Read below for information on the Semi-Final series between the Vaxjo Lakers and Sparta Prague. Sparta won on aggregate 6-1 to advance to the Final. 

Preview

The Semi-Final between Sparta Prague and the Vaxjo Lakers matches one of Europe's most storied and famous hockey clubs against a relative newcomer. Sparta was established in 1903 and since the formation of the Czechoslovakian national league in 1937, the hockey team has played in the top tier every season except one, winning six national titles. They've also been regular competitors in the European Cup and Spengler Cup, and were runners up in the European Hockey League and European Champions Cup respectively in 2000 and 2008. The Lakers, meanwhile, were formed in 1997 and have only played in Sweden's top league since 2011. They have, however, already managed to win an SHL title, doing so in 2014-15. This is the farthest they've ever gone in a European competition. These two teams met in the CHL group stage in 2014-15, with Sparta winning both games to capture top spot. 

Both of these teams seem to have gotten stronger as the competition has progressed, showing a mix of timely scoring and steady defence. The first game is in Vaxjo, where the Lakers have been perfect in the CHL so far. Keep in mind, however, that Sparta have not lost on the road yet in the CHL, including two wins in Sweden already. 

Closer look: Vaxjo Lakers

(5-0-4-1, 19 points, 30:21)

The Vaxjo Lakers have been two different teams in the CHL this season, winning all five games at home but failing to win any away. They finished first place in Group L, but disposing of Yunost Minsk and BK Mlada Boleslav was far from an easy task for them. While offence wasn't a problem, defence was at times against opponents from supposedly inferior leagues. They beath both teams in regulation time at home but lost to both in extra time on the road – and 8 points was enough to see them through as group winners. 

After winning both group games at home but losing twice away from home, the trend continued in the Round of 32, as they opened with a 1-1 tie in Munich, then won the return game 4-3 at home. Then in the Round of 16, they lost 3-2 in Lappeenranta, before coming back to win the aggregate score in overtime at home. They opened the Quarter-Finals in Zurich with a 0-0 tie, and then after falling behind 2-0 in the first period at home, rallied to win the game and series 3-2 on Calle Rosen's late power-play goal.  

Read about Vaxjo's "Road to the Final Four" here

Robert

Rosen

4+5, +3

 

Top Forward & CRAMO Top Scorer: 29-year-old centre Robert Rosen has been a Vaxjo Laker since 2005, several years before they ascended to the SHL. As such, he is a fan favourite. As well, he is fourth in team scoring in the SHL and tied for the CHL scoring lead with Pontus Netterberg. Netterberg, 24, is new to the team and heading into this season had only played five games of elite-level hockey. He is an offensive-minded player with a great shot that makes him a natural goal scorer and definitely a player to keep an eye on, although he has struggled in the SHL so far. Other new reinforcements to the team's attack are ex-KHLer Olli Palola and ex-NHLer Dennis Everberg, who have produced well in the SHL.

Cory

Murphy

0+7, +1

 

Top Defenceman: Veteran Cory Murphy is now in his fourth season with the club and has been a solid piece on Vaxjo’s back end since he first joined. The 38-year-old Canadian played three years in the NHL, but has spent the majority of his professional career in Europe, where he has excelled. He is a defenceman with great vision and offensive instincts. That makes him capable of contributing on offence and he is a great threat from the blue line on the power play. More of a passer than a shooter, he has 7 assists in the CHL and 10 in the SHL, but only 1 goal this season in total. The Lakers have a lot of dangerous players from the back end, including Phillip Holm, Calle Rosen (no relation to Robert), and recent pick-up Nick Bailen.

Viktor

Andren

93.27 %

 

Top Goaltender: Joacim Eriksson and Viktor Andren have split duties pretty evenly all season in both the CHL and SHL. Ericsson's played a couple more games in the CHL, Andren in the CHL, but Andren's numbers are slightly better. Andren, 22, is playing his first elite-level season after two years in lower Swedish leagues, but has sparkled in the Lakers net. Ready and waiting is 26-year-old Ericsson, the former NHLer and Word Championship bronze medallist. Given the way they've spit duties so far and both performed well, it wouldn't be a surprise at all to see both appear in the Semi-Finals vs Sparta. 

Click here for team statistics.

Closer look: Sparta Prague

(4-1-3-2, 17 points, 30:17)

Sparta began the season by playing the first CHL game in Poland and spoiled the party with a 7-2 road win. Up next was Farjestad Karlstad on home ice, and the Swedish club struck twice in the third to win 2-1. In the return engagement with Cracovia, Sparta fired 65 shots on goal, but the game was tied 4-4 before a late power-play goal decided it in Sparta's favour. In their last game in Karlstad, Sparta needed a regulation win to take the group, but surrendered a last-minute equalizer. They won in overtime, but Farjestad's win over Cracovia in the last game dropped Sparta to second.

In the Round of 32 against Karpat Oulu, defence was thought to be a concern, but the team gave up only 1 goal on 37 shots over more than 120 minutes of hockey, and won the series in overtime. Then in the Round of 16, they lost 4-2 at home to HV71 Jonkoping, but rallied to win 5-0 in Sweden to take the series on aggregate. Then after opening the Quarter-Finals with a 1-1 tie in Bern, won 4-1 at home the following week to secure their spot in the Semi-Finals.

Read about Sparta's "Road to the Final Four" here

Lukas

Pech

6+5, +5

 

Top Forward & CRAMO Top Scorer: Lukas Pech leads the team offensively in the CHL with 11 points, and is tied for the lead domestically with Petr Vrana, who are both scoring at a point-per-game pace. At 33, Pech has played his entire career in the Czech Republic, and is having his finest season in years. Tomas Netik led the CHL in goals during the group stage, but due to a knee injury has missed the entire knock-out stage, as well as all but a few Extraliga contests. It's still uncertain whether he'll appear in the Semi-Finals, but nonetheless Sparta is deep with talented forwards, led by Pech, Netik, veteran captain Jaroslav Hlinka, the timely scoring of Miroslav Forman, and recent acquisition Michal Repik, who has yet to play in the CHL. 

Juraj

Mikus

3+3, +4

 

Top Defenceman: Slovak Juraj Mikus is a steady presence on the Sparta blueline, both offensively and defensively. With experience in the AHL, KHL and World Championships, the 28-year-old has been an anchor and the power-play quarterback they've needed. When in the lineup, fellow Slovak Michal Cajkovsky is a valuable asset with his big shot from the point. The team was in disarray early in the season defensively, but have gotten their act together and have been very stingy in the knock-out stage against some very strong offensive opponents, Karpat Oulu, HV71 Jonkoping and SC Bern, allowing only 7 goals in 6 games combined (and 4 of them were in 1 game). 

Tomas

Popperle

92.57 %

 

Top Goaltender: In the CHL group stage and early in the Extraliga season goaltending was an area of concern for Sparta. However, in the Round of 32 against Karpat, Tomas Popperle was spectacular, stopping 36 of 37 shots over two games. In the Extraliga, the play of himself and backup Filip Novotny has improved notably as well, probably due in large part to the overall improvement of the team's defensive game. Novotny played both games against HV71, Popperle did likewise against Bern, and both goalies have posted similar numbers in both the Extraliga and CHL. 

Click here for team statistics.