Finnish challengers Lukko Rauma are back for their sixth Champions Hockey League season finishing atop the Ligga standings with an impressive 112 points. Their Game Day 1 opponents, Lausanne HC, had an equally successful campaign in the National League, compiling 97 points throughout the regular season to garner first place in their domestic domain. Neither side is a stranger to the other as Lukko and Lausanne each came away with a win against the other during the 2021/22 CHL campaign.

Lukko are among a select few of competitors over the CHL's tenure that have been able to bypass the Group Stage in each of their participations. Their last campaign saw them punch their ticket to a Semi-Final showdown against eventual Champions Genève-Servette during the 2023/24 season. Their prior participation didn't go as well, but Lukko still managed to muster an appearance in the Quarter-Finals before being narrowly ousted by the likes of Red Bull Munich by a 4-3 final aggregate score.

These impressive performances aside, Lukko will be tested once again in Europe's biggest club ice hockey competition, as each qualifier promises to put forth their best in an effort to claim the European Trophy.

Rising to this challenge is a Swiss club with a not-so-storied history, having only three past qualifications to their name. Nevertheless, Lausanne HC have shown themselves to be a capable club by dispatching some of the League's more challenging opponents during their tenure, including a 2-0 shutout over former CHL Champions Tappara Tampere in last year's iteration.

As both suit up for what is sure to be an entertaining Game Day 1 fixture, expect an impressive display of skill from both sides who topped the regular season standings in their respective leagues as they get set for another exciting campaign in the CHL!