Tappara Tampere are a Finnish club that was founded in 1932 as TBK (Tammerfors Bollklubb). Between 1953 and 1955 they won three championships in a row. After these titles, the club decided to change its Swedish name to the Finnish Tappara Tampere, which it has used ever since.
During the 1970s, Tappara revolutionised hockey coaching methods and founded a very successful youth academy with alumni such as Teppo Numminen, Pekka Marjamäki, Janne Ojanen, Ville Nieminen, Timo Jutila, or Aleksander Barkov.
After another three titles between 1986 and 1988, Tappara had to wait 12 years before winning Liiga again in 2000. They have won the league four more times since - in 2003, 2016, 2017 and most recently in 2022. In recent years Tappara also surpassed local rivals Ilves as Finnish record champions with a total of 18 national titles.
Tappara are a regular CHL participant, having never missed a season in the pan-European competition since 2014/15. They had a spell of first Playoff round knockouts between 2015-20, before going all the way to the Final in 2021/22, where they faced SHL side Rögle Ängelholm but lost 1-2.
In 2022/23, the Finnish team ended a spectacular season with their first title of European Club Champions, as they beat Luleå Hockey 3-2. As the reigning CHL Champions, they are automatically qualified for the upcoming CHL season.
"Tappara is made of steel!"Official motto of Tappara Tampere
Quick Facts
- Have qualified for every CHL season since 2014/15
- 2023 CHL Champions
- Two-time CHL Finalists
CHL Record
Season | Stage |
2014/15 | Round of 16 |
2015/16 | Round of 16 |
2016/17 | Round of 32 |
2017/18 | Round of 16 |
2018/19 | Round of 16 |
2019/20 | Round of 16 |
2021/22 | Final |
2022/23 | Champions |