First weekend showed that the Swedish club teams continue dominating the Northern Conference. Thorengruppen are the first team to advance to the semi-finals.
The IFF Floorball Champions Cup has returned and just like last year, we start with the Northern Conference quarterfinals, meaning the match-ups between Finnish and Swedish club teams.
Women’s Champions Cup
TPS v Thorengruppen
If the teams did not change in the Women’s competition, the matchups did. This year TPS got to meet Thorengruppen instead of Pixbo, who is playing against Classic. TPS and Thorengruppen played a double weekend in Vaasan Sähkö Areena.
Thorengruppen’s Oona and Veera Kauppi scored the first goal in this game, being a very similar one they scored in the final at The World Games. Eerika Koski equalised few minutes later but after that, it was a Thorengruppen show. By the start of the third period, the match was already 2-7 for the visitors. Maja Viström finalised her hat-trick in the third period and Veera Kauppi scored two goals and assisted three in this game. Final score 3-10 and Thorengruppen got one step closer to the semi-finals.
Second match started well for the Swedish champions as Moa Johansson and Moa Karestahl took TTG to a 2-0 lead. But TPS chose to fight. Janella Järvinen scored two fast goals to equalise the game. Karestahl got one more goal in the first period and the numbers were 3-2. TPS got a great start for the second period as first Olivia Pietilä equalised the score and then Milla Granlund took TPS to the lead for the first time during these quarterfinals. In this game, TPS could really put on a tight battle but that ended as Oona Kauppi equalised the score. TPS took a penalty that they would have not needed, Emelie Wibron made Thorengruppen return back to the lead. Veera Kauppi scored one more and the match was 6-4. Thorengruppen scored five more goals in the final period and as TPS only managed to do one more, it was a done deal. Final score 11-5 and Thorengruppen are the first team to secure their spot in the 2026 Champions Cup semi-finals.
Pixbo v Classic
Defending champions Pixbo started their journey in this Champions Cup at home in Wallenstam Arena and they got shocking news as the beginning of the game, was not really something they were expecting. Classic defender Natalia Pitkäkangas opened the score with a precise shot after she just got on the field, got the ball and ran towards the opponents’ goal. First period ended 0-1 for Classic. 44 seconds of the second period had passed when Suvi Hämäläinen added to Classic’ lead with a marvelous solo performance. The hosts did not want the match to continue like this and Mira Markström opened the score for the hosts. Emma Stenberg equalised the match on power play, and the numbers were 2-2 after the second period. Markström scored her second goal in the game in the beginning of the third period but Elli Kylmäluoma equalised few minutes later. Axina Petterson took Pixbo back to the lead with a quick shot after cruising all the way to the scoring sector and this goal started to change the shift for the advantage of the hosts. Thea Lofborg added two goals in the end and Pixbo won the match 6-3. Classic will host Pixbo on Saturday 30th August in Ideapark Bläk Boks in Lempäälä.
Men’s Champions Cup
Nokian KrP v Storvreta
Nokian KrP and Storvreta know each other well as these teams also met in last year’s quarterfinals. First match took place in AGCO Power Arena in Nokia. First period was even and both teams had their chances. Ondrej Nemecek started the scoring and took visitors in the lead, but Juuso Ahola equalised during a delayed penalty. The flow of the game was disrupted by three penalties in the second period and Nokian KrP was the team who could utilise the power play opportunity. The shot from Joonatan Kovanen found the very little space in the top corner of Storvreta goal and hosts took the lead. Less than a minute later this lead was gone as Filip Langer scored from a smooth penalty shot. Third period was dominated by Storvreta. Nemecek scored his second in the game, Filip Eriksson scored his first on power play, and Sakarias Ulriksson finished a hat-trick. Match ended 2-7 for Storvreta and re-match will be played on Sunday 31st August in IFU Arena in Uppsala.
IBF Falun v Oilers
Oilers started the scoring when one of their newest additions to the team, Jasper Auvinen, scored on power play. Daniel Kalentun made it 1-1 in the beginning of second period, thanks to two back-to-back Oilers penalties. The Finnish Champions were not put off by this and first Elias Pekari and then Auvinen with a Zorro penalty, took Oilers to a 3-1 lead. Ahmad Dakhallah made it 2-3 but second period ended in the Oilers lead. In the third period, Falun showed why they have won many Champions Cup trophies before. Emil Johansson scored on power play and Malte Lundmark made it 5-3 with two more goals. Johansson scored one empty net goal, and Oilers took a timeout at 58:50. Oilers were awarded a penalty shot 39 seconds before the end of the game and Waltteri Vesterinen, just like Auvinen before, showed off his Zorro skills. Final score 6-4 for Falun and next match is played on Saturday 30th August in Tapiolan Urheiluhalli, Espoo.
