Finland is one of the most successful ice hockey nations in the world. As a member of the “Big Six”, the country has long established itself among the sport’s elite. Yet success at the Spengler Cup proved elusive for a surprisingly long time. It was not until 2018 that KalPa Kuopio became the first Finnish team to win the tournament – and they did so in dramatic fashion.

The rise of Finnish ice hockey began in the 1990s. In 1988, Finland won its first medal at a major senior international tournament, taking silver at the Winter Olympics in Calgary. The first World Championship gold followed in 1995, when Finland defeated arch-rivals Sweden in the final in Stockholm. Since then, the “Leijonat” – the Lions – have continued to build their success on the international stage. In 2022, under successful head coach Jukka Jalonen, Finland achieved a historic double: after winning their first-ever Olympic gold in Beijing, the Lions claimed the World Championship title on home ice in Tampere just a few months later. Finland made another major statement in 2026, winning its fifth world title and adding an Olympic bronze medal.
Against this backdrop, Finland’s long wait for success at the Spengler Cup is all the more remarkable. Despite the regular participation of Finnish clubs and the national team, the ultimate prize in Davos remained out of reach. Since the final was introduced on the last day of the tournament in 1986, no Finnish team had even reached the final before 2018.

Then came KalPa Kuopio. Led by former NHL star and club co-owner Sami Kapanen, the underdogs made Spengler Cup history in 2018. In the final, the Finns faced the heavily favoured Team Canada, who had won 15 of their previous 16 tournament games. But KalPa were undaunted. With physical play, disciplined defending and hard-hitting checks, they denied the Canadians space and time to find their rhythm. Goaltender Denis Godla was particularly outstanding, proving almost impossible to beat with a save percentage of 97.5 per cent.
When Daniel Winnik finally put Team Canada ahead with a rebound in the third period, it looked as though the favourites would prevail after all. But KalPa responded immediately. Eetu Luostarinen equalised at 1–1 in the 52nd minute. Neither team managed to score in overtime, sending the final to a penalty shootout that would go down in tournament history. It took 15 attempts before Jaakko Rissanen finally delivered the decisive goal, sparking celebrations among the Finns. KalPa Kuopio had achieved what had long seemed impossible, becoming the first Finnish team to lift the Spengler Cup.

For Sami Kapanen, the triumph meant far more than a sporting achievement. Back in 1994, he had first experienced the unique atmosphere of Davos as a 21-year-old young forward with IFK Helsinki. Little did he know that 24 years later he would return as a coach and make history. “When people ask me about the Spengler Cup today, I immediately picture my arrival in Davos. The beauty of the town and the ice rink, which to me is something like a church of hockey. The atmosphere is fantastic, and Davos itself is beautiful. I love and appreciate the history of this tournament,” Kapanen recalls.
By then, the Finn was already a legend of the sport. As a player, he had won a World Championship title with the national team, several silver and bronze medals at World Championships, and two Olympic bronze medals. He had also spent 12 years in the NHL and was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015. However, his triumph with KalPa remains his only major title as a coach to date.
Success in Davos also opened new professional doors for Kapanen. He subsequently took over as head coach of HC Lugano. His spell in Ticino, however, lasted less than eight months, ending in December 2019. The following year, he sold his stake in KalPa Kuopio. But the now 53-year-old has remained in hockey. Today, he is back behind the bench in Finland’s Liiga, coaching the Lahti Pelicans.

The 2018 Spengler Cup triumph remains a special milestone – for KalPa Kuopio, for Sami Kapanen and for Finnish club hockey. After decades of waiting, the Finns had finally conquered Davos.

Text: Spengler Cup Online Editorial Team, including excerpts from this year’s tournament yearbook, due to be published at the end of November. Photo: Keystone