The 2023/24 CHL Draw took place yesterday setting the stage for the upcoming Champions Hockey League season!
Elite Finnish goaltender Niklas Bäckström was at the event to help CHL President Jörgen Lindgren, CHL CEO Martin Baumann and Pekka Rinne draw the teams into the Regular Season Grid as each team found out which six opponents they will face in the first phase of Europe's elite club ice hockey competition.
"The quality in the CHL is getting better each year - I'm really excited!"Niklas Bäckström
Bäckström played in three Champions Hockey League seasons during his time at Kärpät Oulu and last season's CHL Champions Tappara Tampere. Though it's been a few years since he last manned the net, the goalie still has vivid memories of those times: "It's been four years now but it was always a big challenge. The hockey is getting better each year, the game is faster. I'm really excited for this season!"
The CHL has been a proving ground for young talent over the years, what is Bäckström's view on that?
"It's challenging for the young players, facing the veteran players of the big clubs - I think it's the perfect window for the stars of the future to showcase what they have," said the 45-year-old ex-NHLer.
A big part of the CHL project is intertwining the very best European ice hockey organisations and allowing them to learn from each other on an international level.
"International games against foreign teams are huge for players and for teams, I think it's equally valuable. They can learn from each other and that's really good for hockey - the perfect match," ended Bäckström.
Watch the full interview from the 2023/24 CHL Draw below