Prague Masters overruled by Finnish Pro Stars for the third time!

13.11.2011 | Tomáš Vaculík

foto: Pavel Růžička

Finnish team full of stars didn’t find any competitors. Pro Stars built on their triumphs in 2006 and 2008. In the final they defeated Norwegian Sveiva after outright process high 10:1! Third place in the most prestigious 35+ category was gained by the most successful representatives of the Czech veteran scene - Pohodový 100D.

Star selection led by former players of Finnish national team – Tero Karppanen, Juusso Kiviharju, Lasse Riitesuo or World champion from 2008 Vesa Punkari went through the tournament with brilliant average of more then 10 scored goals per game. Tero Karppanen became the best shooter with 27 scores in eight games. His teammate Juusso Kiviharju managed 46 points for 19 goals and 27 assistances! Pro Stars goal was precisely guarded by the secretary general of International Floorball Federation IFF – Mr John Liljelund!

Only Forza Milada, with former Czech legionnaires Fuchs, Šádek, Hanzlík, Beneš or Harapát, was able to play with Finnish team and defeated them 3:2 in the group. But these players also helped in 40+ category and in the end of the tournament they run out of their energy. Quite surprisingly, they lost the semifinal game with Norwegian Sveiva and in the game for third place they were defeated by home rivals Pohodový 100D.

Surprisingly, newly opened 40+ category was represented very well. The victory in this category was also celebrated by Finnish delegates. Finnish selection KCUF led by Marko Sompa, the silver medalist from the first World Championship in Globen 1996, defeated in the final enthusiastically struggling Slovaks from Nižná. They celebrated their historical achievement by advancing to the final and confirmed that in Nižná they work very well not only with youth. Latvian Privat Bank fought out the third place and Czech floorball was without medal in this category.

Other way round, the women category was especially Czech manner. Ladies from Herbadent defended the title in the reprise of last year’s final when defeated their rivals from Ovocné Báze after equable battle. Great performance was presented by debut FA Mladá Boleslav, who finally won bronze medals. Unpopular “potatoes medals” were left for nice ladies from Norwegian GIF Fighters, who didn’t handle with the penalties lottery both in the semifinal and bronze game.

The overall recapitulation of the results, including individual awards can be found here.