Virtala checking ground in Pardubice ahead of Champions Hockey League

Finland moved to finals after their semifinal victory against Team Sweden, arguably one of the best and most exciting games played at this year´s tournament. „We played well as a team. Our performance was not the best for the whole time, but we had a good spell in the middle of the game. I think that was decisive,“ claims the Finnish forward.

Virtala, good skater and utility forward is about to enter his sixth season with TPS Turku this fall. Right now, he is becoming familiar with the surroundings in Pardubice which will prove useful to him very soon. TPS is part of the new Champions Hockey League and they were drawn in the same group as the team from Pardubice.

„I like the arena here very much, I have played some great games here. I always want to play where hockey is popular and many spectators come to see games. And for sure, the Czech Republic is one of those countries. I am looking forward to be back soon,“ says Virtala. „CHL is a great project, because we can meet teams from many different countries.“

The positive opinion is shared by Jan Buchtele, Sparta Praha forward, also taking part at the inline championship. „I hope it can rival the Champions League in football which is watched by millions of people across the globe,“ hopes Buchtele. His team faces Växjö of Sweden, Mannheim of Germany and Finnish team KalPa Kuopio in the group stage. „I am a little disappointed that we don´t get to play teams like Bolzano or Nottingham, but our opponents are all very attractive,“ says Buchtele.

„I really hope teams will take this competition seriously. Our goal is definitely to advance from the group stage and take part in the play-offs,“ adds the tall forward.