It will be an all-Swedish clash of the titans in the Round of 16, as defending CHL and Swedish Champions Frölunda Indians face a tough test as they seek a fourth European Trophy. They will play last season's SHL Regular Season Winners Färjestad Karlstad. In the only game between the teams so far in the SHL, Frölunda won 5-2 on home ice.
It wasn’t the greatest start to the Champions Hockey League season for the Frölunda Indians with back-to-back losses at home to start the campaign. After that though, the reigning champions turned things around, winning four straight including two huge 9-2 victories over the Cardiff Devils to secure their place in the playoffs.
As expected, Ryan Lasch has once again been the go to guy for the three-time CHL champions. In just six Group Stage games, the CHL’s All-Time leading scorer has continued to shine as one of the best in Europe, with a staggering 14 assists, and his lone goal sees him leading the competition with 15-points.
It has been a happy return to the Champions Hockey League for Färjestad Karlstad after a two-year absence. 2018/19’s SHL Regular Season Winners have progressed to the Round of 16 and will be one of the toughest matchups for any of the Group Winners. Färjestad finished in second place in Group G, with the Swedish side left rueing a point dropped on Game Day 4 in Banská Bystrica, as they were forced to beat the Slovak side in overtime. If they had won this game in regulation, Färjestad held the tie-break over eventual Group Winners Red Bull Munich, after a 3-1 home ice victory on Game Day 6 against the German side.
Netminder Markus Svensson has been Färjestad’s star performer. In five games played, Svensson has accrued a save percentage of 95.1%, and was recently named to the Team of the Group Stage. Marcus Nilsson is the team’s Top Scorer with seven points (2+5) in six games.
"Frölunda are among the favourites to win the title in the SHL and they are the current holders of the CHL-trophy, so we face a hard task. Our rivalry will get great crowds!"Johan Pennerborn (Head Coach, Färjestad Karlstad)