EV Zug launched their Champions Hockey League campaign with two commanding road wins. They edged Lulea Hockey in overtime on Game Day 1, then dismantled Grenoble 5–1 on Game Day 2. Every line contributed, and the Swiss squad - now in their 9th CHL season - looks razor-sharp. Despite a brief absence from Europe’s top flight, Zug went all the way to the Semi-Finals during their 2022/23 campaign.

ERC Ingolstadt, making their 5th CHL appearance, stumbled early with back-to-back home losses at the Saturn Arena. The Finnish visitors came in swinging: Ilves Tampere struck first with a 3–1 win, followed by KalPa Kuopio with a 4–1 takedown. Despite outshooting both opponents, the Germans couldn’t convert.

26-year-old Canadian forward Austen Keating leads Ingolstadt with two assists across two games. The team led by Head Coach Mark French will need to sharpen their attack and tighten up defensively in their next clash against Zug if they hope to stay in the hunt. During their 2023/24 CHL campaign, the German side made it into the Round of 16, and no doubt will want to better that result. 

Meanwhile, Zug are firing on all cylinders and will have their sights set high. Grégory Hofmann and Dominik Kubalík have already scored a combined six points (2G, 4A) after two games - the Swiss machine is humming and they’re just getting started.