A new contract will keep Oulu-born winger Mika Pyorala in Karpat until 2019. He spoke about the team's upcoming Liiga and CHL games in the next few days. As well, Atte Pentikäinen is will stay with the club after a successful try-out.
by Miikka Jarvenpaa
OULU – It would be an understatement to say that Karpat Oulu have started superbly in Champions Hockey League, having surrendered in total only one goal in their first five games. Their Finnish Liiga record, while not dominant, is also decent. Karpat are currently sixth in the Liiga with 15 points after eight games, but only one point out of second in a very tight race. This Saturday they face one of their main Liiga rivals – IFK Helsinki. Then on Tuesday, 6 October, Karpat host Dusseldorfer EG in the second leg of the Champions Hockey League Round of 32. They enter the game with a two-goal aggregate lead after winning the first game 2–0 in Germany.
Mika Pyorala is known for playing equally well both offensively and defensively. He plays big minutes on special teams and is part of the foundation that the Karpat squad is built on. The 25-year-old winger is one of a core group of players who have born in northern Finland and started playing for the club at a very young age along with the likes of Lasse Kukkonen and Esa Pirnes. These Oulu-born veterans are extremely important for Karpat, their fans, the coaching staff and the younger generation of northern Finnish hockey talent such as Sebastian Aho and Jesse Puljujarvi.
Pyorala has already won five domestic championships with Karpat, a World Championship with Finland in 2011 and a European Trophy with Lulea Hockey in 2012. He is currently Karpat's Cramo Top Scorer with 5 points (3 + 2) in five CHL games, including 1 assist in the first game in Dusseldorf.
Mika, you signed just recently a three-year extension with your hometown club. Was it an easy decision?
“Yeah, it was pretty easy. I wanted to make a deal, as did the club as well, so we reached an agreement quickly.”
Karpat have had a variety of performances during the young Liiga season so far – a win from Assat most recently. You’re facing IFK next and after that it’s time for another CHL playoff game. How would you describe your team’s and your own play recently?
“I think my play has been in line with that of the whole team. The quality has varied a bit within the games, but in the last one we dug out a good win by playing solid defence. (Tonight) we are facing a tough team. They are a bit more physical, more skilled and more mobile than the last team. If we can maintain our quality on defence and play tightly, we have a great chance to win.”
Then you face Dusseldorf on Tuesday. You played them in Germany and won 2–0, which is consistent with your performance in the European competition so far. What kind of a team DEG is and what can the home crowd expect from the game against them?
“It’s a different kind of team than those in our domestic league. They like to put on a lot of pressure and use a quick transition. They have a lot of foreign guys from North America who bring more physicality to their game. In that sense we have to be a bit sturdier when playing against them. That will be emphasized in that game.”
How does it feel to play playoff games in the autumn? Does it feel any different than normal?
“Haha, I don’t think so, since only now it’s the first time that we are facing a team for the second time and there’s a chance to advance to the next round. So no, it hasn’t felt that different to play.”
Karpat have also come to agreement with strong stay-at-home defenceman Atte Pentikainen, who joined Karpat on a try-out contract this autumn. Pentikainen is secured to stay in Oulu for the rest of the season.