The Champions Hockey League’s pre-season roadshow kicked off today with the first of its six press conferences across the Founding Leagues.
In cooperation with Austria’s EBEL, the CHL and the multi-national league presented to media in Salzburg about the upcoming season.
Opening the press conference, CEO of the EBEL Christian Feichtinger said: “We’re very happy that the start of the season is here, with our three teams in the CHL starting very soon. This season is going to bring very good games for all of them.
“We hope that this season at least one of the three teams can repeat the amazing success that Salzburg had last season.”
CHL CEO Martin Baumann revealed how the past season had strengthened the league’s brand across multiple countries. "For us to have four teams in the Semi-Finals from four different countries was the best thing that could happen to the Champions Hockey League,” he explained. “It shows us that the gap between the Nordic countries and those in the rest of Europe is getting much smaller.”
Baumann continued: “Salzburg gave a great performance to go as far as they did in the competition last season. There was a great atmosphere in those games, but they also helped us to reach new highs with the viewing figures in Austria as people across the country followed their progress.”
Players from each of the three Austrian teams competing in this season’s competition then gave their own look ahead to what’s to come later this month.
Thomas Koch (Forward): “Klagenfurt is a hockey town, and everyone was so happy with our title win last season. I only have positive memories of the Champions Hockey League before in Klagenfurt when we qualified. It’s always a challenge playing the top teams in Europe, and it’s a great chance to see where you are as a team. It’s a strong group we’re in, but one where some surprises could come as well. We won’t be taking any games lightly, that’s for sure.”
Daniel Oberkofler (Forward): “We have signed some good players and are excited to get going. I have only good memories from playing in the CHL with Linz, you’re playing games against top teams and you can only take positive things out of that. We’re building now to make sure we’re in top form when the first puck drops.”
Ryan Zapolski (Goaltender): “The chance to compete for a championship, in a new league for me was exciting for me, and is why I chose to come to Vienna. I knew it was a good league because you see teams from the EBEL doing well in the CHL. It was a lot of fun when I played in the CHL before with Lukko Rauma. When you get out of the Group Stage, you then want to go as far as you can. It brought our team together that season in Rauma, and it means a lot to the clubs to compete for a ‘Champion of Europe’ title. Every team is there to win, so you need to have your best game every time you step on to the ice.”