Ahead of the start of the upcoming Champions Hockey League season, we asked the Head Coaches of Brynäs IF's six Regular Season opponents what their thoughts are on the Swedish team - here's what they had to say!
Kometa Brno Head Coach Kamil Pokorný: “A quality, well-known opponent. They will be Kometa’s first opponent in this year’s Champions League and I believe that our fans will be excited after the championship season and will come to support us in large numbers.”
Mountfield HK Head Coach Tomáš Martinec: “In terms of roster strength, they’re one of the top teams in Sweden and the runners-up of the SHL. They’ve also made several notable signings over the summer, which makes them a very attractive opponent for our fans. It will be a real test against one of Europe’s elite clubs.”
KAC Klagenfurt Head Coach Kirk Furey: “Brynäs had a remarkable season, coming in from Allsvenskan to top the SHL right away is an outstanding achievement. I believe they are carrying a lot of momentum; they’ll be playing with a lot of confidence. We know the Swedish league stands for high pace and tempo, so we’ll have to play a very clever road game against them. They will act structured and disciplined in their system, so we need to be well prepared.”
ZSC Lions Zurich General Manager Sven Leuenberger: “This team is blessed with a lot of talent. Looking at the players’ names and their backgrounds, I know that we will have to play our best hockey to win. Brynäs won the 2024/25 SHL Regular Season.”
Storhamar Hamar Head Coach Petter Thoresen: “We will go into every game believing we can win. A strong belief in ourselves is important — then we’ll see if our skills are enough.”
Belfast Giants Head Coach Adam Keefe: “Brynäs are a proud club back in the CHL and they’ll be looking to make a statement. They’re physical, well-coached, and tough to break down.”