2014-2015 Champions Hockey League

[Jussi]

They actually wanted to take part, CHL owner teams and KHL couldnt come up with an agreement, apparently partly because Jokerit was not allowed to participate, among other things. Personally I think that KHL wanted a bigger role in the ownership and more power in the decision making than what was proposed (apparently not much), but this is just guessing since both parties have been rather vague in commentating the all the reasons behind the decission.

They'll continue negotiations in January. I'm guessing it'll be Slovan and Riga the CHL clubs want in (travel reason, good fans)who I'm sure would not mind the extra influx of cash the tournament could bring in.

 

[torero]

Very interesting idea. Will be even better if there is a Club World Cup between the top NHL team and the CL winner.

Their was no world cup ... yet the champs met .... and the European team won 1-0.

It was Zurich lions.

The year after, they stopped every thing.

And the probability of the ET becoming interesting wasnished (In Switzerland).
This tournament became again a way of preparing to the championship and ... when games would take place during championship period, send only the 2 and 3rd tier players, making sure the good ones would not be injured in a meaningless game.

sad

We could do something much better in Europe.

 

[Den]

Their was no world cup ... yet the champs met .... and the European team won 1-0.

2:1

But in all honesty both Victoria Cups were just a pre-season tourny for the NA teams.

 

[QnebO]

, making sure the good ones would not be injured in a meaningless game.

sad

We could do something much better in Europe.

This is why I'm against these euro"leagues". They don't do it well, I don't want to watch meaningless bs. They should aim to make a league like european version of NHL, otherwise it makes no sense. These tournaments are only good for preseason games.

 

[Jussi]

This is why I'm against these euro"leagues". They don't do it well, I don't want to watch meaningless bs. They should aim to make a league like european version of NHL, otherwise it makes no sense. These tournaments are only good for preseason games.

Except this isn't a pre-season tournament. Only one round is played before the start of national leagues in September.

 

[PuckOut]

This will be interesting.

I think it's a good start and I hope it can settle and build up interest through hockey Europe.

http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=8771&cHash=edc98ad1d70a4b7f796e5437784ca741

 

[Jussi]

Baskets for the draw: http://www.championshockeyleague.net/news/ready-for-the-draw-how-are-the-teams-ranked/7/

 

[GermanNuck]

Actually i'm pretty excited about the CHL, but i don't like that there are teams that will always have a spot in this tournament because they're founders.
i mean i get it, they invested time and probably some money, but it should all be about results imho.

but it is a first step, and an important one for european hockey i think.


Now i'm just hoping that my Kölner Haie won't end up in some kind of horror group.

 

[Jussi]

Actually i'm pretty excited about the CHL, but i don't like that there are teams that will always have a spot in this tournament because they're founders.
i mean i get it, they invested time and probably some money, but it should all be about results imho.

but it is a first step, and an important one for european hockey i think.


Now i'm just hoping that my Kölner Haie won't end up in some kind of horror group.

It's only the first 3 or 4 years.

 

[AlanHUK]

Actually i'm pretty excited about the CHL, but i don't like that there are teams that will always have a spot in this tournament because they're founders.
i mean i get it, they invested time and probably some money, but it should all be about results imho.

but it is a first step, and an important one for european hockey i think.


Now i'm just hoping that my Kölner Haie won't end up in some kind of horror group.

I'm hoping my Panthers do end up in a horror group, I want to see them with the hardest possible draw.

 

[Exarz]

I'm hoping my Panthers do end up in a horror group, I want to see them with the hardest possible draw.

Skellefteå
Lukko
Bern
Nottingham

 

[Eye of Ra]

Sweden is dominating this tournament.

3 of 4 teams last 2 years in final, have been from Sweden.

A proof that SHL is the second strongest league in Europe.

 

[tony d]

Very interesting to see this happening. Hopefully 1 of the 5 TSN channels will pick this up.

 

[SurMartin]

Sweden is dominating this tournament.

3 of 4 teams last 2 years in final, have been from Sweden.

A proof that SHL is the second strongest league in Europe.

Or that they take it the most seriously.

 

[NicoSB]

Sweden is dominating this tournament.

3 of 4 teams last 2 years in final, have been from Sweden.

A proof that SHL is the second strongest league in Europe.

European Challenge has never been a serious tournament. Lots of young players and stars not playing.
The last more or less serious tournament was won by a Swiss team, followed by two Russian and a Finnish team.
However, we'll see who will dominate. I don't think that there will be an overly strong country.

 

[JJTT]

European Challenge has never been a serious tournament. Lots of young players and stars not playing.
The last more or less serious tournament was won by a Swiss team, followed by two Russian and a Finnish team.
However, we'll see who will dominate. I don't think that there will be an overly strong country.

Yep. It has been basicly a training camp for teams, good way to see how young players do.

Next year will hopefully be different, with teams being serious and not sending a team full of kids to the games.

 

[Jussi]

The teams financial involvement(founding members needing to buy a share), prize money etc. kind of tells the teams are not treating this a training tournament.

 

[SCBdude]

Skellefteå
Lukko
Bern
Nottingham

Bern won't be that though. Didn't even make the playoffs this season.

 

[Exarz]

Bern won't be that though. Didn't even make the playoffs this season.

Wasn't it more of a hangover year from the season before?

 

[Pominville Knows]

I just got to warn you all entering Gothenburg and the Frölunda Indians, we gonna slaughter your team real well. Fear the bracketting may 21st.

 

[Systemfel]

I just got to warn you all entering Gothenburg and the Frölunda Indians, we gonna slaughter your team real well. Fear the bracketting may 21st.

Yeah, Frölunda has such a great record in these things.

 

[SCBdude]

Wasn't it more of a hangover year from the season before?

I guess you could call it that. A lot of old guys on the team that did fine the year before but couldn't get it done last year, with Plüss being the lone exception. But they are improving the team a lot this offseason with some good signings (Blum, Holloway and probably Kobasew). But I still have some doubts about them being one of the best NLA teams next year. ZSC, Fribourg and Kloten look great as well.

 

[Sucro]

Vienna Capitals has started a voting for a ChHL jersey design on facebook, opened till tomorrow evening! https://www.facebook.com/viennacapitals
Give likes for a favourite one
№1

№2

№3

 

[doug88]

How come there is a british team?! I mean this whole thing is gonna be a complete failure, I don't think people will gather at the arenas in Switzerland to watch their team play against german, italian, austrian or czech teams.. At least I won't, maybe if Geneva plays against a Swedish team (Sweden is the best european championship to me) then I'll go but that's about it. For instance, Bern who plays in front of a sell-out crowd for almost every NLA games, I'll be surprised if they draw 10,000 for one of this games. But well, maybe it will prove me wrong. That's just my 2 cents.

 

[vorky]

How come there is a british team?! I mean this whole thing is gonna be a complete failure, I don't think people will gather at the arenas in Switzerland to watch their team play against german, italian, austrian or czech teams.. At least I won't, maybe if Geneva plays against a Swedish team (Sweden is the best european championship to me) then I'll go but that's about it. For instance, Bern who plays in front of a sell-out crowd for almost every NLA games, I'll be surprised if they draw 10,000 for one of this games. But well, maybe it will prove me wrong. That's just my 2 cents.

What would change if KHL/Russian clubs played CHL? Would swiss fans come? I heard that swiss fans love russian hockey and dont like other euro clubs hockey.