According to Kalevi Numminen, TBK’s men’s ice hockey championship gold medals from 1953–55 still belong to the active club, even though Tappara, founded in 1955, continued TBK’s activities in a way.
On Saturday, Kalevi Numminen visited the Leijonien legends lunch at Tampere-talo. Jussi Saarinen
– TBK has its own championships and after them Tappara was founded. It’s quite clear.
So says the Tappara legend Kalevi Numminenin honor of which the Tampere club has frozen game number 2.
TBK or Tammerfors Bollklubb won three men’s Finnish ice hockey championships in 1953–55. Tappara was founded in 1955 in a way to continue TBK’s men’s representative team activities.
– Almost all the players moved from TBK to Tappara. They are different clubs, but with the same spirit, says Numminen, 83, who made his debut in Tappara’s representative team in the 1957–58 season.
The pennants telling about TBK’s championships were for a long time on the roof of the Hakametsä ice rink under the Tappara logo, until at the turn of the 90s TBK got its own championship pennants.
– Tappara opposed it, so the matter was twisted tightly. In the end, the people of Tappara understood why TBK wanted their own pennants on the roof of the hall. TBK became active in the matter when the club, which was very active in the 80s and 90s, wanted to respect and emphasize its roots, TBK’s chairman Matti Ahlstedt said in Iltalehti’s story in 2016.
A journalist from Tampere who wrote histories about Tappara Matti Wacklin and the then chairman of the Ice Hockey Museum Kimmo Leinonen stated in the same story that TBK’s championships should not be counted as Tappara’s championships.
In 2016, the then communications manager of the SM League wrote in his email: “Tappara’s championships separately, TBK’s separately”.
With the 2022–23 Finnish championship, Tappara has 16 gold medals and TBK has three.
– It’s quite clear that it’s something like this, Nummine’s line was interviewed at the legendary Leijoni players’ lunch at Tampere-talo on Saturday.
Jog a day
The championship pennants of Tappara and TBK photographed on the roof of the Hakametsä ice hall in 2016. Mika Kanerva
The bog is still in good condition.
– You can tell your age in everyday work, but it’s good when you get going, he says.
A man who lives in the Tammela district of Tampere goes for a walk every day.
– Every time a 6–7 kilometer run, usually alone. It keeps in shape.
About 15 years ago, Numminen had a heart operation.
– The cardiologist said no pills “Kallu”, but an hour of exercise a day. I have followed that and the pump has been quite good.
Numminen’s playing career ended in 1969. In the 70s, 80s and 90s, he worked in Tappara as head coach and CEO, among other things.
– I still follow hockey quite closely on TV, in the press and on site. The Nokia Arena is a 10-15 minute walk from the house. I’ve been to watch a couple of games in the World Cup so far.
Numni has three children and four grandchildren.
TBK goalkeeper Gösta Wangel photographed in the late 1940s. Ice Hockey Museum