Frölunda Gothenburg Head Coach Robert Ohlsson: “Köln are always a strong competitor. It will be interesting to see if new coach Thomas Berglund will implement the playbook that made Luleå so successful.”

KAC Klagenfurt Head Coach Kirk Furey: “Köln had two strong seasons lately, making it to the DEL finals in 2025 and winning the DEL regular season last year. They found consistency on a high level, they have high expectations every season and they have an enormous fan base. We are very excited to face off against the Haie in the CHL this year!”

Herning Blue Fox Head Coach Jason O’leary: “The regular season winner of the DEL last season. A strong team in their arena!”

Red Bull Salzburg Head Coach Alan Letang: “Opening our Champions Hockey League season at home in front of our fans is a huge privilege. The message to our group is all about establishing our identity from the very 1st shift. We respect Kölner Haie for their structure and the tempo they play with, but the 1st game is about us and our execution.”

Tappara Tampere Head Coach Kari Jalonen: “Kölner Haie are a special opponent for me personally, as I had the privilege of serving as the team’s head coach for the past two seasons. It will be great to face a familiar club and I’m looking forward to an exciting game.”

Genève-Servette Head Coach Sam Hallam: “Kölner Haie are one of Germany’s most historic clubs and always enjoy fantastic support. They play in a passionate hockey environment and have built a very competitive team. We expect another high-level challenge.”