The CHL and Swedish clubs met with media in Gothenburg, where the new playing format and the development of hockey clubs and players in Sweden and throughout Europe was discussed.

Press Release

GOTHENBURG – Representatives from the Champions Hockey League and Sweden's eight member clubs met with Swedish media on Monday afternoon. The main topics were the development of club hockey in Europe and how that benefits Swedish hockey, and the new playing format to take effect next season.

“It is our strong aim to develop players on highest international level and grow club ice hockey in all of Europe,” said Anders Ternbom, chairman of the Champions Hockey League, at the Swedish CHL Media Meeting in Gothenburg, where representatives of the league and all Swedish CHL clubs met with media. “To reach this goal, it is of utmost importance that so-called big hockey nations like Sweden play so-called smaller hockey nations to help them reaching the next level. But also Swedish club ice hockey profits enormously from playing in the CHL, by getting challenged by other distinguished hockey cultures. The international measurement makes everyone better.”
 
Keynote speaker Hakan Loob also highlighted the importance of the CHL regarding hockey development in his speech. The Triple Gold club member (1987 World Champion, 1989 Stanley Cup Winner, 1994 Olympic Champion), GM of Farjestad Karlstad and Founding Father of the Alliance of European Hockey Clubs is a pioneer in the matter of building a strong European club ice hockey competition.

“The Champions Hockey League not only makes teams better by accepting the international challenge, it is also an excellent platform for the individual player development. Players get only few international games per season with the national team, but with the CHL they have the chance to gain broader international experience. This results in better players and in the end in better teams.”
 
Further, coaches or GMs of all eight Swedish CHL clubs informed onstage about their goals and strategies in the ongoing Champions Hockey League competition and vowed their commitment. Six out of eight teams are already qualified for the playoffs. While the advancement of Djurgarden Stockholm to the next round seems to be only a formality, former CHL champion Lulea Hockey is facing a challenge with an all-or-nothing game against Eisbaren Berlin on Thursday.

New playing format as from 2017-18: 32 teams, qualification on sporting merits only

Ternbom also gave detailed information about the new playing format which will be introduced with the 2017-18 season, based on less teams in total and qualification on sporting merits only. “We have listened to the critics of the past two years and changed the two weak points in the design of the competition. I am convinced that the new format based on sporting qualification criteria only will add much more value to the CHL”, he said.

Read more about the new playing format HERE.