Read below for more information on the Round of 32 series between SC Bern and Red Bull Salzburg. Bern won 7-4 to advance to the Round of 16.
Preview
This is one of only two Round of 32 match-ups that will be contested between two reigning national champions – SC Bern of Switzerland and Red Bull Salzburg of Austria. Bern were dominant in their group, handling their Slovakian an Austrian opponents with relative ease. However, Salzburg is certainly a step above Black Wings Linz on the EBEL totem pole, so this will be their biggest challenge yet. In the early part of their regular season, Bern have suffered some injuries to some key players, but they also have last year's CHL MVP Ryan Lasch added to their lineup, so they won't be without firepower. Firepower is also something that Salzburg is not lacking, so this should be an entertaining series – but not necessarily a high-scoring one, with Leonardo Genoni and Bernhard Starkbaum manning the nets. With several North Americans on each roster, it could be a physical one as well. Bern should definitely have an advantage with their defence and overall team depth, so they will start as slight favourites.
Closer look: SC Bern
(4-0-0-0, 12 points, 17:5, 1st in Group M)
SC Bern did not make much of an impression in either of their first two CHL seasons, but coming off a domestic title win this past spring, they were looking for more this year and, so far they've done it. They began their group play with a pair of wins in Kosice and Linz by scores of 6-3 and 3-1 to take immediate control of their group. They didn't let up once they got home, beating the same two teams 3-1 and 5-0 at PostFinance Arena. Kari Jalonen, an experienced international coach, has his charges playing a disciplined team game and it's paid off so far. Now they face a team that will test both their discipline and defensive play in Red Bull Salzburg. If they can get past the Austrian champs, they will be in the CHL's Round of 16 for the first time.
Simon
Bodenmann
2+3, +3
Top Forward & CRAMO Top Scorer: Simon Bodenmann arrived in Bern last season and was a key contributor to the team's title win with 7 points in 13 playoff games. His hot hand continued in this year's CHL group stage with 5 points, which tied him for the team lead with former NHLer Andrew Ebbett. However, Ebbett is injured and will miss the Round of 32. Bodenmann has also started the NLA season missing time due to suspension and injury, but he's expected to be in the lineup and in the Top Scorer jersey when they play in Salzburg on 4 October. Complementing the team's offensive game is the arrival of Ryan Lasch, last year's top scorer and MVP in the CHL with Frolunda Gothenburg.
Eric
Blum
2+1, +1
Top Defenceman: Swiss international Eric Blum is once again the pillar for the Bern defence. With his intelligence and magnificent overview of the game, he had his best season offensively last year with 28 points (4+24) and was one of the team's key players in the championship run. The 30-year-old was also one of the team’s best players in the CHL group stage, anchoring the team's stingy defence and chipping in a bit offensively as well. With a fit Blum in the lineup, SC Bern is much stronger.
Leonardo
Genoni
93.90 %
Top Goaltender: For 29-year-old Leonardo Genoni, this season is his first one in a Bern jersey. He came to the Swiss capital with a lot of accolades. A three-time Swiss Champion, the 2011 NLA MVP and two-time goalie of the year. With him, Bern bought some safe hands and legs in goal and he already showed his qualities in this young season. Hockey fans all over Europe saw what he is capable of last season when he backstopped HC Davos all the way to the CHL Semi-Finals. This season, Bern hopes they can get the same level of netminding from him. Genoni is the clear No. 1 in Goal in front of Joel Aebi.
Click here for team statistics.
Closer look: Red Bull Salzburg
(2-0-0-2, 6 points, 14:12, 2nd in Group P)
The perennial Austrian champs, Red Bull Salzburg are trying to make their mark in Europe. They made a big statement in their opening game this year with a big 8-1 win over the visiting Sheffield Steelers, then engaged HV71 Jonkoping in a pair of close, physical contests. It was the third year in a row the two teams had met in the CHL group stage, and they split the two games this year, with HV71 winning 5-2 in Salzburg and the Red Bulls triumphing 2-1 in Jonkoping. By winning the aggregate, however, HV71 claimed top spot in the group. With nothing at stake, they lost their last game in Sheffield, 5-2. Now the Red Bulls want to do something they've never done before – win an elimination series in the CHL. They infamously lost their Round of 16 series against Lulea Hockey two years ago after blowing a five-goal lead on aggregate, and they would love to exorcise those demons against SC Bern.
Brett
Olson
3+3, +4
Top Forward & CRAMO Top Scorer: After spending the last four seasons in the AHL, Brett Olson is now playing his first season in Europe, and he's off to a good start, showing skills as a playmaker and a sniper. The 29-year-old American centre has 6 points in three CHL games, and got into an altercation in the game against HV71, showing he doesn't shy when the going gets rough. With fellow American Bill Thomas on his wing, the pair had a big game against the Sheffield Steelers, with Thomas recording a hat-trick, and they will be dangerous for any opponents in the CHL or EBEL.
Matthias
Trattnig
0+1, +2
Top Defenceman: Veteran Matthias Trattnig is an absolute bull! He is now in his 12th season with the Red Bulls, but the former power forward continues to play the game at a high intensity. He is 96kg and 186cm of power, and nothing else. He made the transposition to a skillful defender under the former RB coach Pierre Page in 2009. In almost 500 EBEL games, he has scored more than 400 points, despite playing now more than half of that time as a defenceman. He ha won the Austrian championship with RBS six times and countless personal awards, both as forward both as defenceman. Without a doubt, the captain of this Red Bull team is a real cult figure in Salzburg.
Bernhard
Starkbaum
90.48%
Top Goaltender: Bernhard Starkbaum, age 30, has come back to Austria this season after four years playing in the Swedish Hockey League. He is not only the No. 1 in Salzburg, but he is also the starting goalkeeper for the Austrian national team, having played in five World Championships – two at the top level – and the 2014 Winter Olympics. In his first games for Red Bull Salzburg, he has shown that he is the right man to backstop this team's mostly offensive gameplan. Like most modern goalkeepers, he is a tall one at 186cm and around 90 kg.