Forward Lennart Petrell was a valuable member of CHL champion Luleå. Right now he is a World Championship hopeful for Team Finland, but he already knows his team does not want to give up the CHL's championship trophy.

by Vilja Päätalo

ESPOO, Finland – Lennart Petrell, 30, played for years with his hometown team IFK Helsinki and became a fan favourite. He then left first to Edmonton followed by Switzerland before joining Luleå Hockey this past season, where he became a CHL champion, and will remain there next year. 

Petrell talked to us in Espoo after a national team exhibition game against Germany. His Luleå team got eliminated from the SHL playoffs, but that isn't the first thing that comes to his mind when asked about his season. 

“We won the CHL, which was great! We did play quite well in the SHL playoffs but it wasn't enough. I got to play so much, especially towards the end of the season. It was ups and downs. You always wish everything would go well but then again, it was nice to have a bit of time off before this national team project started.”

Petrell explained that the new CHL format is loved in Sweden.

“It was the first CHL tournament ever but it was immediately clear that it was a big thing in Luleå. They are used to having success in Nordic Trophy so we immediately set off to win everything possible and did everything so ambitiously.”

Luleå's road in the CHL was a dramatic one, even before the unforgettable final game.

“We did advance quite easily from the group stage but then the challenges started. In Salzburg we were very close to elimination but somehow fought back. Then we beat Lukko and then Skellefteå in the derby of Northern Sweden and finally Frölunda in final. We beat such great teams and I think that it was a great tournament in every way.”

Petrell also revealed how the team celebrated the big win.

“The final game fit very nicely before the national team break. We had a casual dinner with the team and some fans and partners. It was a really warm-spirited event, but it wasn't like we partied for weeks or anything in the middle of the season. The guys from our team are going to Madrid next week so maybe that's where they'll party more,” he laughed.

Petrell himself won't be celebrating yet. He has joined team Finland's preparation camp for the World Championship and his goal is to play in his first World Championship.

“I have been asking people whether I'll get my secured spot on the final roster at the same time when I get my blue Team Finland gloves, but they said it doesn't work that way,” he laughed again, showing off his red Luleå hockey gloves.

“Right now it's all about team spirit and preparation, and the exhibition games are an excellent opportunity for making all the mistakes we don't want to make later. We've been training hard and now that we'll have some days off I'm really looking forward to spending some time with my kids. Then it's back to work.”

Petrell has had a long season already but he assures he doesn't feel tired – not even after all the CHL games.

“Playing a couple of extra games each month definitely didn't ruin anyone's season. And based on what I've been talking with the other players, everyone has so much respect for the CHL even if all the games weren't so popular among the spectators. We players loved those games.”

And Luleå loves the European Trophy so much that they don't plan on giving it to anyone else.

“Of course we want to win the CHL again when that time comes. We set off to win it this season and we did, and we definitely don't want to give the trophy away now!”