- Both teams look for early points in unpredictable group
- Redhawks determined to do better than last season
- Lots of eyes on young TPS prospect Kaapo Kaako
As the second day of competition in this years Champions Hockey League get’s underway, TPS of Finland take on the Malmo Redhawks of Sweden who are making just their second appearance in the CHL following their debut last year.
The Malmo Redhawks will get their second CHL campaign underway on home ice this year, a place they turned into a fortress last year, winning all three of their home group stage games, with their only loss at home coming in the first knockout round to Czech side Ocelari Trinec. Coming into their second CHL season, head coach Peter Andersson is entering his third year in charge of the side and will call on young captain Fredrik Handemark again to help lead the team back through the group stage. Oscar Alsenfelt was near impossible to beat in five appearances in the CHL last year and he’s back again as the starting netminder for the Redhawks, and he’ll be supported by a solid defensive unit led by the vastly experienced Jens Olsson who returns for his seventh straight season in Malmo.
Malmo were dealt a blow as last years leading scorer Rhett Rhakshani left the side for Frolunda, but they’ll be hoping some of their returning forwards can step up to fill the void.
"It's been many years since we last played TPS, they're a team with great tradition and I'm looking forward to playing them"Peter Andersson (Head Coach, Malmö Redhawks)
TPS on the other hand exited at the group stage for the first time, and they’ll be looking to get off to a strong start when they get their tournament started on the road.
It’s been a mixed run of pre-season games for TPS this summer, finishing with three wins and four losses against a few Finnish rivals, as well as last years runners up the Vaxjo Lakers.
Former NHL forward Lauri Korpikoski joins up with the side as captain in his return to Finnish hockey for the first time since 11 games for the side during the 2012 NHL Lockout, and will captain his boyhood team, following the retirement of Tomi Kallio who wore the C for the past three seasons.
A lot of attention will be paid to 17-year-old winger Kaapo Kakko who’s one of the highest ranked players ahead of next summers NHL Draft, and he’ll be looking to be a big contributor this year after a great season for the Under 20s side last year.
They’ll have to deal with the loss of netminder Oskari Setanen who left for rivals Lukko over the summer, so last years backup Rasmus Tirronen will contend with 23-year-old Henrik Haukeland for the starting duties this year.
"Malmö are going to give us a true challenge... I like the Swedish style of play"Kalle Kaskinen (Head Coach, TPS Turku)