Luleå Hockey, who won the Champions Hockey League back in 2014/15, took a strong step towards asserting themselves this season with a dominant First Game win in the Quarter-Finals, defeating Jukurit Mikkeli 5-1.
Brendan Shinnimin scored twice for the victors, while Jonathan Andersson picked up 1G and 1A as the Swedes secured a commanding four-goal lead ahead of next week's Return Game.
"It was a good game from us"Luleå Hockey's Brendan Shinnimin
"We played with discipline," started 31-year-old Brendan Shinnimin, "It feels good - it was a good game from us."
Luleå opened the scoring early. Just past the two-minute mark, Shinnimin carried the puck into the Jukurit zone and fired a shot through a crowd that found the back of the net to make it 1-0. He then went on to score goal #2 for the Swedes early into the second period when the Canadian forward took a pass from Carl Mattsson and beat the Jukurit goalie on a backhand deke.
"It always feels good to get a couple goals," he said, "but our entire line played well in the offense."
Jukurit were second-best on the night, but Head Coach Olli Jokinen highlighted that it was his team's fourth game in five nights.
"It's great to get a four-goal lead," added Shinnimin, "especially since it is aggregate score."
Luleå will face Jukurit again next week in Finland for the Return Game scheduled for Tuesday, 13 December at 18:05 CET.
According to Shinnimin, his side will "be ready for next week".