Last week, Swiss side HC Ambrì-Piotta became the 21st team to secure qualification for the 2019/20 edition Champions Hockey League. As we move towards the conclusion of the playoffs in Europe’s elite leagues, we are closer and closer to knowing who will fill the remaining 11 places in the CHL next season.

In all likelihood, the next announced qualifier will come from France. The Ligue Magnus Finals begin on Tuesday, with Rouen Dragons battling Grenoble to become French champions for the second season in succession. Grenoble will be seeking revenge for a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Rouen in last season’s final. Both teams have previously competed in the Champions Hockey League.

The Playoff Semi-Finals are set to get underway in Switzerland and Austria. The qualifiers from Switzerland are already known, as all four teams set to compete in the Semi-Finals have already booked their place in the CHL next season, meaning Ambrì-Piotta qualified by virtue of their fifth placed regular-season finish.

In Austria, both KAC Klagenfurt and Red Bull Salzburg are in the hunt for the final Austrian qualification space. If both teams exit at the Semi-Final stage, Klagenfurt will qualify for the CHL in 2019/20, by virtue of finishing higher in the regular season table. However, if Red Bull Salzburg reach the Final, and Klagenfurt are eliminated, Salzburg gain qualification. If both KAC Klagenfurt and EC Red Bull Salzburg reach the Finals, CHL qualification is awarded to the winner.

In the Nordic countries, the Playoff Quarter-Finals are well underway. In Sweden, if Färjestad Karlstad, Luleå Hockey, Frölunda Indians or Djurgården Stockholm become Swedish champions, Skellefteå AIK will qualify. Växjö Lakers and Malmö Redhawks will only qualify if they win the playoffs. In Finland TPS Turku will qualify for the CHL in the event that Kärpät Oulu, Tappara Tampere or Lahti Pelicans win the playoffs.

In Germany, CHL qualifier Adler Mannheim became the first team to reach the Semi-Finals. If they, or Red Bull Munich win the playoffs, Ausburg Panther will gain CHL qualification. One of ERC Ingolstadt and Kölner Haie will reach the DEL Semi-Finals, with both teams only able to secure qualification by winning the playoffs. As of Monday, ERC Ingolstadt currently lead their series against Kölner Haie 3-2.

In the Czech Republic Mountfield HK will be relying on one of Bílí Tygři Liberec, Ocelaři Třinec or HC Pilsen winning the playoffs. Mountfield HK were swept by HC Kometa Brno in the Quarter-Finals, but will gain qualification if one of the three already-qualified teams wins the Czech Extraliga title.

Outside of the Founding Leagues, many national championships are drawing to their conclusions. As previously mentioned, the Ligue Magnus Final commences on Tuesday, and we know the Semi-Finalists in Belarus, Poland, Norway, Denmark, and Slovakia. The title race in the United Kingdom is going down to the wire between the Belfast Giants and twice defending champions, the Cardiff Devils. However, both teams have already secured CHL qualification; the Belfast Giants through their Continental Cup exploits.

An exciting week of hockey awaits, and we look set to welcome both returning qualifiers and new teams to the Champions Hockey League for the 2019/20 season.