Maple League Week 4 Preview

Season 2025 is here and after a few weeks of what I like to believe has been eager waiting, my weekly thoughts about the Maple League are back! This year I focus on preview style walkthrough of the upcoming Maple League week, highlighting some players in each team, on both sides of the ball, for you all to follow during the games.

Helsinki Wolverines (1-2) – Porvoo Butchers (2-0)

The Helsinki Wolverines open week 4 by hosting the Butchers. The Wolverines won their season opener against the league newcomer East City Giants. Since then they have lost both of their matchups, first making 0 points against the Kuopio Steelers and then losing to the Wasa Royals.

The Porvoo Butchers have had a long break, enjoying the Midsummer break first and then a bye-week. The Butchers have won both of their games this season. Week 1 matchup against the Kuopio Steelers ended 35-14 and on week 2 the Butchers wiped the tables with ECG making 61 points.

It remains to be seen if the league favorite Porvoo Butchers manages to keep up with their expectations, or will the Helsinki Wolverines surprise the Finnish football family by defeating the contender.

AFF Players to Watch:

Wolverines DB #4 Sifiso Salama

Wolverines WR #12 Cedric Johnson

Butchers DL #55 Jesse Vuoksenturja

Butchers QB #4 Christian Arrambide

Helsinki Roosters (2-1) – Tampere Saints (0-3)

The Friday night lights this week feature one of the top dogs, the Helsinki Roosters, who host the current 8 seed, the Tampere Saints. Despite holding the 3rd spot of the league while writing this, the Roosters have not been the dominators they were supposed to be this year. They have faced a little surprising loss against the Royals, and the wins they have gained against the Seinäjoki Crocodiles and Kuopio Steelers have not been as clean cuts they could have been.

The league newcomer Tampere Saints is still expecting to get their first win in Maple League this time around. The meltdown they had against the ECG last week gave proof to the league followers that they are not the stronger team of those who made it to the highest tier this year.

It would be one of the biggest upsets of the season so far if the Saints could actually beat the Roosters, but we have to wait until the Friday matchup to see if that happens, or if the Roosters get their third W of the season.

AFF Players to Watch:

Roosters LB #26 Taavi Aronpää

Roosters WR #10 Bryce Nunnelly

Saints DB #4 Turo Kanerva

Saints QB #10 Jessie Robbins JR

Kuopio Steelers (1-2) – East City Giants (1-2)

The Saturday games start with probably the most even game of the week when the Steelers host the Giants in always so sunny Kuopio. The Steelers have not been on the same level we have seen them during the earlier seasons, and they have a lot of improvements that need to be done if they wish to remain on the playoff-level. The one win they have against the Wolverines 39-0 is a big one, but it is not a lot when you consider the team they got it against.

The East City Giants have been predicted as the weakest team this year. However, their actions last week in the win against the Saints showed us that the newest Helsinki team may actually be up to something more than we have expected. Their passing offense can be dangerous and if the team adapts to the Maple League level, they may find themselves as favorites in their future matchups.

Saturday afternoon will tell us if the Steelers find their drive again or if the Giants find their stepstones to make their way up the Maple League rankings.

AFF Players to Watch:

Kuopio Steelers LB #0 Adam Callahan

Kuopio Steelers WR #20 Isaak Marshall

East City Giants DB #4 Kaspar Kallas

East City Giants WR #1 Daniel Rubinstein

Seinäjoki Crocodiles (1-1) – Wasa Royals (3-0)

Saturday evening brings us the first Botnia Bowl of the season. Seinäjoki Crocodiles face the surprising power house of the season, Wasa Royals. The Crocodiles seem to be only a shadow of the team that has attended the Maple Bowl a couple of times lately. There have been major player changes in the roster so they are in a need of rebuild and it shows.

The Wasa Royals have finally shown their potential they’ve been flashing at us for the past few years and actually appear as a Maple Bowl contender, if the 3-0 record and the first seed is any indication. Alpha Jalloh is one of the best players in the league and makes the opposing team on their toes even when the crown-heads are on defense and during the special team appearances.

Will the butter churn of Botnia Bowl find its home in Seinäjoki making the Crocs appear a little more like they used to, or in Vaasa cementing the surprising but welcome dominance of the Royals? We’ll see that on Saturday evening.

AFF Players to Watch:

Seinäjoki Crocociles DB #44 Aatu Tuokko

Seinäjoki Crocodiles QB #4 Brandon Kyles

Wasa Royals DB #8 Alpha Jalloh

Wasa Royals WR #6 Leonardo Sophoclis

Let’s see what kind of surprises the week 4 brings us! Watch the games with us online or via Ruutu, depending on where you are based, or if possible, get yourself to attend the  games physically. Football is a sport best served live! Let us know what you think about the upcoming season and don't be afraid to connect with us through our socials!

Helsinki Wolverines – Porvoo Butchers, Helsinki Velodrome, Thursday July 3rd at 6:30

Helsinki Roosters – Tampere Saints, Helsinki Velodrome, Friday July 4th at 6:30

Kuopio Steelers – East City Giants, Väinölänniemi, Kuopio, Saturday July 5th at 2:00

Seinäjoki Crocodiles – Wasa Royals, Wirokit Stadion, Seinäjoki, Saturday July 5th at 7:00