Ahead of the start of the upcoming Champions Hockey League season, we asked the Head Coaches of Tappara Tampere's six Regular Season opponents what their thoughts are on the Finnish team - here's what they had to say!
Sparta Prague Head Coach Pavel Gross: “Facing Finnish champions Tappara at the very beginning of the season will definitely be a big challenge. We expect a very tough game and a very well-prepared opponent. I believe that the fans, who will be as excited as we are for the first game of the season, will help us.”
Dynamo Pardubice Head Coach Marek Zadina: “Tappara are one of the best hockey teams in Europe. They are the champions of the highest Finnish competition, which they have won three times in a row. They have been playing great hockey for a long time. They also won the CHL the year before, so they have plenty of experience in tough games and the knockout stage, which can be an advantage as they know the Champions Hockey League very well. Finnish hockey is excellently organized, they play at a great pace. They have great skating and skills. It will be a tough game, but a great test for our players. We are looking forward to it and I believe it will be the game that the fans should come to.”
Rouen Dragons Head Coach Fabrice Lhenry: “Tappara are one of the most successful teams in Finland, having won 20 national championships, including five titles in the last eight seasons, and just clinched the championship in 2024 again. On the European stage, Tappara regularly participate in the Champions Hockey League and have won the competition. They beat us in the Quarter-Finals once, which was our best result in the competition. The team are known for their highly structured play and their ability to develop local and international talents. Their strengths include speed in skating, quick execution, and defensive rigour.”
Färjestad Karlstad Head Coach Tomas Mitell: “Three titles in a row, and one Champions Hockey League title. That says it all really. They are a club that know how to win and are probably the hardest opponent we will face during the CHL Regular Season.”
SønderjyskE Vojens Head Coach Anders Førster: “Liiga champions three years in a row and they won the Champions Hockey League in 2022/23 and lost the CHL Final the year before. One of the absolute best teams in Europe, and a team that know how to win. It will be a great learning experience for us to play against them.”
Lausanne HC Head Coach Geoff Ward: “A highly technical team playing a controlled transition game. Several changes are to be noted, especially in attack, which makes them very unpredictable.”