“Our powerplay is exceptional”

Last season’s Champions Hockey League Finalists Tappara Tampere have had the perfect start to their 2022/23 campaign, winning their first two Group Stage games, defeating both the Rapperswil-Jona Lakers and Slovan Bratislava. Forward Waltteri Merelä is understandably happy with their results so far.

“I feel good about our first games,” started Merelä, “they were high-paced matches – especially with Rapperswil!"

"Slovan are also a tough group, so we need to be happy with six points from these two games. These CHL games have been very intense.”

We still have the core of players from last year Waltteri Merelä, Tappara Tampere

Tappara spent some extra time abroad before their first away games of the 2022/23 season. The team tested this successfully last season and have stuck to it this time around as well.

“We started our journey on Sunday and spent four days having a training camp and dinner stuff in Czechia before the CHL games,” explained Merelä, “then we moved to Bratislava. We did this same style in Germany last year and it works for us.”

“We get our thing going, making sure hotels and everything else are spot on for us. It makes things easier for us,” added Merelä.

Last season ended in heartbreak for the Finns as they lost the CHL Final (Photo: LUDVIG THUNMAN)

Tappara won the Finnish championship and were the runners-up in the CHL last season. The team are once again on the right track, according to Merelä.

“Our game is good. We still have the core of players left from last year’s team and most guys know how we operate. Guys like Maxim Matushkin and Valtteri Kemiläinen have worked with our coaching staff before, so the basics are all covered.”

Tappara have had a lot of success in Liiga in recent years and have proved they know how to win and handle games.

“We have worked on our game a lot and we have a good groove,” explained Merelä, “last season we perfected how we play somewhere around March, so we cannot know yet how good it will become as the season goes on.”

Waltteri Merelä playing in the CHL last season (Photo: Mika Kylmaniemi

These days ice hockey games are often decided by the special teams. Tappara has a powerplay unit that will be turning quite a few heads on the ice and in the stands.

“Our powerplay is exceptional compared to previous seasons,” pointed out Merelä, “in my powerplay unit there are four elite guys – Kemiläinen is a blueline specialist, Niko Ojamäki was on the top of KHL’s scoring board last season, Jori Lehterä has been an elite playmaker in Europe for 15 years and Veli-Matti Savinainen can make amazing screens in front of the net. It is very pleasing to play in that kind of group and learn from guys like that.”

Tappara will play their first competitive game in front of their home crowd since they secured the Finnish championship title this spring as they prepare to welcome Slovan and Rapperswil to the Nokia Arena this week.

“We have such a great arena for us and our fans. Top notch. What I have heard is that we should get a good number of fans in the stands this weekend,” ended Merelä.