Ice Hockey Continental Leagues 2017 - 2018 Discussion Thread

[hckošice 14,790]

Champions Hockey League 2017/2018

 

Final

 

Växjö Lakers   0 : 2  JYP Jyväskylä

(0:0, 0:1, 0:1)

 h.18.45 CET, Växjö (SWE), Vida Arena

 

Goals: 34. Nattinen (Kalteva) 0-1, 59. Kolehmainen 0-2

 

 

[phelps 7,664]

JYP Jyväskylä Champions of Europe!

 

Finals in the Champions Hockey League are always tight, and this year was no exception as JYP Jyväskylä won the game 2-0 to be crowned Champions of Europe!

 

A scoreless opening period saw the home side have the better of the chances and possession.

JYP were strong on the penalty kill as Växjö failed to convert on opportunities in the first and middle periods - something that they would later regret.

 

With the Finns this time playing with a man advantage, Joonas Nattinen found himself wide open in the Lakers' zone to put Jyväskylä one up as his shot slipped through Andren.

 

That lead stayed until 51 minutes to go - or so the Lakers though.

Eric Martinsson's shot form the point found the net, but was washed out for goalie interference, the officials consulting the video and sticking to the on-ice call.

A late minor penalty on the visitors gave the Lakers the perfect chance to tie the game in dramatic fashion.

A half-empty net was missed by Andrew Calof as the Lakers pressed hard for the equaliser.

Then it was over - empty net, and Janne Kolehmainen shot into the open goal in front of jubilant JYP fans to take the trophy to Finland!

 

Match Highlights

 

 

[phelps 7,664]

Finally, after 3 years of Swedish domination (especially with Frolunda Indians, losing finalists in 2015 and winners in the last 2 seasons), we have a new Nation on top of the European Club Hockey!

 

I think this can only be a good thing for Hockey in general and especially for the future of the Champions Hockey league, which still suffers from significative lack of interest in most part of the Continent throughout the season and does show some sign of life only in the final stages...

 

however, it was nice to see a full house yeasterday night in Växjö, one of those places where normally the arena is almost empty in the early stages of the CHL...

 

and it was even better to watch JYP conquer the ice of the Swedes...