After experiencing defeat in 2014/15, Swedish powerhouse Frölunda Indians were out for revenge as they made their second appearance in the CHL Final. This time, Finnish giants Kärpät Oulu who stood in their way, and the climax of the 2015/16 season was certainly one to remember.
On their way to the Final, Frölunda gained revenge over Luleå Hockey in the Quarter-Finals before mauling Swiss side HC Davos in the Semi-Finals. Kärpät, the first Finnish club to ever reach the CHL Final, took out their compatriots Espoo Blues and Lukko Rauma on their way to the title decider.
“Karpat are a deep team just like us, with four good lines. They have won two straight championships and are Finland's best team,” Frölunda forward Ryan Lasch told the CHL website ahead of the Final.
Lasch, who would go on to be named the CHL’s Most Valuable Player in 2015/16, opened the scoring in the 17th minute against Karpat in the Final, his seventh goal in 13 games in the competition.
Frölunda doubled their advantage just 83 seconds later through Spencer Abbott, the shootout hero against Luleå in the Quarter-Finals. Lars Johansson in the Frölunda net stood tall until 47:00, when Juho Keränen finally got the Finnish side on the board, but despite a late push, the Indians would hold on for a historic victory.
Captain Joel Lundqvist lifted the European Trophy aloft for the first time after the victory. While many knew of Frölunda’s credentials, few could have imagined that Gothenburg’s finest would go on to retain the title, before winning a further two back-to-back CHL championships in 2018/19 and 2019/20.
A dynasty truly was born.