Former Red Wings Forward Filppula Makes Hockey History

It was the old Red Wings getting the better of the future Red Wing in Wednesday’s Champions Hockey League final. Swiss club Servette Geneva edged Sweden’s Skelleftea 3-2 in the title game to determine the top club team in Europe.

In posting the victory, Servette Geneva forward Valterri Filppula was also making hockey history. He’s the last active player from Detroit’s most recent Stanley Cup winner in 2007-08. Filppula is also among 30 players who are members of the triple gold club. He’s captained Finland to gold-medal performances at the Winter Olympics and the IIHF World Hockey Championship.

Valtteri Filppula since leaving the NHL in 2021:

-Olympic gold
-WC gold (& Triple Gold membership!)
-Swiss champion
-President's Trophy, for impact on Finnish hockey
-CHL champion

Winner. pic.twitter.com/vJdlGhvycj

— the val, pwhl enthusiast🦊⚧ (@Valpix666) February 20, 2024

However, once he was hoisting the Champions Hockey League trophy aloft on Wednesday, Filppula was joining a club of which he is the only member. No player previously was showing Stanley Cup, Olympic and world titles and a Champions League crown on their hockey resumes.

“I am happy to join other big European names with my record,” Filppula told RTSsport.ch. “I was lucky to be able to play for so long and to have been part of teams capable of winning. It makes me proud.”

Filppula would dish out an assist on Sakari Manninen’s first-period power-play goal that gave Servette Geneva the lead at 2-1. In 13 CHL games, he would account for three goals and seven assists. Filppula tallied twice in the Swiss club’s semifinal win over Finland’s Lukko Rauma.

Toista kertaa
Euroopan mestarina. #CHLFinal2024 @officialGSHC @JYPJyvaskyla@championshockey pic.twitter.com/77fgNMwOSf

— hilkka olkinuora (@hilkkao) February 20, 2024

Also playing a key role in the victory for the Swiss team was goaltender Jussi Olkinuora. Earning the win, the Finnish netminder was turning aside 23 shots.

After signing with the Red Wings last season, Olkinuora spent the first half of the 2022-23 campaign with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins prior to returning to Europe.

Red Wings Prospect Sandin Pellikka Blanked

Not so fortunate on the day was 2023 Red Wings draftee Axel Sandin Pellikka. Only recently back from an upper-body injury he suffered while playing for Sweden at the IIHF World Junior Championship, defenseman Sandin Pellikka was held off the scoresheet. The 17th player chosen in last year’s NHL entry draft saw 14:21 of ice time during the contest. He had three blocked shots.