Luleå Hockey and Tappara Tampere are the two teams that will line up for the Champions Hockey League Final in under two weeks’ time to battle it out for the title of European Champions.
Heading into the game, Luleå’s star defenceman Julius Honka is in a rather interesting situation – as a Finn, the all-or-nothing Final against one of Finland’s most successful clubs in recent memory will carry extra meaning.
"We’re feeling really good!”Luleå Hockey’s Julius Honka
“I am excited!” started the 27-year-old, “we haven’t played against Tappara yet this season, so it’s going to be interesting.”
“They’ve got a great team, one of the best in Europe. We’ll focus on their game and prepare, but we’re feeling really good – we’ve gotten this far already!”
The hosting rights for the ultimate game of the season were awarded to Luleå due to their superior points record which means the 2023 CHL Final, scheduled for 18 February, 16:20 CET, will be played up in northern Sweden.
“It’s great to play in front of our home crowd, but, after all, it’s only one game so the better team will win,” thinks Honka, “we might have some sort of an advantage, but I wouldn’t give it too much weight.”
Luleå finished top of their Group featuring Finnish side Jukurit Mikkeli, Danish side the Aalborg Pirates and Czech side Sparta Prague.
In the Playoffs, the Swedes battled through challengers Grizzlys Wolfsburg, Jukurit and then fellow Swedish team Frölunda Gohenburg in the Semi-Finals.
“I think we deserved our spot in the Final”Luleå Hockey’s Julius Honka
“We played well in Germany against Wolfsburg and also the two games against Jukurit were fun as we sort of knew each other, even though we don’t play in the same league,” said Honka.
Still the best memory of Luleå’s road to the Final in Honka’s mind is their two most recent games.
“The Semi-Finals against Frölunda were great - especially the Return Game on home ice was a great win for us. I think we deserved our spot in the Final right there.”
As a pan-European competition, the Champions Hockey League can be demanding in terms of travel and adjusting to situations and shifting environments. The fact that Luleå have reached the 2023 Final proves that they’ve done a great job in coping with all of that.
“In the early days of the season, it was great to go play in Denmark and the trip to Wolfsburg too. The away games have been nice,” said Honka.
Ex-NHLer Honka has netted seven points (3G,4A) in 11 CHL games this season. He’s a strong and dependable D-man who is strong on the puck and can drive it up the ice and likes to let loose when the chance arises.
He doesn't always get in on the final passing or scoring action, but he often gives the initial spark. His great performances this season earned him a nomination for the prestigious LGT MVP Award.
“We play active hockey with and without the puck, we skate a lot and try to dominate our opponents with our movement,” said Honka, “the key to our game is staying active on both ends of the ice, that’s how you recognize our style.”
This is the Finn’s second season with the Swedish team: “Luleå is a passionate hockey town,” said Honka, “a lot of snow - ice hockey is big here. We felt that especially last season when we made it all the way to the SHL finals.”
That year, the one-time SHL champions narrowly missed out on their chance to add title #2. Can the 2023 CHL Final be a chance for the club to add a new piece of silverware to their trophy cabinet?
“We’re in it for the trophy, but we’ll see how it goes,” admitted Honka, “Tappara are a really good team, I’ve followed their path in Liiga and the CHL. I think both teams will get their chances to score, but efficiency will play an important role in the game,” he ended.
Luleå Hockey will face Tappara Tampere in the ultimate one-game CHL Final in Luleå, Sweden on 18 February 2023 at 16:20 CET.