Ahead of the start of the upcoming Champions Hockey League season, we asked the Head Coaches of Ilves Tampere's six Regular Season opponents what their thoughts are on the Finnish team - here's what they had to say!
ERC Ingolstadt Head Coach Mark French: “To play our CHL season-opener against one of the most consistent teams of the Finnish league in the past years will be a good challenge for us. Ilves have been among the top three in the regular season for four straight years and have a lot of high-quality players in their roster. We are excited to compete against them and I’m sure there will be a great atmosphere in our arena.”
Belfast Giants Head Coach Adam Keefe: “Ilves bring a mix of youth and experience, and they’re very dangerous in the offensive zone. Their puck movement is elite, especially on the power play.”
Red Bull Salzburg Head Coach Manny Viveiros: “Whenever you play against a team from Finland you are in for a strong test. Always a powerhouse in Europe, this Finnish team will bring the best out of us. We look forward to playing in front of the passionate Finnish fans on the road!”
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. Ilves play quick, high-tempo hockey.”
Kometa Brno Head Coach Kamil Pokorný: “A traditional Finnish club and multiple league champions. Both teams have several players on their roster who have been on both sides. This will make the duel between them spicier and more interesting for the fans.”
ZSC Lions Zurich General Manager Sven Leuenberger: “I remember this team from last season—a very talented, young squad. We managed to win the last encounter in our favor. To repeat that, we’ll need to deliver a very strong away game.”