Oilers will participate in the Floorball Champions Cup for the very first time. The team won the Finnish F-liiga and became champions after 18 years of waiting. Now the Espoo-based team is on their way to the Champions Cup quarter-finals against Swedish Cup winners Pixbo IBK.
Oilers will start their journey in the Champions Cup on the upcoming Friday when they travel to Wallenstam Arena to meet Pixbo IBK. The second match will be played in Tapiola on Saturday 31st of August. Oilers had a busy August preparing for the new season and they played friendly games against Nokian KrP (who are also debutants in the Champions Cup) and Classic. Two wins (10-7 and 9-7) against Nokian KrP and a tight 9-8 loss against Classic after penalty shots.
Justus Kainulainen is familiar from the Finnish national team and he is also the top points scorer of the Finnish F-liiga and captain of the reigning Finnish Champions. Kainulainen has played in Oilers since 2018 and has become one of the key players of the team. Last season Kainulainen scored 77 points (52 goals and 25 assists) in 33 games, making him the top points scorer of the regular season. He was also the top scorer of the play-offs with 36 points (26+10). In the end of the season Kainulainen received the MVP (Mika Kohonen) Award in the annual F-liiga. Now Kainulainen and Oilers are heading to their first ever Champions Cup.
Oilers are the reigning Finnish champions after 18 (!) years. Did you get enough time to celebrate this accomplishment and how was the off-season for your team?
— We had a great time celebrating Championship of Finland. But now we are looking forward to Champions Cup and we have trained hard and with high intensity during summer, Kainulainen comments.
What are your expectations for the Champions Cup?
— We are a new team in the Champions Cup so we’re really hungry to play there and it’s great to get to measure our game against the best floorball clubs in the world.
Thoughts about your opponent Pixbo IBK and starting your Champions Cup journey in Sweden?
— Pixbo is a great club and they have a really talented team. I’m waiting for tight games and good atmosphere there in the matches!
You’re a team captain and have experience from international matches and playing in the national team. How can you lead your team so they can show their A-game in the Champions Cup?
— We have to focus on our own game and trust that. In the international games there is more physical line than in normal league games so that’s something we need to be prepared for.
Which player(s) will make a difference in the quarter-finals and help your team continue to the semi-finals?
— There are many potential players to say here but I’ll say our teeny weeny terrier Santeri Lindfors, he has been phenomenal during summer and preseason!
Oilers in the Champions Cup quarter-finals
Friday 23rd August at 19.00 Pixbo IBK v Oilers (Wallenstam Arena)
Saturday 31st August at 14.30 Oilers v Pixbo IBK (Tapiolan Urheiluhalli)
All matches live on the IFF App!
