2016-17 Champions Hockey League

[torero]

So for the quarter finals we have :

3 Swedish teams
3 Swiss teams
2 Czech teams

WTF !! no Finns !

and to come :

2 x Swiss vs Czechs (Fribourg vs Vitkovice and Bern vs Sparta Prague)
1 x Sweds vs Sweds (Frolunda vs Linkoping)
1x Swiss vs Sweds (Vaxjo vs Zurich or Lugano)

 

[SoupyFIN]

So for the quarter finals we have :

3 Swedish teams
3 Swiss teams
2 Czech teams

WTF !! no Finns !

and to come :

2 x Swiss vs Czechs (Fribourg vs Vitkovice and Bern vs Sparta Prague)
1 x Sweds vs Sweds (Frolunda vs Linkoping)
1x Swiss vs Sweds (Vaxjo vs Zurich or Lugano)

Have to remember that from the round of 16 teams:

4 Swiss teams > 3 advances (one Swiss vs. Swiss game)
4 Swedish teams > 3 advances
4 Finnish teams > none advance
3 Czech teams > 2 advances (one Czech vs. Czech game)
1 German team > doesn't advance

Also from the round of 32, TPS/HIFK & Tappara/SaiPa were the only pairings that included teams from the same country. So that automatically eliminated two Finnish teams from the round of 16.

It's a two game series and anything can happen really. Another day and we might see completely different results. Tbh in SaiPa's & JYP's defence, it's probably a blessing in disguise that they don't have to worry about the CHL anymore, since they've been playing really poorly so far this season. HIFK in a way too, since they have their annual injury troubles.

 

[Jablkon]

I checked news accidentally and I was like woow. 0:5 fo Sparta. I was at home game and frankly didnt see much chances for Sparta in away game. I just didnt know whether Sparta was so much bad in first two periods or swedes were that good. Good to see it was a first case, still swedes looked individually bit better to me.

So now we have Sparta Bern matchup. This could finally attract some attention among fans. Definetely must see for me. Sparta is not favourite to win CHL though.

 

[duga]

So for the quarter finals we have :

3 Swedish teams
3 Swiss teams
2 Czech teams

WTF !! no Finns !

and to come :

2 x Swiss vs Czechs (Fribourg vs Vitkovice and Bern vs Sparta Prague)
1 x Sweds vs Sweds (Frolunda vs Linkoping)
1x Swiss vs Sweds (Vaxjo vs Zurich or Lugano)

Looks like Bern could be a slight favourite in the upper half.
Frölunda and Zürich are probably the strongest teams left, they could clash in the semis.

BTW the ranking I did before, wasn't a strictly seasonal ranking, but more of an overview how the NLA is structured. (Money, depth, youth, coaching, support, succes etc .)

And there hasn't been a team in the NLA going all the way from outside the top4 for 18 YEARS!

And I do like Gotteron, and its idea of hockey. I was several times in Kloten, in the legendary 90's finals (Bykov/Chomoutov vs. Eldebrink/Johansson) always hoped for a Gotteron win. If they could finally make it, I'd be happy.

That said: Congratz Gotteron for a surprising QF-run.

 

[torero]

Have to remember that from the round of 16 teams:

4 Swiss teams > 3 advances (one Swiss vs. Swiss game)
4 Swedish teams > 3 advances
4 Finnish teams > none advance
3 Czech teams > 2 advances (one Czech vs. Czech game)
1 German team > doesn't advance

Also from the round of 32, TPS/HIFK & Tappara/SaiPa were the only pairings that included teams from the same country. So that automatically eliminated two Finnish teams from the round of 16.

It's a two game series and anything can happen really. Another day and we might see completely different results. Tbh in SaiPa's & JYP's defence, it's probably a blessing in disguise that they don't have to worry about the CHL anymore, since they've been playing really poorly so far this season. HIFK in a way too, since they have their annual injury troubles.

i am pretty happy about the Swiss teams. Since they gave such a poor representations in the last years. Finaly they took the CHL seriously ... and results show it.

TBH i was ashamed these last years.

 

[Jussi]

JYP will finnish higher than in the middle. They had a rough start but are now clicking. Right there behind Tappara and HIFK as far as the favorites go. Kärpät and Lukko are better than JYP on paper but their coaches are significantly worse. KalPa will finnish lower than JYP for sure.

In Suikkanen's defense, his team changed the most of any top teams. Pretty much every coach would have had issues with that many new players.

 

[Yabob]

As usual the attendance is weak since everyone in sweden is a doomsday prophet who thinks 50 games vs the same rivals are the only games worth watching :/

Great to see Växjö through <3

Are you sure? These days it feels like only the playoffs matter. Wait. I meant only the finals matter.

They could try to not start the games at 8pm on weekdays and not sell the TV rights to public service TV (at least not for the home games). That should at least add a couple of hundred to the attendence figures.

 

[scipio]

Are you sure? These days it feels like only the playoffs matter. Wait. I meant only the finals matter.

They could try to not start the games at 8pm on weekdays and not sell the TV rights to public service TV (at least not for the home games). That should at least add a couple of hundred to the attendence figures.

But TV coverage is important to promote the tournament. Maybe clubs should consider to include the CHL games in the season tickets.

 

[bordshockeypampen]

But TV coverage is important to promote the tournament. Maybe clubs should consider to include the CHL games in the season tickets.

The CHL games were included in the season tickets for HV71 at least. Still very few showed up. Yesterday a busload of Sparta supporters were louder than the home fans. Embarrassing. Well, the ones that showed up probably regretted it anyway, considering how HV played.

 

[scipio]

The CHL games were included in the season tickets for HV71 at least. Still very few showed up. Yesterday a busload of Sparta supporters were louder than the home fans. Embarrassing. Well, the ones that showed up probably regretted it anyway, considering how HV played.

That's nice, but I'm not sure how the situation is with other teams. In my case they are not included.

Good game between Lugano and ZSC.

 

[torero]

That's nice, but I'm not sure how the situation is with other teams. In my case they are not included.

Good game between Lugano and ZSC.

nice game .... Zurich should pass this round.

EAch time i watch Zurich ... each time i think at Wick ... why didn't he stay in NA ?? one more year !
it is true that he was handled unfairly IMO
but he has all what was needed to be a 4mio 2nd liner.

 

[scipio]

nice game .... Zurich should pass this round.

EAch time i watch Zurich ... each time i think at Wick ... why didn't he stay in NA ?? one more year !
it is true that he was handled unfairly IMO
but he has all what was needed to be a 4mio 2nd liner.

Well, same goes for Brunner IMO. He should have stayed longer in NA. Wick is a very good player, but I have the feeling that he lacks the extra effort and motivation that would be necessary to succeed.

 

[torero]

Well, same goes for Brunner IMO. He should have stayed longer in NA. Wick is a very good player, but I have the feeling that he lacks the extra effort and motivation that would be necessary to succeed.

Definitely agree ... he has the laziness and swag of a spoiled gifted child. He prefers being a star here ... making decent money, in a not overly violent game with limited games a year than being a very well paid slave in a super competitive environment. + he enjoys playing in rock bands.

Brunner as well ... . What i heard from a professional coach in NLA was that Brunner was scared of physical contacts fundamentally. As such, he can't play in the NHL. He would be more of a worker than Wick but more fragile.

Both had their chances ... . Brunner should have stayed with the Red Wings and Wick should have stayed simply.

 

[scipio]

Definitely agree ... he has the laziness and swag of a spoiled gifted child. He prefers being a star here ... making decent money, in a not overly violent game with limited games a year than being a very well paid slave in a super competitive environment. + he enjoys playing in rock bands.

To be honest, one has to admire that kind of attitude as well. He seems to enjoy his life and doesn't care too much about the money (and more fame) he could get in NA.

Good game. But ZSC has to be careful and stay focused.

 

[torero]

To be honest, one has to admire that kind of attitude as well. He seems to enjoy his life and doesn't care too much about the money (and more fame) he could get in NA.

Good game. But ZSC has to be careful and stay focused.

I understand this choice. But do not share it. My whole life, i went for the best ... . Even now, 51 yrs old ... i would go for the best. So for a young hockey player ... i would go to NA for the CHL, then KHL, then NHL and finally for the end of career in NLA

As per ZSC ... as you say Merzlikins is good and Brunner and co don't need 10's of opportunities.
i hope ZSC makes it.

 

[scipio]

I understand this choice. But do not share it. My whole life, i went for the best ... . Even now, 51 yrs old ... i would go for the best. So for a young hockey player ... i would go to NA for the CHL, then KHL, then NHL and finally for the end of career in NLA

As per ZSC ... as you say Merzlikins is good and Brunner and co don't need 10's of opportunities.
i hope ZSC makes it.

Ufff...finally they made it!

I agree with the above. But every personality is different. Some are high achievers and need the feeling that they tried everything to reach their dreams, others find happiness in a more "modest" or "humble" way and just try to enjoy what they have and do at the moment.

 

[Slimmy]

I understand this choice. But do not share it. My whole life, i went for the best ... . Even now, 51 yrs old ... i would go for the best. So for a young hockey player ... i would go to NA for the CHL, then KHL, then NHL and finally for the end of career in NLA

As per ZSC ... as you say Merzlikins is good and Brunner and co don't need 10's of opportunities.
i hope ZSC makes it.

With Hans Wallson at the helm, I consider ZSC as the favourite among the remaining Swiss teams. He brought a lot of valuable knowledge with him from Skellefteå. I'm absolutely positive it will bolster the organisation.

 

[scipio]

With Hans Wallson at the helm, I consider ZSC as the favourite among the remaining Swiss teams. He brought a lot of valuable knowledge with him from Skellefteå. I'm absolutely positive it will bolster the organisation.

It's not like we had a bad coach before But I have to agree with you. With our huge youth academy we will definitely profit from the knowledge of our new Swedish coaches. Happy that they are here.

 

[torero]

It's not like we had a bad coach before But I have to agree with you. With our huge youth academy we will definitely profit from the knowledge of our new Swedish coaches. Happy that they are here.

As a matter of facts, Zurich allways had good coaches !! the mgmt is good. (the same cannot be said about Bern )

Zurich is favorite among the Swiss teams. Although by a slim margin ... if Bern is in shape ... they will be better because overall, the players potential is higher, but since they have been destroyed by years of bad coaching ... and when their is a good one, a local Swiss one and become champion ... they don't keep him ... we have again a new one .... and the track record doesn't speak exactly in favor of Bern management ... SAD)

By the way, i wouldn't be surprised to see 3 Swiss teams in the semi-finals. In all honesty and modesty ... .

 

[scipio]

As a matter of facts, Zurich allways had good coaches !! the mgmt is good. (the same cannot be said about Bern )

Zurich is favorite among the Swiss teams. Although by a slim margin ... if Bern is in shape ... they will be better because overall, the players potential is higher, but since they have been destroyed by years of bad coaching ... and when their is a good one, a local Swiss one and become champion ... they don't keep him ... we have again a new one .... and the track record doesn't speak exactly in favor of Bern management ... SAD)

By the way, i wouldn't be surprised to see 3 Swiss teams in the semi-finals. In all honesty and modesty ... .

I have to disagree with you on this one. ZSC in my opinion have the higher potential and more depth in the squad. Their problem is the attitude, they don't fight enough to win. So far in this season they are not consistent and definitely not at their top. We'll see how it develops.

True, but I would be very surprised if all three will make it. I hope for two Funny as well, that Fribourg and Bern have to loose, if CH wants to keep a chance to overtake Finland in the league ranking.

 

[torero]

I have to disagree with you on this one. ZSC in my opinion have the higher potential and more depth in the squad. Their problem is the attitude, they don't fight enough to win. So far in this season they are not consistent and definitely not at their top. We'll see how it develops.

True, but I would be very surprised if all three will make it. I hope for two Funny as well, that Fribourg and Bern have to loose, if CH wants to keep a chance to overtake Finland in the league ranking.

Imagine a battle of Zeringia as a CHL final ... The European hockeyistic faith in the SCB-Fribourg derby !!

That would be just nothing short of spectacular.

It will turn into civil war.

Highly improbable though ! sadly. ... well who knows ...
--- i will transition into something i wanted to share with another Swiss hockey fan who watched the CHL ---

in fact few teams impressed me in this CHL ... JYP ... and that is it. (i only watched Swiss teams encounters fully)

 

[Jablkon]

Peltonen from Bern went to Mlada Boleslav to watch Sparta which they will face in next CHL round. Looks like clubs take it really seriously. Cant wait for this game. This year is somehow special as we can miss some big names in next season with new concept....

 

[Jussi]

Peltonen from Bern went to Mlada Boleslav to watch Sparta which they will face in next CHL round. Looks like clubs take it really seriously. Cant wait for this game. This year is somehow special as we can miss some big names in next season with new concept....

The bigger prize money next year means clubs could miss out on that if they fail in both the CHL and their domestic league. The pressure in Oulu right now for example...

 

[Slimmy]

What do you guys think about making this into a North and South or East West conference type deal in the future? Slowly move away from the Football type Champ league and closer to an NHL/KHL structure?
There are obstacles with this idea and it also lacks some of the more obvious benefits in that traveling is not as much of an issue as in the NHL or KHL. My thought process was more that they need to try and create something more unique. I don't think the league benefits from the comparison to the Football/soccer Champions league. I'm hoping for something more daring and ambitious in the future. Something that will get peoples attention.

 

[Fragmuffin]

What do you guys think about making this into a North and South or East West conference type deal in the future? Slowly move away from the Football type Champ league and closer to an NHL/KHL structure?
There are obstacles with this idea and it also lacks some of the more obvious benefits in that traveling is not as much of an issue as in the NHL or KHL. My thought process was more that they need to try and create something more unique. I don't think the league benefits from the comparison to the Football/soccer Champions league. I'm hoping for something more daring and ambitious in the future. Something that will get peoples attention.

Doesn't make too mich sense. You have these clubs playing eachother in their domestic leagues already, so you don't want to have to play them all over again in a geographical conference. Uefa CL format is a good model to aspire to.