The 2016–17 Group Stage Draw is now complete. Read below to see which teams will compete in the 16 groups of the Champions Hockey League Group Stage, and for reaction from some of the club representatives who were present. 

by Derek O'Brien, with contribution from Andreas Reiner

ZURICH – The 3rd annual Champions Hockey League Group Stage Draw took place on Tuesday afternoon.

The first two pots were drawn without a hitch – for the first time there were no international conflicts in the entire Draw. In the third round there were a couple of Olympic qualification conflicts – a situation unique to this season due to the Olympic qualifying tournament for national teams in early September – so Orli Znojmo and the Sheffield Steelers both had to be moved. 

Defending champions Frolunda Gothenburg were the first team drawn out of Pot 1. The first teams to try to dethrone them will be Dynamo Pardubice and Grizzlys Wolfsburg in Group A.

“We had huge problems with Ingolstadt last season. They were well-coached and really competed, so we have to be humble and really prepare for this game,” Ronnberg said at the prospect of facing an unknown German opponent – Wolfsburg – which will be making its CHL debut. 

The other team that was in the 2015–16 CHL Final, Karpat Oulu, were also grouped with Czech and German opponents.

“I'm very happy with the Draw,” said general manager Juha Junno. “We have very good teams with Vitkovice and Krefeld. We played Krefeld last year, it's a great hockey town so yes, I'm really happy.”

About his team's goals this year, he pointed out the progression he wants to see continue. “In the first year we were in the Semi-Finals, this past year in the Final, so of course we want to win the CHL. That's our target. We want to take the final step but it's not easy.” 

For the second year in a row, HK Nitra have been drawn in a group with another team from the former Czechoslovakia. Last year it was Bili Tygri Liberec, and this year it's Skoda Plzen, who are making their CHL debut.

“It could be interesting because we have some Slovaks on our team, it's not so far away for fans to travel, and of course it's always a special thing when Czech and Slovak teams face each other,” said Martin Straka, Plzen's part-owner, general manager, and former captain. 

Having spent 15 years in the NHL, Straka's team in Plzen has had a distinct international flavour the past few years, and playing international club hockey fits in well with the team's image.

“In addition to the Slovaks, we have a Canadian and a couple of American, and we have Czechs who have played abroad, so they are used to different styles of play,” Straka explained.

Plzen and Wolfsburg are two of nine nine teams making their CHL debuts in 2016–17. Other newcomers are the Rouen Dragons, HC Lugano, Orli Znojmo, Esbjerg Energy, Lorenskog IK, Comarach Cracovia, BK Mlada Boleslav and Yunost Minsk – the latter two will compete together in Group L along with the Vaxjo Lakers.

Cracovia owner Janusz Filipiak knows his team will be in tough to advance from a group that includes classic European clubs Sparta Prague and Farjestad Karlstad. Still, he's confident his team will put on a good show for Krakow's great hockey fans.

“We had 15,000 fans at the World Championship last season, and everyone commented how great the atmosphere in the arena was. If we have anything working in our favour, that's it,” he commented. “Still, we know it will be very difficult. When you talk about Sparta and Farjestad, you're talking about some of the biggest names in European hockey, as far as clubs go. Our fans will be very curious to see them and our players will be motivated and, who knows? Maybe we'll be one of those 'Cinderella' stories.”

IFK Helsinki chairman Timo Everi knows to be wary of some of these new teams, even if they're not from traditionally strong hockey countries.

“We're not very familiar with Danish Hockey but then again it's a growing hockey country so have to be aware,” he said about Danish champions Esbjerg Energy, whom his team will compete against in Group B. “We played SonderjyskE Vojens last year and really struggled at times.”

An interesting result of this year's Draw is that Red Bull Salzburg and HV71 Jonkoping will face each other for the second straight season. Salzburg won both games in 2014–15 and HV71 returned the favour last season. This season Sheffield will join them in Group P.

The CHL's Group Stage is scheduled to begin on 18 August, with games involving Swiss clubs possibly starting earlier on 16 August. The Group Stage will run through 11 September.

The Groups 

Group A: Frolunda Gothenburg (SWE), Dynamo Pardubice (CZE), Grizzlys Wolfsburg (GER).

Group B: HC Davos (SUI), Djurgarden Stockholm (SWE), Rouen Dragons (FRA).

Group C: Tappara Tampere (FIN), HC Lugano (SUI), Adler Mannheim (GER).

Group D: ZSC Lions Zurich (SUI), Lukko Rauma (FIN), ERC Ingolstadt (GER).

Group E: Karpat Oulu (FIN), Vitkovice Ostrava (CZE), Krefeld Pinguine (GER).

Group F: Red Bull Munich (GER), Fribourg-Gotteron (SUI), Orli Znojmo (AUT).

Group G: IFK Helsinki (FIN), EV Zug (SUI), Esbjerg Energy (DEN)

Group H: Bili Tygri Liberec (CZE), TPS Turku (FIN), Lorenskog IK (NOR).

Group I: Lulea Hockey (SWE), SaiPa Lappeenranta (FIN), Eisbaren Berlin (GER)

Group J: Skoda Plzen (CZE), HK Nitra (SVK), Stavanger Oilers (NOR).

Group K: JYP Jyvaskyla (FIN), Linkoping HC (SWE), Gap Rapaces (FRA).

Group L: Vaxjo Lakers (SWE), BK Mlada Boleslav (CZE), Yunost Minsk (BLR).

Group M: SC Bern (SUI), HC Kosice (SVK), Black Wings Linz (AUT).

Group N: Skelleftea AIK (SWE), Kalpa Kuopio (FIN), Vienna Capitals (AUT).

Group O: Sparta Prague (CZE), Farjestad Karlstad (SWE), Comarch Cracovia (POL)

Group P: Red Bull Salzburg (AUT), HV71 Jonkoping (SWE), Sheffield Steelers (GBR).