Following our head-to-head on general team stats, this time we will focus on our Finalists’ goaltenders, as the 2022/23 Champions Hockey League Final draws near.
With a healthy diet of scoring and strong defensive play, both Luleå Hockey and Tappara Tampere have solidified themselves among the upper echelons of the CHL rankings this year in several categories. Part of the reason the clubs have enjoyed the success they have is due to their structured play; another reason is due to their backstops giving them a chance to win night in and night out.
The clubs deployed both their starting and backup goalkeepers throughout the season, but their starters - who sport near-identical numbers in a few categories - have taken center stage in several games and have been instrumental in helping their squads reach this year's Final.
Tappara’s Christian Heljanko already knows what it’s like to play in the CHL's biggest show, having suited up last year when the Finns took on Rögle Ängelholm in Sweden. His 11 games played, and more-than-likely start in the Final, put him on par with his numbers from last season, but his improved all-around play has been the crux that has helped guide his club to their second Final appearance in as many seasons.
The 182 cm 76 kg netminder boasts a 95.21 SV% to go along with a 1.27 GAA. Heljanko's four shutouts are ranked first among all goalies and the Finn currently leads netminders who’ve played in at least seven games this season in all major categories save goals against - EV Zug's Leonardo Genoni has 13 to Heljanko’s 14. The 25-year-old's 278 saves dwarf the next highest number held by his Swedish counterpart, Luleå’s Matteus Ward, who’s stopped 213 shots.
Heljanko was in net during his club’s run through the Playoffs this season where he managed to pull off three out of four wins and secured his fourth shutout of the campaign – a 2-0 decision against Zug in the First Game of their Semi-Final series. He was also in net when Tappara took down defending Champions Rögle in the Quarter-Finals, only allowing four goals on a combined 49 shots.
In the opposing net, Ward has seen similar success this season despite his inexperience. But while this is his first go-round in the CHL, the backstop has had no trouble finding his footing playing against the best on the continent.
The Swede has manned the crease in 11 decisions and has yet to lose in regulation. The 20-year-old has been the featured backstop for Luleå all year where he's racked up 617 minutes of playing time and has managed to stop 213 of 230 shots for a 92.61 SV%. His 1.66 GAA ranks third among goalkeepers who’ve played at least seven games.
In their Semi-Finals series against Frölunda Gothenburg, the 185 cm, 80 kg netminder played some of his best hockey, stopping 24 of 26 shots in the First Game and guiding his team to victory in the shootout in their Return Game after stopping a combined 34 of 37 shots in regulation and overtime.
The youngster’s poise in net has been a strength for Luleå who have not given up more than three goals in a CHL game all year, and have only done so twice – a 4-3 win over Jukurit Mikkeli on Game Day 3 and their most recent 4-3 SO victory over the former CHL Champions.
The Final will truly be the biggest stage for goalkeepers this season and it’s good to know that some of the best of the season will be on the ice for the occasion.
Tappara Tampere and Luleå Hockey will face each other in the ultimate one-game CHL Final in Luleå, Sweden on 18 February 2023 at 16:20 CET.