We've asked representatives from the clubs a few questions relating to their club competing in the CHL in 2014/15. We've arranged the answers into 11 articles, one for each group. It's now time for Group I, which features Red Bull Salzburg, the Kloten Flyers, JYP Jyväskylä and HV71 Jönköping. This is one of the harder groups to pick, as evidenced when they were asked to pick who was the strongest, and all four teams have aspirations of advancing out of the group.
What do you think of the group you've been drawn into?
Ruper Zamorsky (marketing manager, Red Bull Salzburg): "We are quite happy with our group. We have teams from Switzerland, Finland and Sweden, so all are strong hockey nations."
André Rötheli (general manager, Kloten Flyers): "It is time first time for us, we're really happy with the teams we got and we're looking foward to getting started."
Kari Tyni (CEO, JYP Jyväskylä): "We're very happy with the draw because we've got very interesting teams in our group, like Salzburg, Kloten and HV71. It's a very hard group, but there are interesting names for Finnish hockey fans and I'm very happy with it."
Johan Hult (general manager, HV71 Jönköping): "It´s an really interesting group with teams with many skilled players and experience from international hockey."
Which team in your group do you think will be the most difficult for you?
Zamorsky (RBS): "We want to win the group, but it's difficult to say who our main rival is going to be. All three opponents are strong and it's almost impossible to say one is stronger than another."
Rötheli (KLO): "It’s hard to pick out the best opponent. Every team in every group really is a top-level professional team. Every game will be tough."
Tyni (JYP): "It's difficult to say. We've already played HV71 in the European Trophy and all four games were very tight. Salzburg is always interesting and we've played against the Vienna Capitals, so we know that Austrians play different hockey, but it's not easy. They have good teams with many North American players. We respect all the opponents."
Hult (HVJ): "Both Salzburg and Koten went to the finals in their national league and JYP where really good last year when we played them, so it´s hard to say. I think it is four good teames in the group."
What does competing in the Champions Hockey League mean to your club?
Zamorsky (RBS): "The league itself is a perfect brand and these are really the best teams from all over Europe, which was not the case in previous years."
Rötheli (KLO): "It's a new challenge for us and for the players, who can now compete against so many other European teams. It is really important for every player to play well in front of European audiences, and I think we will take it very seriously."
Tyni (JYP): "The competition means a lot to us because we won the European Trophy last year. It's a big deal for us and it's also a part of our strategy to be involved in European club hockey. We've got our hearts in it, and we also have an A-licence, which is great because we can plan these games ahead.”
Hult (HVJ): "It's an honour to be a part of this tournament. We believe in this collaboration between the leading hockey nations in Europe."
How far do you expect your team to advance in the competition?
Zamorsky (RBS): "As a club, we want to win the CHL."
Rötheli (KLO): "You want to win all the time. First we have to check the first round, those six games. It starts really early so we'll see how it goes. I think everybody wants to win, every athlete wants to win, but we are focusing on the first six games."
Tyni (JYP): "Our goal is always to win, it has to be. I also think it will help us get ready for the Liiga season."
Lengwiler (EVZ): "HV71 always aim for the gold medal."
Click here to compare basic information about these four clubs.