This is how much Luko’s opponents earn – Still, the departure came

Harri Kainulainen sank Pardubice with two hits. Lukko plays in the semi-finals of the CHL. ELMERI ELO / AOP

Luko’s place in the group of the four best club teams in Europe was secured despite the fact that the people of Rauma lost to Pardubice in Kivikylä Areena with numbers 2-3.

On Independence Day, in the first leg of the quarter-finals, Lukko beat the Czech Republic 6-4. The total score was 8-7.

Luko’s hero came unexpectedly from the fourth chain on Tuesday. Harri Kainulainen only took the first team training on Monday after his long injury.

The last time Kainulainen played was at the end of September, so there was a long lull period behind both games and proper training.

“Here we go”

Still, the net was owled in a big match and twice more.

– This is not a bad feeling, even though we lost the game. The long break was behind me and I was still able to help the team in the form of a result. At this point, there is no player who would say that the feeling is fucked up, Kainulainen told Iltalehte.

– The rust was still in the body, I felt bad. Monday was the first proper training and Tuesday morning I had stiff legs. I was worried, maybe it helped, thought Kainulainen, who played 264 league matches and scored 34 goals in them so far.

Were these the biggest goals of your career?

-I do not know. It feels good though, the paint always feels good. With these goals, we now qualified for the next round and the goalkeeper of Samuel Harvey with good saves.

Reunanen’s passports

Tarmo Reunanen assisted both of Kainulainen’s goals.

– We fought hard. It was known that there is a good opponent here, the opponent was known from previous games.

– Pardubice is a men’s team, it fights hard and goes for the goal. It was answered well. We were only in trouble when we were passive, Reunanen thought.

The lock is successful, but the CHL has also brought an additional burden in the form of games and travel.

– A couple of league games and the break comes at a good time. Of course, as a player you always want to play, but on top of that there has been quite a lot of traveling during the fall.

– I would be lying if I said that I don’t feel it in my body now. But this is our job. I’d rather play it than train, Reunanen reminds.

Warmly satisfied

Luko’s head coach Tomi Lämsä gave recognition to the team. Rauma, with a population of around 40,000, is fighting for European puck supremacy among the bigger ones.

– It was a good game. We defended patiently and that kept the result good. You rarely see such an opponent in Finland. They have movement, they play the puck to the goal and they are big. Europe’s top team, Lämsä thanked.

Half a mill dudes

Money buys good players and teams. According to information from Iltalehti, the monthly salary of Pardubice’s best-earning players can be up to 50,000 euros.

It makes an annual profit of around half a million euros, depending on whether players are paid 10 or 12 months a year in the Czech Republic.

The league teams cannot pay such salaries – not even close.

Expenses away

Thanks to Kainulainen’s goals and Tuesday’s win, Lukko will also be financially dry in the CHL.

The final stage would already bring a nice amount of money to the accounts of the people of Romania.

– You get a nice six-figure sum for winning the CHL. And the first number is not number one, reveals Luko’s CEO Jukka Kunnas.

The belly of the lock is not full.

– We are the only ones carrying the flag of Finnish teams now in the CHL. I think winning the championship is realism for Luko. The journey is over, the solver Kainulainen cheers.