Ilves has dominated Tampere locals in the 2020s.
Ilves has dominated Tampere’s local games in the 2020s. Mika Kylmäniemi / AOP
Tampere’s local games are strongly dominated by Ilves.
On Friday, it was the second three-point win of the season over Tappara in as many meetings.
Last season the wins were 3–3. In the 2019–22 seasons, the tassel ears will wipe the floor with orange pants.
In the 2021–22 season, the series points went to Ilves 13–5, in the previous season 12–3 and in the 2019–20 season 12–6.
Before this, Tappara was crushing, as Ilves’ previous dominance was from the 2009–10 season.
Debuted in the Ilves league team in the 2016–17 season Joona Ikonen has experienced the steep downhill turn of the local games into a steep uphill.
– We have progressed as a team every year. Not only in Tappara games, but we are in better places in the series. Many times we have been ahead of Tapparaa in the fall, but usually it has leveled off in the spring. I hope it didn’t get evened out now, Ikonen commented.
Tappara’s fans claim that Ilves celebrate the victory of local games rather than the Finnish championship, and the axemen tend to celebrate only in the spring with the Canada Cup under their arms…
– It’s not the party of the century. Pretty much one win among others. There is no stupid pumping in the booth, Ikonen announces.
We went with these
Joona Ikonen has only played in the SM league in Ilves. Mika Kylmäniemi / AOP
– The first set was good from us on Friday, when we got to attack quite a lot. The other one was in the lower nail. We didn’t really get long attacks and lost almost every time we got the puck. Fortunately, the weaknesses were taken care of and the third set was played ok, so we got three series points.
Ikonen aptly summed up the humpa plot of Friday night. Ilves won 4–3 and Ikonen scored the game-winning hit, leaving the bag empty.
– Yes, it is a liberating feeling. Always wants to succeed and play well against Tappara. It wasn’t my best game, but luckily I got a goal, so something good happened.
The entertaining match was characterized by unstable refereeing. Lassi Heikkinen and Anssi Salonen have whistled even better matches than on Friday in the Nokia Arena.
– I guess they look a bit different from a live situation. It’s easy to judge from the video, but at least I couldn’t whistle them better myself.
Ilves, who has a strong resume, is a recent US confirmation Adam Clendening performed for the home crowd for the first time on Friday.
– He’s a gamer. A really good addition for us. He is not in a hurry at the rink. He is able to relieve pressure with small passes. There is also something to give to the attacking end and the upper hand, so I think it will be an excellent help for us for the rest of the season, Ikonen estimates.