Photo: Meri Esama

The Men’s Bandy World Championship got off to a strong start today as all participating teams opened their tournaments on the first day of competition. The opening matches delivered speed, goals and, above all, a great championship atmosphere both on the ice and in the stands.

The day featured clear victories, but every team had the opportunity to test their level and gain valuable experience early in the tournament. Norway defeated the Netherlands 21–0 in their opening match, while Sweden showed their strength against Hungary with a 34–0 win. The evening concluded with the highly anticipated match between Finland and the USA, where the host nation claimed a convincing 14–1 victory.

The highlight of the day was Finland’s home opener at 7:00 PM, which attracted a large and enthusiastic crowd. Finnish fans filled the arena and created an excellent atmosphere, giving strong support to the home team. The festive mood at the venue was further enhanced by the presence of international spectators, who were already on site on the opening day to support the teams that had travelled to Finland.

Weather conditions were also ideal for outdoor bandy. The opening day was played in excellent conditions, and forecasts promise good weather to continue throughout the entire tournament.

Despite the large scorelines, the overall feeling after the matches was positive across all teams. The championship has only just begun, and plenty of exciting bandy action still lies ahead.