Two Champions Hockey League veterans battle it out in this Game Day 1 fixture as Adler Mannheim host the Växjö Lakers. Both Mannheim and Växjö are entering their ninth CHL season with the Germans last participating in the 2023/24 campaign, while the Swedes last saw CHL action in 2024/25.  

Växjö have historically done well in Regular Season play, having advanced to the Playoffs in six of their previous eight participations. Most recently, the Swedish side made it all the way to the Quarter-Finals but were eliminated by Sparta Prague. Now, after a one-year absence, the team that even made the CHL Final in 2018, enter the competition hoping to end their recent Quarter-Finals curse.

Die Adler are another team with an impressive, albeit unsuccessful, Playoff streak on the European stage. While they have made it past the Regular Season in their past four participations, even topping the 24-team standings in 2023/24, the Germans have suffered four consecutive Round of 16 exits. In their last series, Adler were outscored by an aggregate of 7-2 by Swiss side Rapperswil-Jona Lakers. Could this be the year they finally break through?

Interestingly, this will be the first time these two sides collide despite their prolonged respective CHL histories. And with each having gotten off to a great start in their previous Game Day 1 derbies, expect a tense battle as they hope to get the momentum going from the very first puck drop.