Two fresh faces are set to battle it out in this fixture as Finnish side KooKoo Kouvola visit Danish opponents Herning Blue Fox. Kookoo gained entry into the 2026/27 Champions Hockey League season after finishing regular season runners-up in Liiga, while the team from central Denmark find themselves in their first CHL season after lifting their 17th national title this past April.

Kookoo's second-place finish in Liiga was their best since they ended the 2019/2020 season in fifth. The Finns' domestic performance between those five seasons, however, was nothing to write home about. Their advancement to the Liiga final this season makes their recent turnaround all the more noteworthy considering that, just a season ago, they placed sixth in league standings. Now the club will have a chance to showcase their brand of hockey to audiences across Europe.

Herning, on the other hand, have been playing stellar hockey these last few seasons in Denmark's Metal Ligaen -  finding themselves on the cusp of a national title in 2022/23 and then falling short in the 2023/24 semi-final - before finally becoming national champions this past season. As they prepare for their first-ever CHL contest, Head Coach Garth Murray believes the Danes are "ready to compete at this level."

With both clubs entering their debut CHL season, look for a high-paced game as each side looks to prove their skills against the rest of Europe's elite.