The Växjö Lakers have returned to the Champions Hockey League for the first time since the 2018/19 season, and they began this year’s campaign with a win over Sparta Prague.
Växjö failed to make it out of their group in their last appearance, so starting on the right foot was important for them to not suffer a repeat this year.
Forward Julius Nättinen made his competitive debut for Växjo in their opening game against Sparta, and it was a dream start as his goal was the difference that separated the sides and decided victory in favour of the Lakers.
“It was on a powerplay, we won the faceoff, Joel Persson gave me a good pass and I was ready to just take a shot,” Nättinen humbly explained following the game.
“That’s what I like to do, shoot right away, so I tried to do that, and it was nice that it went in.”Julius Nättinen speaks after his goal was the difference in a win over Sparta Prague
Nättinen’s goal put Växjö up 2-0 early in the second period and Olle Lycksell scored the first, with the only response from the visitors coming in the final minute of the game as Miroslav Forman denied a shutout with just six seconds remaining.
“It was a huge win for us, we spent the whole 60 minutes battling.
“I think Sparta played very well and we had some hard times, but we stuck together and defended very well, that was key today.”
With the only goal conceded coming so late on, it’s no surprise that there was a lot of praise for goalie Janis Kalnins who stopped 26 of 27 shots he faced on his CHL debut.
“I think he played an unreal game today, at some points today he kept us in the game and made some great saves.
“I think overall he’s a very good goalie so we can trust him moving forward.”
With one win under their belt, there’s not much time to rest with the Group Stage games coming thick and fast at this early stage of the competition. The Lakers only have one day of rest before they’re back in Group A action to take on Pinguins Bremerhaven of Germany, who themselves come into the game on the back of a victory over TPS Turku of Finland.
“I don’t know much about the team, but I think it’s going to be a pretty similar game. A lot of battling and a lot of speed in the game.
“I think we have to focus and play a little bit better than today, but I think we have a good chance to win when we play our own game.”