Ahead of the start of the upcoming Champions Hockey League season, we asked the Head Coaches of Lukko Rauma's six Regular Season opponents what their thoughts are on the Finnish team - here's what they had to say!
Lausanne HC Head Coach Geoff Ward: “They’re a very good team, used to playing at the very top. They have good skills in the offensive zone with several players who know each other. The arrival of goalie Raanta is a high for the team.”
HC Bolzano Head Coach Kurt Kleinendorst: “We know Finnish hockey is very structured, so it’ll be important to be ready both physically and tactically. We’ll need to do a good job creating chances and making them count — and in a single game, anything can happen. Bolzano have already shown in the past that it can beat a Finnish team in the CHL.”
Eisbären Berlin Head Coach Serge Aubin: “It is always competitive to play against teams from Finland. Lukko are one of the best Finnish teams and they’ve reached the CHL Semi-Finals in 2015/16 and 2023/24. They have a skilled team with lots of offensive firepower, so it will be a tough game and a great test for our players.”
Pinguins Bremerhaven Head Coach Alexander Sulzer: “The draw for the upcoming CHL season has given us a challenging but also very attractive group of opponents. With opponents such as Lukko Rauma, we will be welcoming an absolute top team from Finland to Bremerhaven – that is European ice hockey at the highest level. They stand for a very structured, physical game and will present a major challenge.
EV Zug Head Coach Michael Liniger: “Lukko Rauma features many young, up-and-coming players who bring a lot of energy and strong skating skills. They rely on a well-balanced team effort, with scoring spread across multiple lines. After a highly successful regular season, finishing in first place, they’ve proven to be a strong collective. Their game is structured, fast-paced, and played with plenty of power.”
GKS Tychy Head Coach Pekka Tirkkonen: “One of Europe’s top goalies, Antti Raanta, has returned home! A young, fast team that play with good structure. Four strong lines — they maintain a high tempo and intensity for the full 60 minutes.”