Canarian Rivals Set for Historic Elite League Inline Hockey Final
The Arona Tenerife Guanches and Molina Sport are set to face off in a historic all-Canarian Elite League inline hockey final starting this Saturday.
Canarian sport reaches a historic milestone this weekend as the Arona Tenerife Guanches and Molina Sport face off in an unprecedented Elite League inline hockey final. This clash brings a fierce regional rivalry to the national stage, highlighting the contrast between the established dominance of Gran Canaria and the meteoric rise of a Tenerife team that was fighting to avoid relegation just a year ago.
The series begins this Saturday at 7:00 p.m. at the Las Galletas Pavilion. It will be a tough test for the home side, as Molina Sport enters the final undefeated, having already secured the Copa del Rey. The Guanches, led by coach Asier Gayoso, reached the final after defeating Rubí in the semifinals, bolstered by top international talent including the league’s leading scorer, Petr Skoloud, and goalkeeper Raúl Jiménez.
The series follows a home-and-away format that could stretch to a third, decisive game. After Saturday’s opener in Tenerife, the teams move to Gran Canaria for the second match on Saturday, May 23, at 7:00 p.m. If a tiebreaker is needed, the title will be decided on Sunday, May 24, at 12:00 p.m.
Tactically, the matchup is a clash of styles. Molina Sport is known for its collective strength and experience in high-stakes games, while the Guanches rely on the individual brilliance of their star players. Although coach Gayoso acknowledges his opponent’s theoretical edge, he believes the home-court advantage at Las Galletas will be vital. The club expects a record turnout, hoping the crowd will create enough pressure to help balance the scales against the historically favored Gran Canarian side. More than just a title decider, this series marks a turning point for the competitive landscape of inline hockey in the Canary Islands.