Rovaniemi Nordmen is the champion of the American football men’s II division in 2026. Nordmen defeated the Kotka Eagles 36–21 in the final played in Rovaniemi on Saturday.

The final was held at Susivoudin field, and the sunny weather, around 18–20 degrees, attracted a record crowd in Nordmen’s history. According to the club’s estimate, there were over 500 spectators, possibly nearly 600. There were no free seats left in the stands, and the game was also followed from the slopes on both sides of the stands.

The honorary guest of the match was Ruutu commentator and Tailgate Podcast host Mika Laurila, who performed the coin toss and presented the championship trophy.

– The audience was louder than ever before. Some parents even covered their children’s ears. The cheering caused several mistakes for Kotka, such as delay penalties, false starts, and other communication problems. The audience was a real game changer, says Nordmen’s chairman Rob Patterson.

A close first half kept the championship open

Nordmen got off to a quick start and surprised the visiting team Eagles, but the first half progressed evenly. The control of the match shifted back and forth, and neither team was able to take a decisive lead.

According to Patterson, Nordmen’s defensive line was overcharged at the beginning of the match and made several mistakes that kept the Kotka team in the game and offered the Eagles several opportunities to continue their drives on third downs.

Kotka had an excellent opportunity to equalize the match with half a minute left before halftime. The Eagles advanced inside Nordmen’s 15-yard line, but the loud home crowd made communication difficult for the visiting team. After a delay penalty, Kotka was unable to capitalize on their opportunity.

– At the end of the first half, the game could have gone either way, Patterson describes.

The teams went to halftime with the home team leading 22-15

The defense secured the championship

In the second half, Nordmen’s defense significantly raised its level. Although the home team’s offense was no longer able to advance as effectively and converting third downs into new sets of downs proved difficult, the defense held strong on the field.

Nordmen kept the Eagles to just six points in the second half. Kotka’s last touchdown came only after the game was decided, when the Rovaniemi team had already given responsibility to several of its substitutes.

The most valuable players of the final were chosen as Kotka’s Zacharias Karbin and Nordmen’s Juuso Herranen.

– Juuso took advantage of every open hole he found throughout the afternoon.

In Nordmen’s offense, significant successes were also seen from Alfonso Ikäheimo. However, a particularly notable story was Olli Salmela, who returned to the field after only two weeks of practice following his injury. Salmela’s wrist was broken in the Scorpions game in Kokkola in early July, but he managed to recover in time for the final and made a spectacular catch from Nordmen quarterback Jack Brillin’s throw.

The season culminated in the growth of one team

According to Patterson, the greatest strength of the championship team was the sense of community that developed during the season and the fact that different players stepped up to decide games in different weeks.

– I am really happy for the boys and incredibly proud of how well they grew together and became brothers. The team was really close both on and off the field.

Nordmen received a particularly strong boost in confidence after winning the regular season game in Kotka, according to Patterson.

– After that away victory, we honestly felt invincible. I am proud of all the players’ growth and development. I think we really showed what it means to play as a team.

Throughout the season, there were many players taking responsibility. Ville Kulmala had several three-touchdown games, Herranen emerged strongly in the running game, and Miika Virkki took on his usual responsibilities. Ikäheimo made significant individual plays, Evan Delfosse consistently recorded over ten tackles per game, Roni Laine led the secondary defense, and Antti Pokela constantly caused problems behind the opponents’ offensive lines.

Decisions for next season will come later

No decisions have yet been made regarding Nordmen’s league level for the upcoming season. The club will first assess its player situation and the impact of the basic course organized in the fall before discussing a possible promotion.

Patterson reminds that the northern team’s season also involves significant travel costs.

– Our travel budget was enormous this year. Almost every southern team complains that they have to travel to Rovaniemi once a season, but we make those trips at least four times a year.

The club’s goal, according to Patterson, is to progress and play at the level where the players want to compete. However, a possible promotion also requires securing financial resources and fundraising.

– If the players want to rise and we get a strong commitment to help the board raise the necessary funds, we will discuss the matter at the fall annual meeting and then decide where we are going.

One era ended in Susivoudi – with a high probability

The guarantor of the impressive flight of the promoted Kotka Eagles in the 2026 season was the division legend Niclas ”Nesi” Carpelan, who took on the role of head coach and celebrated a magnificent career farewell in his hometown of Kotka. However, Nesi’s retirement days were short-lived after Eagles quarterback Jukka Lautamatti was injured at the beginning of the season.

The Eagles’ retired jersey number 31 was taken out of its frame, and Carpelan returned to the field one last time to lead his team’s offense, advancing to the 16th division final of his playing career and his third Rautamalja.

The Rautamalja ended with a victory for the home team, but the Kotka players stated that they left the game with their heads held high and proud of their achieved second place in the league.

The Eagles scored all their points in the Rautamalja through passing, with touchdowns credited to Zacharias Karbin (2) and Juho Kytömäki. Two-way player Mikael Barkman caught a 2-point conversion.

52-year-old Carpelan stated after the game on social media that his playing career in American football is now truly over, and if anyone finds him on the field in uniform, they can tap him on the shoulder and ask for the keys to his BMW.

Photos: Pekka Hartikainen