Five years ago, Luleå Hockey orchestrated an amazing comeback in the Round of 16 against Red Bull Salzburg and then rode that wave of momentum all the way to become crowned Champions of Europe on their home ice.
As the team gets set to open up this year’s Round of 16 against SC Bern, Luleå’s two remaining players from that championship team – goaltender Joel Lassinantti and winger Karl Fabricius – took a pleasant stroll down memory lane.
After opening with a 4-2 loss on home ice, Salzburg led 4-1 after 20 minutes in the return game at home. That set the stage for what has so far been the CHL’s greatest comeback.
“That was a crazy game,” Fabricius recalled. “We came into the game after a weak performance at home in the first game. Being down after the first period left a very irritated atmosphere in the locker room and when we found out that Salzburg had already started to sell tickets for the next playoff round, it really helped us find the extra energy to show them we weren't done yet.”
“I was the backup goalie for that game and we fell behind early,” said Lassinantti. “I was asked to come in to play in the middle of the first period and from then on we got things going and managed to score a few goals, raising the team morale for the rest of the game. It all got decided on an exciting shootout.”
Following wins against Lukko Rauma of Finland in the Quarter-Finals and regional rival Skellefteå AIK in the Semi-Finals, Luleå hosted the Frölunda Indians on home ice in the first Champions Hockey League Final. The date was Tuesday, 3 February 2015 and it was a mighty cold and snowy day in the north of Sweden. However, the inside of sold-out Coop Norrbotten Arena was red hot.
“We were behind 2-0 rather early in the game and had to fight our way back,” said Fabricius. “Then in the third, we turned everything around and forced the game from then on. I remember the great feeling that I got when Dean Kukan sealed the win with his open-netter.”
Luleå scored four straight third-period goals to secure the 4-2 win, and the home fans celebrated the remaining time away.
“I especially remember the last two minutes of the game when the entire arena was standing clapping anticipating a potential CHL win on home ice,” said Lassinantti. “It was a full arena and a great atmosphere.”
“It is the biggest achievement that I have had as a professional hockey player.”Joel Lassinantti (goaltender, Luleå Hockey)
“And it was extra special that we could do it on home ice in the very first season of the Champions Hockey League,” the goalie continued.
“I rank the CHL win very high,” Fabricius agreed. “It was a great tournament for us. We struggled in the SHL and had the CHL games as a light in the darkness. The atmosphere was great in the Semi-Finals against Skellefteå and then the Final at home versus Frölunda.”
Since then, Frölunda have won three out of four CHL Finals. Luleå made it back to the Quarter-Finals the next year – where they lost to Frölunda – but were out of the competition the last two years. Most of the 2014/15 championship team has since then either retired or moved elsewhere. Kukan, who scored the empty-net goal, now plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets and Christian Jaroš, Peter Celhárik and Lucas Wallmark are also in the NHL this season. Meanwhile, Lassinantti and Fabricius are interested in another deep CHL run.
“I would say that our chances of going all the way are pretty high,” Lassinantti confidently stated. “We have a stable team, which we have shown so far in the first part of the season. On the other hand, the competition in the Champions Hockey League has grown the last couple of seasons, so it will be really tough to go all the way – even if that is what we are aiming for.”
“We have a strong team – better than when we won the CHL – so we are going for gold. However, we are facing the toughest possible opponent already in the Round of 16,” Fabricius warned. “But to be able to stand there a winner in the end we have to be able to beat every team that we face – which is something that we are convinced we have a chance to do.”