Game Day 1 of the 2024/25 season of the Champions Hockey League will get off to a blast with a huge game lined up for opening night - Sparta Prague vs. Tappara Tampere.
This clash of heavyweights will see Sparta Prague, the most successful club from Czechia's 1,5-million capital city and one of the biggest clubs in the country, face a true giant of European hockey - Tappara Tampere from Finland.
- Tappara Tampere have won three Liiga title in a row and are the most successful club in Finnish hockey history
- Sparta Prague are the most successful club from Czechia's capital city and draw from a very large fan base
- Both have made CHL Final in past, Tappara won CHL in 2022/23
The two teams have a combined 14 past seasons on Europe's biggest club ice hockey stage and as noted, have both made the Final before. For Sparta it was the 2016/17 event where they fell to Frölunda Gothenburg in the closest of games that was decided in OT. To this day that is the only Final to have not been decided in regulation.
Tappara have actually made the Final twice - both in recent times - but only have one name on the European Trophy to show for it. After a heartbreaking 2021/22 season, they were finally crowned European Club Champions in 2022/23.
Big clubs have big-game players who decide games themselves and that's not different with these two.
“Facing Finnish champions Tappara at the very beginning of the season will be a big challenge. We expect a very tough game."Pavel Gross, Sparta Prague Head Coach
Former 2015 NHL Entry Draft second-round selection Filip Chlapík will be suiting up for his third full season with the club. Last year, the 27-year-old paced all Sparta players with 22 goals and 26 assists for 48 points in 47 games. Coming into his prime, Chlapík has demonstrated he has the skill set to dictate play and create chances whenever he's on the ice.
Also worth a watch is former Tappara D-man Valtteri Kemiläinen who ended the regular season fourth in scoring with 36 points (9G, 27A) in 50 games. Going up against his former team on Game Day 1 should provide an extra incentive to showcase his abilities to his new club.
“Sparta Prague have a very strong tradition of winning and they have a very experienced team. They will have great support from their very passionate fans in Prague.”Rikard Grönborg, Tappara Tampere Head Coach
Tappara have had to deal with a few key departures - namely star netminder Christian Heljanko and leading scorer Anton Levtchi - but their squad boasts years of CHL experience across all positions regardless. On offence, Nick Halloran demonstrated his playmaking abilities, mustering 19 goals and 24 assists in 60 games played. Halloran also shared the team lead in scoring in the CHL last season with four goals and four assists in six games.
There's no guessing why this game is our pick of the round - don't miss the action on Thursday, 3 September at 19:30 CEST!