The bronze medals in the men’s handball league have been awarded to Grankulla IFK, who beat Helsinki team Dicken in two games. Dicken was now without a medal after the team had previously won four straight silvers.
Grankulla IFK is the bronze medalist for this year in the men’s handball league. GrIFK beat Dicken from Helsinki by a combined 48–45 over two games to take their sixth bronze all-time.
Dicken won the second leg 22–21 after a late goal by Benjamin Peitsaro, but it was not enough for a medal place in this year’s league. At the break, it was 11-8 for GrIFK, which meant a seven-goal lead in the summary as one half remained of the match pair.
GrIFK coach Mikael Källman heaped praise on his players after the match.
– Last dust of the season. The boys put in an excellent fighting effort in a difficult match. Dicken were very tough opposition and they played well, so this was a real battle. The guys showed again for 60 minutes what they are for, Mikael Källman said league website.
– We congratulate Grankulla IFK for the bronze medal. They were better than us in the dual meet and deserved the medals, Dicken pilot Ken Sirenius said.
GrIFK keeper Patrik Roslander was named the match’s best player ahead of Dickens Filip Söderlund, who was the best scorer with his seven goals.
2. the bronze match
GrIFK – Gauges 21-22 (11-8)
GrIFK: Gustav Svanbäck 5, Miro Koljonen 3, Peik Sjöblom 3, Jere Kantee 2, Karim Mbembela 2, Fredik von Troil 2, Oscar Berglund 1, Fredik Forss 1, Kalle Kankaanpää 1, Alexander Qvist 1.
Thicknesses: Filip Söderlund 7, Benjamin Peitsaro 6, Benny Broman 4, Roni Syrjälä 3, Armi Part 2.
GrIFK won the bronze with a total of 48-45 in two games.
GrIFK familiar team in the bronze medal match
It was the third season in a row that GrIFK played in the bronze matches, and the fifth time overall in the last six finals.
The team now won their first medal since the bronze from the 2016/17 season. It was the season in which GrIFK returned to the top league to replace HC West from the same locality.
Patrik Roslander thanked the home crowd after this year’s bronze was secured.
– You gave us the little extra that was needed to secure the bronze medal for Grankulla IFK, said Patrik Roslander.
In the last four finals, Dicken had won as many silvers. This time there was a loss in the children’s match.
Article updated with comments at 10:18 p.m.
