Liiga side Tappara Tampere continue to prove that they are one of the strongest teams on the pan-European stage of the Champions Hockey League, making the CHL Final for a second season in a row.
The Finns secured their place in the 2022/23 CHL Final last week with a dominant Semi-Finals Return Game against Swiss challengers EV Zug, who they beat home and away, to ensure they get a second chance to fight for the European Trophy - this time hoping to lift the silverware themselves.
The 18-time Finnish champions aren't no one-season wonder. For starters, they've qualified for each and every CHL season since the competition's modern-day inaugural season of 2014/15, which is concrete proof of their table-topping performances year in, year out.
The Finnish powerhouse team have won three Liiga titles in the last seven seasons, not finishing beneath fourth position in the regular season in the process. But in the CHL they've often seen their season end prematurely.
"TAPPARA IS MADE OF STEEL!"Official motto of Tappara Tampere
Though Tappara have made it out of the Group Stage each season, between 2014 and 2020 they were consistently eliminated in the very first round of the knockout stages.
However, last season they finally broke their "Round of 16 curse", as it became known, as the Finnish club showcased calm, possessive puck play that focused on building up play rather than turnovers.
Combined with perfect goaltending and the ability to score important goals when it mattered most, it looked like they had cracked the winning formula, as their 2021/22 campaign led them all the way to the most important game of the year - the CHL Final.
But come the big night, the CHL veterans stumbled and ultimately ended up losing 2-1 to Swedish newcomers Rögle Ängelholm, failing on their first, and so far only, chance of winning CHL silverware.
Seven seasons of elite European club ice hockey, 0 trophies.
Since then, Tappara have kept their head down and focused on their strengths, perfecting their play and signing players to solidify their squad.
And that has been on full display in the CHL this season, as with only one final game remaining, the Finns are one of the best-defending teams of the entire season, boasting a mere 1.42 goals against per game. That is in large part thanks to some spectacular goaltending from Christian Heljanko in net, who's performances haven't gone unnoticed as he's been nominated for the prestigious LGT MVP Award for best player of the season.
In a few weeks' time, nearly a year since their European journey ended in heartbreak, they will once again line up for an all-or-nothing Final, but this time they are stronger, more determined, more focused and prepared to leave it all out on the ice.
They have felt what it is like to have come all this way and leave empty-handed before - now it's their time to shine.
Will we see Tappara Tampere of Finland lift the European Trophy in 2023?
Tappara will face Swedish side Luleå Hockey in the ultimate one-game CHL Final in Luleå, Sweden on 18 February 2023 at 16:20 CET.