When we talk about ice hockey in the English-speaking world, it is almost always synonymous with the NHL. The high-stakes seasons and the intense fan culture all play a part in why it is so popular, though these traits are not exclusive to the NHL. Various European ice hockey leagues often prove to be just as exciting as their North American counterparts, if not at times more. Here are three reasons to give the European leagues a chance:
1. The Skill
There is a reason the Finland and Sweden national teams play in the NHL: there is an incredible talent pool of highly-skilled players coming from Europe. Although only a select few cross over to North America, that does not mean that those left behind are not up to par. Games leave you on the edge of your seat, such as recent tussles between the Finnish Liiga’s HPK versus Ässät (5-4 in overtime) and the Czech Extraliga’s Mountfield HK versus Sparta Praha HC (4-3, and prone to a few physical altercations). When high tension meets impeccable skill, it results in some of the most exhilarating performances ice hockey has to offer.
2. The Players
NHL fans will know the names David Pastrňák and Leon Draisaitl, but they had to get their start somewhere. Europe is rife with rising stars. Young talent to look out for includes 19-year-old Finnish winger Max Westergård, who has begun this full year at Frölunda HC on an incredible note, with two goals in only the third game of the season. Already he is proving himself as a worthy prospect for the Philadelphia Flyers. Older players are still showing the rookies how it’s done: Czech national team captain and HC Dynamo Pardubice centre Roman Červenka is one of the Extraliga’s most seasoned skaters, and a key player in his club’s victory last year. Watching him play is always thrilling, and he has already secured nine assists since the start of the season, as well as two goals. This is but a snippet of some of the talent Europe has to offer.
3. The Rivalries
No sport is without its rivalries, and some of the fiercest are in ice hockey. Germany’s Kölner Haie and Düsseldorfer EG have historic contention, but since the latter now plays in the second league (DEL2), the team from Cologne has extended the Rhenish rivalry down to Adler Mannheim. Sweden’s Västderbyt (‘Western Derby’) between Färjestad BK and Frölunda HC can be traced back 80 years and is still as hot today as it was then. However, few rivalries compare to the legacy of the Tampere Derby. Finland produces some of the greatest players in the world, and many of them have passed through the ranks of clubs Tappara and Ilves, both based in the lakeland city of Tampere. It is a major part of people’s identity there, especially with the competition often being so close. The fan fervour truly brings the rivalry to life.
While the European leagues may not have the same funding or presence as the NHL, they are just as worthy of watching. Many up-and-coming players start their careers in the Liiga, the SHL, or the Extraliga, to name a few, and tracing their development through the seasons can be incredibly rewarding. Most importantly, watching these series is simply fun. Every game has action, penalty drama, and roaring fans, and promises to be exciting down to the very last second.
“Jussi Timonen KalPa” by Roquai is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
