LIVESTREAM Finland: Helsinki Wolverines @ Porvoo Butchers, July 25. 17:30 CET (5:30 pm, 1:30 pm EDT)
The defending champion Porvoo Butchers (5-3) will play host to the Helsinki Wolverines (1-7), Thursday, July 25 as the Finnish Maple League heads into the last month of the regular season.
These two teams faced each other earlier in the season with the Butchers whipping Helsinki 63-0.
Porvoo sits in fourth place in the standings.
The Butchers enter this game on a four-game winning streak including a solid 24-8 win two weeks ago over the league-leading Kuopio Steelers and a 65-6 win over the Crusaders.
Porvoo stumbled right out of the gate however, dropping two in a row, losing 34-16 to the Seinäjoki Crocodiles and then 28-7 to the Helsinki Roosters. They finally rebounded beating the Wasa Royals, pounding them 50-13 but then lost to the Steelers 21-7. They finally found their offense whipping the Crusaders 46-0 and the Wolverines 63-0 before the win against the Steelers.
Watch live. Helsinki Wolverines @ Porvoo Butchers, July 25. 17:30 CET (5:30 pm, 1:30 pm EDT)
The Wolverines were beaten 46-6 by the Kuopio Steelers to open the season and then 37-14 by the Crocodiles. After the lopsided loss to the Roosters they lost 41-27 to the Wasa Royals and then were blanked 63-0 by the Porvoo Butchers. They finally won their first game defeating the United Newland Crusaders 41-39 two weeks ago. Last week, they fell again to the Royals, this time by a score of 42-28.
Butchers quarterback veteran Brandon Gwinner has thrown for 1,696 yards and 19 touchdowns in the eight games with his favorite target being Mikko Seppänen who has 34 catches for 433 yards and five touchdowns while Luukas Eerola has caught 25 passes for 522 yards and eight touchdowns. Micky Kyei is the leading rusher for Porvoo with 79 carries for 418 yards and five touchdowns.
For the Wolverines, quarterback Rasmus Laalo has struggled completing 108 of 217 passes for 1,139 yards and eight touchdowns in the seven games he has played but he has been picked off a league high 15 times. His key target has been Kevin Adams who has 46 catches for 644 yards and three touchdowns. Niko Kantonen had 19 receptions for 158 yards and a score. Running back William Young leads the team in rushing with 277 yards on 55 carries while backup Sebastian Lugora has 119 yards rushing.
The Wolverines are battling for pride in this one while Porvoo needs to finish at least second to have home field advantage in the playoffs.
Watch live. Helsinki Wolverines @ Porvoo Butchers, July 25. 17:30 CET (5:30 pm, 1:30 pm EDT)
