The Champions Hockey League debuts in the Belarusian capital as Yuost Minsk host BK Mlada Boleslav to kick off Group L.

Regular contenders in the Belarusian Extraliga, Yunost Minsk have won seven national titles in the last 13 years and have played in the league finals three years running. They now take their game to the international stage where they've also had success in the past, winning the Continental Cup in 2007 and 2011. Last season's Belarusian representatives, Neman Grodno, were competitive and nearly advanced out of the group, so don't expect Yunost to be pushovers in Group L.

BK Mlada Boleslav are also first-time competitors in the CHL. They don't have a lot of experience at the top level of Czech hockey but had their best season ever in 2015-16, reaching the Extraliga semi-finals. David Vyborny, the team's recently-retired captain and newly-appointed head coach said, “We are delighted that we can participate. In Mlada Boleslav this is a big step. We hope that we can once again have a good season in the Extraliga so we get in there next year.”