They came, they saw, they conquered. A day that will be remembered as probably the greatest in the history of Pixbo IBK as the club from Mölnlycke, Sweden lifted the Women’s and Men’s Champions Cup trophies. The Women beat Thorengruppen 3-0 and celebrated their second ever Champions Cup title. The Men triumphed in their final 9-6 over hosts Florbal MB in Mladá Boleslav to clinch a historic Champions Cup double.
Thorengruppen v Pixbo
Thorengruppen hosted the final in a crowded Nolia Arena and met their well-known opponents Pixbo, once again in the final. The teams met also last year in the Champions Cup final and back then Thorengruppen were better 4-3. This time, it was a different game and also a different start compared to the other Champions Cup final. Mira Markström, whose name has been on everyone’s lips lately, started the scoring for Pixbo when Emma Stenberg gave a crafty bouncy pass from a free-hit. Markström got enough space for her blade in front of the goal, and did not miss that chance. First period ended 1-0 for Pixbo.
The teams did not celebrate with goals in the second period at all and the match stayed fairly even. Both goalkeepers, Lara Heini at Pixbo’s end and Lovisa Hedin guarding the Thorengruppen goal were kept busy but they both took amazing saves and kept their own team in the game.
Second goal of the match was only scored in the third period, at 46:33. This time it was Isabelle Gerig who added to Pixbo’s lead. Although Thorengruppen had many chances, their shots did not quite hit the target and it was a rare sight to see the team in green a bit nervous. First penalty was called in the third period and Pixbo got on power play, which gave them a chance to increase their lead. This did not happen but they got one more goal when Thorengruppen were looking for their first goal and played without a goalkeeper. Ellen Lundin got an assist from Markström and secured the 3-0 win for Pixbo and their second ever Champions Cup title.
Players of the Game
Thorengruppen – Maja Viström
Pixbo IBK – Lara Heini
Florbal MB v Pixbo
With one of the biggest matches in their history hosts Florbal MB decided to raise the stakes by hosting in the 4200 capacity Ško-Energo Aréna, home of top division Ice Hockey side BK Mladá Boleslav. The stadium was sold out with a raucous atmosphere bouncing off the walls from the moment play began.
However that atmosphere was quickly cooled off with a lightning strike by Oskar Weissbach as the Pixbo captain set the tone early on. In a preview of what was to come the goals started to fly in. Martin Feigl & Dominik Benes pushed back for Florbal MB and after some more physical play, appeals for penalties and further goals a frantic first period ended 4-3 to Pixbo.
Less goals and more penalties was the tale of the 2nd period as both teams looked to impose themselves on one another. The Danish referee pair of Steffen Leholk & Tobias Pauli Schmidt were kept busy with 3 penalties given out alone in the 2nd period. More back and forth action continued on the field of play as bolstered by a loud home crowd, Mladá Boleslav started to pick up more pace and led the match at 5-4 with over 30 minutes gone. The man who had basically got Pixbo here to the final with 2 Overtime goals in the previous 2 rounds however suddenly showed why you can never forget about Gustav Fritzell when it comes to Floorball. The #81 forward struck on the powerplay and after 40 minutes it was all tied up at 5. That Fritzell goal was just a taste of what was to come in the third…
With momentum on their side Pixbo showed their talent with Weissbach and Fritzell connecting a further 2 times to put the Swedish side up with only 13 minutes to go. The dynamic duo for Pixbo providing so much quality and strength on both sides of the field as their defensive talents came into play alongside Swedish national team goalkeeper Jon Hedlund. Weathering the Florbal MB storm late on Weissbach managed to slot home two empty net goals to put the cherry on the previable perfect day cake for Pixbo capping off a historic double Champions Cup trophy lifting day as they followed what the Women did earlier on.
Players of the Game
Florbal MB – Milan Tomasik, 2G, 1A, 3 points
Pixbo IBK – Oskar Weissbach, 4G, 4A, 8 points
