Frolunda Gothenburg have been crowned Champions of Europe after winning the 2015–16 Champions Hockey League Final tonight in Oulu.

 Karpat Oulu 1–2 Frolunda Gothenburg

by Luke Fisher, with contributions from Derek O'Brien, Miikka Jarvenpaa and Jarkko Harjumaa

OULU – Frolunda Gothenburg, from southwestern Sweden, overcame Karpat Oulu 2–1 in northern Finland to take the title in this evening's Champions Hockey League Final in front of a sold out crowd in Karpat's Oulun Energia Areena.

“It was a tight game from start to finish,” said Frolunda defenceman Oliver Lauridsen, who was named his team’s best player of the game in a gritty defensive victory for this normally offensive-minded club. “Two highly competitive teams who came out and battled everything they had.”

An intense opening period saw both sides trade chances in the early stages, with some fast hockey on show in Oulu. The home team was the first to go on the power play when Johan Sundstrom was sent to the box for tripping early on, but Frolunda survived a man down – indeed, shorthanded they created the best chance of the two minutes with Niklas Lasu skating through but being denied by Karpat goalie Sami Aittokallio.

“I think we started fairly well, despite the negative result,” assessed Karpat coach Lauri Majamaki. “We played well. We did what we wanted. We forced a lot of turnovers in the offensive zone but couldn’t capitalize on those.”

The game changed in the space of 83 seconds towards the end of the period, which tipped things in the visitors' favour. Ryan Lasch's tip on Oscar Fantenberg's shot was enough to deceive Aittokallio to put Frolunda 1–0 ahead at 16:20, and just over a minute later Spencer Abbott tried to dig the puck out from under the Karpat netminder, only for it to deflect in off a defenceman in the crease to make it 2–0.

"That was something we talked about before the game, getting guys in front of the net, creating some traffic, and getting shots through," described Lasch, who took home the CHL's Cramo Top Scorer Award and NordicBet MVP Trophy in addition to a gold medal. "We knew it would be a tough game and we'd have to win those inside battles. That's what I was trying to do on that first one there, Fanty got the shot through and I got a piece of it."

“Well, they scored two goals. At the moment I don’t have any other explanation,” said a disappointed Simon Suoranta, searching for an explanation of how his team fell into a two-goal hole so quickly. “I think we played a good hockey game. They capitalized on their chances and we couldn’t capitalize on our own opportunities. We battled on a high level tonight though, but there’s not much you can do.”

Karpat went on an early power play at the beginning of the middle session but were again unable to generate much offense. As the period developed, Ivan Huml had a great chance for the home side but found Lars Johansson in no mood to be beaten in the Frolunda net. The visitors had the better of the final minutes of the period, but it ended goalless and Karpat having it all to do in the third.

"We talked about it before the game – we knew we were playing a good team and we'd have to keep their chances to a minimum," said Johansson, who stopped 18 of 19 Karpat shots. "Thanks to these guys, it was not that tough of a game for me, but still it feels great."

Again the Finns got an early man advantage as the third period began, but again Frolunda held out. It was only on the home side's fourth powe rplay of the game when they finally found a break through – as the penalty to Anton Axelsson ticked off, Juho Keranen's pass deflected off of stick and found a way through Johansson to half the deficit at with 12:49 to play.

“These are games of small margins,” said Frolunda’s Artturi Lehkonen. “We got a lucky bounce in Abbott’s goal and they had one in Keranen’s goal. It takes some luck and tremendous amount of work to get to the crease. You don’t get easy goals in these games.”

Karpat tried to tie the game for the rest of the period, but a combination of resolute defending and Johansson kept them at bay.

With just over a minute to play Karpat took Aittokallio out of the net for the extra attacker, but it was to no avail – Frolunda Gothenburg held on to be crowned Champions Hockey League winners!

"I'm really proud of my team now. It was a tough game, we played well defensively, and kept the lead until the end," said Frolunda coach Roger Ronnberg after the game. "I told the guys to stay calm, play with the puck, and not be too passive. I'm really happy, it would have been hard to lose a second Final!"

"Of course it was a tight game. I'm so proud of my players, team, and organisation how we played in the CHL this season. We had four PP opportunities tonight and should have done better. We played quite well over the 60 minutes, but gave up a couple of bad goals," Marjamaki concluded. "That said, I'm proud of my team. Frolunda deserved their victory, and congratulations to them."

"This feels great!" said an excited Mats Rosseli-Olsen, one of several Frolunda players who experienced last season's CHL run that wasn't quite good enough. "After last year’s loss in the Final we really wanted to win this one. We worked hard and it’s been a long time since we started, so it’s really nice to win this one."

Goals:

• 1st 16:20 - 0:1 (EQ) - Ryan Lasch (Oscar Fantenberg, Jacob Larsson)
• 1st 17:43 - 0:2 (EQ) - Spencer Abbott (Henrik Tommernes, Johan Sundstrom)
• 3rd 47:00 - 1:2 (PP1) - Juho Keranen (Simon Suoranta, Adam Masuhr)