With another international break approaching, tournament play comes to the forefront, with many CHL players participating on various fronts for their national teams and club teams in international events. Read below for more details.
CHL News
During the four-week gap between the Champions Hockey League's Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals, international hockey mostly comes to the forefront.
First is a general break from club hockey, starting now and running through the next week, in which most of Europe's top national teams come together for a couple of four-team tournaments – the annual Channel One Cup in Moscow, which also includes one game in Prague, Czech Republic, and the Arosa Challenge in Arosa, Switzerland.
At the same time, junior national teams from around the world are getting ready for the IIHF World Junior Championships, with the elite-level tournament being held in Helsinki, Finland from 26 December until 5 January. As well, the championships for Divisions I (Groups A and B) and II (Group A) are currently underway in Vienna, Austria, Megeve, France and Elektrenai, Lithuania.
Players who have participated in this year's Champions Hockey League will represent their national teams at all of these events, and one club will be in action as a whole in a prestigious international event – of course, that is HC Davos, who host the annual Spengler Cup at their home Vaillant Arena. This year's event, which runs from 26 to 31 December, will also feature reigning German champions Adler Mannheim, who are a CHL founding member.
Below is a list of players from this season's CHL who are playing in the Channel One Cup and Arosa Challenge. CHL players at the World Junior Championship will be added once those rosters are finalized. Players whose teams are still active in the CHL are shown in boldface.
CHANNEL ONE CUP – Moscow, Russia and Prague, Czech Republic
CZECH REPUBLIC – Defence: Radim Šimek (Liberec), Milan Doudera (Třinec). Forward: Milan Gulaš (Färjestad), Jan Buchtele (Sparta), Jakub Valský (Liberec).
FINLAND – Defence: Mikko Kousa (Bern), Janne Niskala (Lukko), Markus Nutivaara (Kärpät), Joonas Järvinen (IFK Helsinki). Forward: Tuomas Kiiskinen (Växjö), Artturi Lehkonen (Frölunda), Tomi Sallinen (Djurgården), Jani Lajunen, Kristian Kuusela (both Tappara), Joonas Nättinen (JYP), Toni Koivisto (Lukko), Mika Niemi (Kärpät).
SWEDEN – Markus Svensson (Skellefteå). Defence: Daniel Rahimi, Jonas Junland (both Linköping), Magnus Nygrén (Färjestad). Forward: Dick Axelsson (Davos), Robert Rosén, Richard Gynge (both Växjö), Johan Sundström (Frölunda), Patrik Zackrisson, John Norman (both Skelleftea), Marcus Sörensen (Djurgården).
AROSA CHALLENGE – Arosa, Switzerland
NORWAY – Goal: Lars Haugen (Färjestad). Defence: Alexander Bonsaksen (Tappara), Jonas Holøs, Ole-Kristian Tollefsen (both Färjestad), Mats Larsen Mostue, Dennis Sveum (both Stavanger). Tommy Kristiansen, Mathias Trettenes, Petter Røste Fossen (all Stavanger), Mats Rosseli Olsen (Frölunda), Martin Røymark (Färjestad), Patrick Thoresen (Djurgården).
SLOVAKIA – Goal: Marcel Melicherčík (Košice), Michal Valent (Nitra). Defence: Michal Čajkovský (Sparta), Peter Čerešňák (Vítkovice), Eduard Šedivý (Košice). Forward: Martin Bakoš (Liberec), Marek Bartánus (Košice), Peter Cehlárik (Luleå), Andrej Kudrna (Sparta), Martin Réway (Fribourg).
SWITZERLAND – Goal: Leonardo Genoni (Davos). Defence: Severin Blindenbacher (ZSC Lions), Eric Blum (Bern), Félicien Du Bois (Davos), Robin Grossmann, Dominik Schlumpf (both Zug), Romain Loeffel (Genève), Patrick Von Gunten (Kloten). Forward: Andres Ambuehl, Gregory Sciaroni, Samuel Walser (all Davos), Lino Martschini, Reto Suri (Zug), Simon Moser (Bern), Kevin Romy (Genève), Morris Trachsler (ZSC Lions).