Kärpät Oulu open their campaign at home as they host Grenoble from France, in a game where both sides will be hopefully of a strong start to kick of their Champions Hockey League campaigns

The Finnish side enter their fifth Champions Hockey League campaign with high hopes, having enjoyed another successful league campaign, and have had a strong pre-season campaign with two wins in three games before Friday’s opening game. Kärpät boast as strong squad from top to bottom, with Slovakian goalie Patrik Rybar joining the squad this season, while the defence is led by 37-year-old captain Lasse Kukkonen. Kärpät were bolstered most recently by the news that Edmonton Oilers forward Jesse Puljujärvi has joined the squad and could add to an already potent attack.

Grenoble will be hoping to emulate the success of fellow French side Rouen Dragons last year who were able to secure a playoff berth last season, with three wins in the Group Stage to finish second in Group F, becoming the first French team to advance to the knockout rounds. After a lengthy pre-season campaign which saw the team pick up three wins out of a possible five, with French international forward Damien Fleury already off to a flying start, with five goals in the teams last two games, as he looks to add to his impressive season last year, while US born forward Denny Kearney also returns for his second season with the squad, after putting up 60-points in just 44-games last year.