We spoke to representatives of our three DEL participants from Germany following the CHL Draw in Zurich, Switzerland to find out what their goals were for the upcoming season, what they thought about their six Regular Season opponents and who they were most looking forward to playing.
First to speak was Marco Nowak, Team Manager of Eisbären Berlin, who revealed that they are "proud to be back again" and that after an unusual CHL Regular Season exit in 2025/26, the record holder in number of DEL championships would like to take things slowly, so aiming for the Playoffs and going from there.
"A good opportunity for us to show what we can do!"Marco Nowak, Team Manager Eisbären Berlin
Nowak noted that Berlin have a great variety of opponents set for the 2026/27 CHL Regular Season and that the away games are great for developing not just players but staff also, but one opponent stood out to Nowak especially: "I'm really looking forward to playing against Davos, I can't wait!"
Traditional participants Adler Mannheim return to the Champions Hockey League after missing two seasons and are ready to build on a string of Round of 16 exits on the European Stage. "We want to compete, we want to make it through the Regular Season and go from there," started Youri Ziffzer, Sport & Organisation Director for die Adler.
"We have a great mix of teams with different styles. I'm looking forward to facing them all!" he added, commenting on Mannheim's interesting draw featuring past CHL Finalists from Sweden, reigning Swiss champions Fribourg-Gottéron and three more strong European contenders. Does any one team in particular stand out?
"It's always fun to face Swedish teams, but facing the reigning Swiss champions will also be cool. I'm also looking forward to going to Bordeaux and facing KooKoo!" noted Ziffzer.
Kölner Haie are the club everyone are looking at heading into the 2026/27 season. The DEL side, who have huge organisational and performance leaps domestically in the last decade and boast astronomical attendance averages in their ever-packed LANXESS Arena, are back on the European club ice hockey scene for the first time since 2014/15 and ready to truly take on Europe's elite!
"We are really excited, we want to compete against the best!"Matthias Baldys, Sport Director Kölner Haie
"Travelling to Geneva and Salzburg is going to be really interesting, we will face our former coach in Tampere and facing the reigning CHL Champions is going to be amazing," highlighted Matthias Baldys, Sport Director of Kölner Haie, adding that having Danish newcomers Herning Blue Fox visit Cologne is also going to be really exciting.
Cologne as a city is ready to embrace the CHL in style: "Having the best teams come to Cologne for a true hockey party is going to be exciting for our fans and our players," pointed out Baldys.
For Kölner Haie, who are "passionate about all that's to come", there are no stand-out opponents in their draw... or are there?
"It's tough to say," responded Baldys when asked, but ultimately sided with five-time CHL Champions Frölunda Gothenburg as a team that you just have to be excited to face in 2026/27!
Be sure to return to our website for more reactions to the 2026/27 CHL Draw and other news! Also, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X to keep up to date on all the latest CHL action.