. There is, by Finnish standards, a cold and calculating side in Tappara. The legendary Kristian Kuusela played a single game in the playoffs. And they snubbed another legend, Petri Kontiola, when he announced after several seasons in the KHL that he is ready to return to the league. Kontiola had strong connections with Tappara but that was not enough.
Challenging position for the future Swedish head coach
But it is part of the laws of sport that all dynasties fall. Sooner or later. TPS and Jokerit looked invincible in the 90s, but couldn’t follow up the success. Kärpät was a powerhouse in the league for many years but has been groping in the dark for the past four years.
Tappara may be the masters of the league table right now, but the club is entering a new era. Jukka Rautakorpi left Tappara a year ago and now it’s time for Jussi Tapola to say goodbye.
Everything has its time, but Rikard Grönborg, who takes over as head coach, has no enviable task. It is impossible to top the season that Tappara delivered in 2023/24 under Tapola’s leadership.
