Nokian KrP flew over to Uppsala to take on Storvreta in Game 2 of their 2025 Champions Cup Quarter-Final knowing a draw was enough, and a draw was exactly the result they got, with a 5-5 score line sending the side from the town of Nokia through to the Semi-Finals of the 2025 Champions Cup.
After a strong performance in Game 1 in Nokia, the team from the town famous for Mobile Phones flew over to reigning Swedish Champions Storvreta in Uppsala not far from capital of Sweden, Stockholm. Storvreta outshot Nokian in Game 1 and it was a super close battle throughout the 60 minutes, with the slight edge in the end going to the home side ending in a 6-5 win. Storvreta knew they had a battle and again Game 2 was a repeat of Game 1 with a physical, tight contest and both sides gaining momentum at different stages of the match. The first 20 minutes however were relatively uneventful, despite Mans Parsjo in the Storvreta net being the busier of the 2 goalkeepers with 10 saves which helped Storvreta set up the early lead when just under a minute to go in the first period Filip Eriksson scored, capitalising on a bouncing ball to drift in the center and snipe it top corner from close range. The goals started to come thick and fast in the 2nd period when only 47 seconds into the action captain of Nokian Joona Rantala finished down low from an exquisite pass across the field by Nico Jonaeson. Rantala was leading by example throughout both matches and again was crucial in this contest with a hat-trick of goals helping his Nokian side to the draw and ultimately qualification. Rantala also scored on the Powerplay to mark Nokians first lead of the game with 3 goals to 2 at 37 minutes of the match. Before the 2nd period could end however Storvreta equalised through their star boy and captain Gabriel Kohonen, son of legendary Floorball player and now current Storvreta head coach Mika Kohonen. Kohonen’s shot was a hard driven sweeper shot that found its way through a mass of bodies into the back of net and make things all square after 40 minutes.
However all square was exactly what Nokian would want, forcing Storvreta to go back on the offensive after the 2nd intermission to regain the lead and keep their Champions Cup 2025 chances alive. This however left the Swedish side vulnerable at the back on which Nokian KrP capitalised on with two goals, including a powerplay effort by captain Rantala to push them up to a 5-3 lead. Needing 3 goals in just over 5 minutes was a big task for Storvreta and despite making it back level, there simply wasn’t enough time on the clock as Nokian KrP held on to claim a huge draw and ultimately book their ticket to the next stage of the 2025 Champions Cup. Again it was disappointment for Storvreta in this competition after falling to rivals Falun in the Semi-Finals last year. The 4 time Champions Cup trophy winners haven’t’ won since 2020, and will hope to be back for revenge next season, by either winning the Swedish Cup or Swedish Playoffs.
Highlights of Game 2 between Storvreta and Nokian KrP can be found on the IFF App
