A Night of Discontent for Sport: Tappara Triumphs 7–1
In a stark display of dominance, Doug Shedden’s Sport faced a humbling defeat on Wednesday night, as they succumbed 7–1 to league giants Tappara in front of a home crowd in Vaasa.
With an attendance of 4,728, fans hoping for a thrilling evening found themselves mostly witnessing Tappara’s relentless scoring. Players Joachim Blichfeld and Benjamin Rautiainen emerged as stars of the night, each recording four goals, lighting up the scoreboard and leaving the Sport players looking somewhat flat.
“Some of the guys were sleeping,” Shedden remarked candidly. The team had enjoyed a short respite before the match, but the coach stressed that coming back requires focus and readiness. “From what I’ve seen, Tappara is one of the most talented teams in this league.”
Shedden didn’t hold back in his critique: “You can’t play against men with a boys’ mentality. You need to wear overalls and a work hat. A good team will embarrass you at home if you aren’t prepared.”
The situation was particularly challenging for Sport’s goaltender, Joni Ortio, who made his entrance as a substitute at the 50:08 mark, with the score sitting at an already daunting 1–7. When asked why Ortio hadn’t been substituted sooner, Shedden explained that the veteran goalie, returning from a brief absence, needed time on the ice to regain his rhythm.
“In the third period, I even had a player check in with him to see if he wanted to leave. Ortio said yes,” Shedden noted. “I didn’t want him to feel embarrassed; he’s a professional and I respected his decision.”
Looking ahead, Sport is slated to take on HPK in Hämeenlinna on Thursday. After that, they face Tappara again, this time at their arena in Tampere, a week later.
Shedden stepped into the coaching role just a few weeks ago, following the departure of Juice Hahl. Since his arrival, Sport has won one game and lost three, signaling the need for swift adjustments as they navigate a challenging season ahead.