Many ice hockey players like to play inline hockey during the off-season to stay in shape. Some play well enough to even compete for their national teams at the IIHF Inline Hockey World Championship. At this year's tournament in Pardubice, Czech Republic, TPS Turku forward Marko Virtala has helped lead Finland into the gold medal game, while Sparta Prague's Jan Buchtele competed for the host Czechs.

by Petr Dejnožka

PARDUBICE – Finland's inline hockey team has reached the final of the World Championship after beating arch-rival Sweden for the second time in the tournament, 4–2 in the semi-final on Friday.

"We played well as a team," said Marko Virtala, who had an assist in the game, and has three goals and five assists in Finland's first five games. "Our play wasn't the best the whole game, but we had a good spell in the middle. I think that was what did it for us."

Virtala, a good skater and versatile forward, is about to enter his sixth season with TPS Turku this fall. Right now, he is becoming familiar with the surroundings in Pardubice, which will prove useful to him very soon. TPS is part of the new Champions Hockey League and they were drawn into Group F with HC Pardubice. TPS visits Pardubice on 7 September.

"I like the arena here very much, I have played some great games here," Virtala said of ČEZ Arena, which regularly draws the largest crowds in the Czech Extraliga. "I always want to play where hockey is popular and many spectators come to see the games. And for sure, the Czech Republic is one of those countries. I am looking forward to being back soon."

Along with TPS and Pardubice, HC Bolzano and Linköping HC will also compete in Group F.

"The CHL is a great project because we can meet teams from many different countries," Virtala concluded.

The same positive opinion is shared by Jan Buchtele, Sparta Prague forward, who is also taking part in the Inline Hockey World Championship for the host Czech Republic.

"I hope it can rival the Champions League in football, which is watched by millions of people across the globe," Buchtele said hopefully.

His team will play in Group G along with the Växjö Lakers, Adler Mannheim and KalPa Kuopio. "I am a little disappointed that we don't get to play teams like Bolzano or Nottingham, but our opponents are all very interesting," Buchtele added.

"I really hope teams will take this competition seriously. Our goal is definitely to advance from the group stage and take part in the playoffs."