Gallery | Home teams won the opening games of the hockey semifinals
The Estonian men's ice hockey semifinals kicked off with home teams Narva PSK and Kohtla-Järve SK Viru Sputnik winning their opening games with significant viewer attendance.
The Estonian men's ice hockey playoffs are currently underway, featuring semifinal series where the home teams, Narva PSK and Kohtla-Järve SK Viru Sputnik, lead their best-of-three matchups. In these opening games, more than 1300 spectators gathered to enjoy the matches, underscoring the popularity of ice hockey in the region. In contrast, a nearby football match held in a newly completed venue was played without fans due to safety concerns, highlighting a disparity in the sporting events occurring simultaneously in the area.
In the first match, Narva PSK, who topped the main tournament standings, faced off against Kohtla-Järve HC Everest, the team that finished fourth. Narva PSK demonstrated a commanding performance, winning the match decisively with a score of 7-2. The standout player for Narva was Nikita Kirillov, who contributed significantly with two goals and two assists, while the losing team struggled to make an impact on the scoreboard, with no player registering more than a single point in the statistics.
Concurrently, the match held in Kohtla-Järve saw the second-placed Kohtla-Järve SK Viru Sputnik going up against the reigning champions, Tartu Välk 494. Kohtla-Järve secured a strong victory with a score of 5-2, adding to their momentum in the playoffs. These results not only showcase the competitive nature of the tournament but also engage the local fan base, as both matches were well-attended compared to other sports events occurring in the region.