Several players who have competed in the Champions Hockey League this season – including a few whose teams are still in the competition – will play for their respective national teams this week at the Channel One Cup and Arosa Challenge. 

by Derek O'Brien

The Champions Hockey League semi-finals are a month away and, between now and Christmas, the domestic leagues in Europe will take a backseat to the national teams. While the world's top under-20 players, including several CHLers, are getting set for the World Junior Championships, many others who hope to play in the World Championships in the spring will be auditioning for jobs this week. 

The biggest tournament happening this week is the Channel One Cup in Russia – a storied tournament whose history dates back to when it was called the Izvestia Cup. Europe's traditional top four hockey nations will take part in it, and three teams – the Czech Republic, Finland and Sweden - will make use of several CHL players. The tournament runs from 18 to 21 December, and ChampionsHockeyLeague.net will feature interviews with CHL players.

The other major tournament taking place is Switzerland's Arosa Challenge on 19 and 20 December. The host Swiss team along with teams from Norway and Slovakia will also make use of large numbers of players who have competed in the CHL this season.

Listed below are all players in those two tournaments from teams from this year's CHL, with names of players whose teams are still alive in the competition highlighted. 

Channel One Cup

Sochi, Russia

CZECH REPUBLIC – Defence: Adam Polášek, Vladimír Eminger (both Sparta), Ondřej Vitásek (Liberec). Forward: Radek Smoleňák (TPS), Michal Birner (KalPa), Jakub Klepiš, Erik Hrňa (both Třinec), Lukáš Radil (Pardubice), Jakub Valský, Tomáš Filippi (both Liberec).

FINLAND – Defence: Anssi Salmela (Färjestad), Lasse Kukkonen (Kärpät), Mikko Mäenpää (JYP). Forward: Tuomas Kiiskinen (Växjö), Lennart Petrell (Luleå), Joonas Donskoi (Kärpät).

SWEDEN – Defence: Daniel Rahimi, Jonas Junland (both Linköping). Forward: Andreas Johnsson, Joel Lundqvist, Mattias Janmark-Nylén (all Frölunda), Calle Ridderwall (HV71), Mattias Sjögren (Linköping).

Arosa Challenge 

Arosa, Switzerland

NORWAY – Goal: Ruben Smith (Stavanger), Steffen Søberg (Vålerenga). Defence: Stefan Espeland, Daniel Sørvik (both Vålerenga), Mats Mostue Larsen, Dennis Sveum (both Stavanger), Ole-Kristian Tollefsen (Färjestad). Forward: Morten Ask, Andreas Stene (both Vålerenga), Kristian Forsberg, Tommy Kristiansen, Mathias Trettenes (all Stavanger), Mathis Olimb, Mats Rosseli Olsen (both Frölunda), Martin Røymark (Färjestad).

SLOVAKIA – Defence: Peter Čerešňák (Vítkovice), Marek Ďaloga, Juraj Mikuš (both Sparta), Dominik Graňák (Linköping), Adam Jánošík (Košice). Forward: Lukáš Cingeľ (Sparta), Vladimír Dravecký (Třinec), Adam Lapšanský (Košice), Tomáš Marcinko, Radoslav Tybor (both Pardubice). 

SWITZERLAND – Goal: Lukas Flüeler (Zurich), Stephan Tobias (Zug). Defence: Severin Blindenbacher (Zurich), Eric Blum (Bern), Robin Grossmann (Zug), Timo Helbling, Jérémie Kamerzin (both Fribourg-Gottéron), Dean Kukan (Luleå), Patrick Von Gunten (Kloten). Forwards: Cody Almond (Genève-Servette), Chris Baltisberger, Dan Fritsche, Mike Künzle, Morris Trachsler (all Zurich), Christoph Bertschy, Thomas Rüfenacht, Simon Moser (all Bern), Matthias Bieber, Denis Hollenstein (both Kloten), Lino Martschini (Zug).