KeuPa vs IPK

The visitors struck inside the opening nine seconds. Arttu Lausniemi capitalised immediately, finishing from Joonas Paqvalin and Jami Virtanen to make it 1-0 before most of the 300-strong crowd had settled in Haapajärvi.

KeuPa failed to recover from the early shock. Venni Tolppola doubled IPK's lead at 16:12, tapping home from Oskari Mikkonen and Miska Hattunen to send the visitors into the first intermission with a 2-0 cushion.

The home side briefly found hope 31 seconds into the second period. Kasper Vähärautio pulled one back on the powerplay, assisted by Kalle Matikainen and Robin Keihäs, making it 1-2 at 20:31.

But IPK struck back decisively. Arttu Lausniemi bagged his second of the night at 26:16 — the game-winner — from Jami Virtanen. Then came the killer blow: Jami Virtanen scored shorthanded at 32:47 while IPK killed a bench minor for too many men, with Lausniemi and Oskari Mikkonen assisting. Arttu Paqvalin added a powerplay goal at 38:15 to make it 5-1 before the second intermission.

KeuPa refused to fold entirely. Joona Mutka redirected a feed from Eetu Heikkilä and Miro Järvenpää on the powerplay at 51:53 to cut the deficit to 5-2, but IPK's defence held firm through the final eight minutes.

IPK's shorthanded goal at 32:47 — Virtanen's strike while KeuPa held a two-skater advantage after a too-many-men penalty — deflated the home side just as they had clawed back to 1-2. What could have been a 2-2 or 2-3 game became 1-4, and the contest was effectively over.

Arttu Lausniemi (IPK) — 2 goals, 1 assist. Three points on the night, including the opener after nine seconds and the game-winner. Unquestionably the player of the match.

Jami Virtanen (IPK) — 1 goal, 2 assists. A goal and two primary helpers, including the shorthanded dagger. His chemistry with Lausniemi was the difference.

Kalle Varis (KeuPa) — 25 saves (11+6+8). The KeuPa netminder kept the scoreline respectable, facing sustained pressure and stopping 25 of 30 shots. No blame attaches to him for the defeat.

Kasper Vähärautio (KeuPa) — 1 goal (the home side's first), 2 PIM. A rare bright spot for KeuPa in an otherwise difficult evening.

Both sides finished with identical special-teams numbers — 1/3 on the powerplay (33.3%) and 6 PIM each — but the game was won in open play. IPK's four even-strength goals (including the shorthanded strike) against KeuPa's one told the story. The 25-20 shot count in KeuPa's favour reflected a team chasing the game in the second and third periods rather than sustained dominance.

This was the opening pre-season fixture for both Mestis sides ahead of the 2026–27 regular season, which begins on 11 September. KeuPa HT will face Hermes away on opening night, while IPK travel to JoKP. For KeuPa, defensive structure in the opening minutes needs immediate attention before their next friendly — at home to TUTO Hockey on 25 August. IPK will take confidence from this comprehensive performance into their pre-season meeting with KalPa on 27 August.

IPK were sharper, faster and more clinical from the first shift. KeuPa's slow start — conceding inside ten seconds — proved insurmountable against a well-drilled IPK side that punished every mistake. Pre-season results carry caveats, but the gap in match sharpness was evident.