Hailing from France, the Rouen Dragons breathed fire through their last Champions Hockey League appearance in 2021/22 where they carved a path to the Quarter-Finals until being extinguished by Finnish side Tappara Tampere. The Dragons have been consistent performers and have won multiple national titles, including winning Ligue Magnus last year, while on the CHL front, this season will mark their fourth appearance in Europe’s top flight.  

Head Coach Fabrice Lhenry’s has a milestone-studded vision for his side: “Our team’s goals for this season in the Champions Hockey League are, firstly, to be ready at the end of August to compete with the teams we will face at home. Our second objective is to qualify for the playoffs and continue this beautiful adventure.”

With that in mind, Rouen have secured several new players for the upcoming season, bringing diversity and depth to the bench. Forwards Anthony Rech from TPS Turku, and Milan Kytnár from Slovan Bratislava join the offensive ranks while defenceman Kristaps Sotnieks was scooped up from Czech Extraliga’s Kladno. 

German contenders ERC Ingolstadt concluded their regular season as runners-up behind Red Bull Munich. Founded in 1964, Ingolstadt have a rich history, but they’ve made just three appearances in the CHL, their last one being during the 2016/17 season where they struggled to navigate through the Group Stage.  

Head Coach Mark French is acutely aware of the task ahead: “Competing with Europe’s top teams in the Champions Hockey League will be a big challenge for our team. Our goal is to play a good role within the CHL and represent our club and the DEL in a positive way.”

Keep an eye out for Wayne Simpson who has been one of the most consistent scorers in the DEL, netting 190 points in 197 games, as well as local, and team captain, Fabio Wagner who has clocked 446 DEL games.