Maple Bowl XXXI

Maple Bowl XXXI

Derrick Ford and I in the Velodrome

We made it! We have arrived at what we were working for as a football team, the National Championship Game which is today. We started the season 5-0 in the Vaahteraliiga (The Finnish top division) and then had two losses to the Helsinki Wolverines and the Seinajoki Crocodiles. We played very poorly in those games due to some injuries but on the other hand the Wolverines and Crocodiles played well and we were unable to respond to their challenge.

After those two losses we had a three week break during which many of our players played for the Finnish National Team in the European Championships. I held my breath hoping that our guys would come back healthy after having to play 3 games in 5 days!!! They do things differently here in Europe. Fortunately we only had one injury and that was to our kicker and punter, Kari Hytonen who pulled a calf muscle. The time off also helped our guys heal physically but the long lay off ate at me and our players as we did not have a chance to respond with winning ways and had to live with the losses for over a month.

When we came back together I challenged our players to focus once again. I talked to them about how we had started out 5-0, had an 0-2 slip and now our goal was to finish 5-0. That meant winning all three regular season games remaining and then 2 playoff games. Not only that but we needed to improve each week and get better as a team. Our players responded and after a tough victory 42-38 against the Lapeenranta Border Knights in record heat for Finland (38 degrees Celsius) we continued to improve and won our last two games 33-2 and 48-0. Having finished the season 8-2 we ended up in a three-way tie for first place with the Wolverines and Crocodiles. However due to our losses to those teams we received the third place seed in the playoffs which meant we had to travel last week to Helsinki and the Olympic Velodrome Stadium with its horrible AstroTurf surface to play the Wolverines at their home. Think of an ice skating rink on concrete and you get an idea of the footing. Regardless we came out in the game and jumped to a 28-0 halftime lead and eventually won 42-27, with the last couple of TD's coming against our junior team players primarily. I don't believe in running up the score as is the fashion here in Finland, so once the game was in hand we started subbing players in. I don't believe it is good for the game when scores are ridiculous and it does not help get young players experience when they sit all the time behind the starters.

Robert Johnson Throwing in a shootout against his brother Cedric from the Wolverines (Above)

Iiro Luoto Catching The Ball ! (left)

(Below) The top rated defense in the Maple League gathering after a series.

That game was the start of what I have termed the Butchers Revenge Tour 2010. We want to defeat every team in the country in the Maple League to leave no question that we deserve to win the Championship. Since we won our semi-final game it was then up to the Crocodiles to win their game against the Helsinki Roosters in order for us to complete our revenge. The Crocs and the Roosters played another incredibly close game but the Crocs did end up on top at home. So that has set up the game this week. Finland's Super Bowl -The Maple Bowl. The cup was donated to the SAJL (Finnish American football Federation) by the Canadian embassy many years ago and the championship game was named the Maple Bowl in honor of that partnership.

So here we are, six months after I have arrived and we are in the National Championship game. There will be events all day outside of the stadium in Super Bowl fashion in the area called the Tailgate square. Bands, high diving exhibitions, comedy groups and other events will add flavor to the day. We will not be able to partake of those activities because we have a task to finish. We are so excited to be in this game. We are like a fly on a manure pile!!We are going for a sixth consecutive national title today which would tie a record set by the Roosters in the 90's. If you are so inclined the game will be broadcast on the internet at this link http://www.sajl.fi/media/netti-tv/

On the SAJL site there are also interviews with coaches and players and a press conference from earlier in the week. I hope you will watch the game and support us as we try to pull together as a team and play with honor for Porvoo, our friends, families and fans. Thanks for your prayers and support over this season.
Kiittos.

For more information on the Maple Bowl click here:http://www.sajl.fi/sarjat/miehet/vaahteraliiga/vaahteramalja_xxxi/