Eirik Salsten became the hero when he scored the winning goal 50 seconds into “sudden death”. Thus, Storhamar’s eighth King’s Cup is in the works. Vålerenga is still the leader in Norway with its 26 “buckets”.
The NM title probably tasted very good to Storhamar’s great veteran and captain Patrick Thoresen. He celebrated 400 games for the yellow and blue with his second NM gold, but the first proper one. As a 16-year-old, he was part of the team that won the NM gold in 2000, but during the final itself he was busy with the U18 WC.
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– That’s so nice. I have been waiting for this for so long. I’ve lost too many finals now. I’ve never been so nervous. I have had pain in my body and in my stomach. Now I have finally won in front of my family. This means a hell of a lot and I’m so proud of the guys, Thoresen told TV 2.
It was the guests from the capital who got off to the best start. The team’s top scorer Thomas Olsen made it 1-0 after three and a half minutes. It was naturally difficult to stand still in an otherwise “full barn” with over 7,100 in attendance.
Supernumerary scoring
Next to the goal, Vålerenga also had two great chances with Sander Thoresen and Martin Røymark, who both missed alone with goalkeeper Markus Stensrud.
Storhamar have been good in the outnumbered this season, and when they had the opportunity in five against four in the middle period, the equalizer set. Peter Quenneville’s shot went through the Vålerenga defender Tommi Taimi and into the goal to make it 1-1.
Another outnumbered game for Storhamar was barely over when Samuel Solem had time in the “castle” to put the puck up in the corner behind an otherwise very solid Tobias Breivold.
Late settlement
The CC amphitheater fell silent once again when the warrior Magnus Brekke Henriksen equalized to 2-2. Jakob Berglund had several good opportunities to know the net, but it was only after 55.25 that he was to succeed.
Vålerenga took the goalkeeper in the final minutes and 12 seconds before the end Christopher Bengtson managed to score the 3-3 goal. The champagne had to be chilled again. 50 seconds into extra time, victory was in the cards.
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– In my ice hockey world, it doesn’t get bigger than this. I almost blacked out when I saw the puck in the goal, said match winner Salsten.
Storhamar coach Petter Thoresen has now won 16 NM golds as a player and coach for Vålerenga, Storhamar and Stavanger.
– Absolutely magical. Again a tough and magical match. Vålerenga played a good game, but fortunately we managed to score early in extra time. It’s really hard to win together with Patrick, said coach Thoresen.
(©NTB)