“We are the Real Madrid of hockey”

Striker Anton Levtchi celebrated the championship in Tappara’s shirt last spring. After that, the winger got an NHL contract and went to the Florida Panthers team to join his friend Aleksander Barkov.

The NHL career did not open up, the 27-year-old forward had two matches in the world’s best hockey league.

On the AHL side, Levtchi played 35 games and scored 8+9=17 points in them. In February, the man left North America, returned to Tappara and is celebrating the championship again.

– This tastes good. When I started the season, I didn’t think it would end like this. When I got the chance, it became a goal.

– There is the prize that was wanted and deserved, said Levtchi, pointing to his gold medal.

Dynasty

Tappara won the Finnish championship, the CHL championship and now the second Finnish championship in less than a year. And in between also the regular season.

The team is a dynasty. Levtchi ponders the reasons.

– Of course, we have good players and good coaching. And the club management has done a damn great job that has made this possible for us. We have been at the top for a long time, ten years. Persistence can be seen in doing.

– Hats off to the office. Every year we get together a team that has a chance to win these championships, the European championships, the Tampere Cup championships and the regular season, Tappara’s own enthusiasm grew.

– We are a bit like football’s Real Madrid. Not when hockey.

Levtchi and the rest of the team were already warming up for the championship party in the Nokia-arena booth. They last for a day.

– Last year I said that there would be a long holiday. Now I’m probably saying that we should take a little longer May Day.