2016-17 Champions Hockey League

[stars33]

Hope in the future the group stages will look similar to this

Group A

Växjö Lakers
Davos
Kärpät

Group B

Frölunda
Hifk
SC Bern

Group C

SAIK
Tappara
Slavia Prague

Etc etc

It would be much more fun. Let the smaller teams have their own group where only the best go through

Next CHL season will have 32 teams. It will be 8 groups of 4. 6 games total in the group stage. Only the champions from the 7 challenge or lower level leagues are invited. The continental champion will be invited and the remaining 24 teams is from the 6 elite leagues. But only chosen by merit. No automatic qualifier. Except this year's CHL champion.

 

[torero]

Next CHL season will have 32 teams. It will be 8 groups of 4. 6 games total in the group stage. Only the champions from the 7 challenge or lower level leagues are invited. The continental champion will be invited and the remaining 24 teams is from the 6 elite leagues. But only chosen by merit. No automatic qualifier. Except this year's CHL champion.

What will be, will be ... so their is nothing that will be changed ... 48 teams now ...
Frenchs are happy (i speak french, know their medias !) to participate in the CHL. Same for the Brits ... it would be a mistake to think in terms of elite ... bad for the developpment. I have a lot of pleasure in watchnig these teams ... ! i discover other hockey instead of the traditional NLA (Swiss) and NHL and AHL a bit of SEL ! time for Europe to gain ground on the media level.

To develop, a league needs money, hence fans ! on the spot or on PPV or selling their rights to channels.

While it may be less interesting at the beginning, good teams still prepare for the season ... vs a bit less elite teams ... and less elite teams have the chance to play good teams. And the whole gathers audience ! (for the less elite teams, by seeing higher level hockey, and for the elite teams ... seeing their team win, also a reason for fans to show up)

We are in preseason, the season is to unfold. You will have this reduced, more intense and higher level teams playing each other. Maybe a good formula would be like now, and then you remake some groups ... and then go into playoff mode.

European Soccer developed into a very profitable (for all) and spectacular European league by including all teams accross Europe, includin the weaker ones. (not saying soccer formula is THE FORMULA, but do not ignore a successful development in something that has lots of similarities.)

 

[Milos Krasic]

That was Casey Wellman, right?

 

[Hockeyfrilla]

That was Casey Wellman, right?

Carl Grundström, Toronto prospect

 

[joshyhockey26]

Looks like another strong day for Zsc Lions

 

[Milos Krasic]

Carl Grundström, Toronto prospect

Thanks, couldn't see the number clearly. Thought it was a 9.

 

[kabidjan18]

EC Salzburg is being a meanie

 

[torero]

Interesting. When does NLA start? Sparta played first match on 3rd August and league starts on 9th September. Even non CHL teams are playing preseason matches right now.

Berns attitude is obviously wrong and in fact its damaging CHL itself because "price money" are same for all teams, i.e. almost nothing.

Speaking about czech teams, good thing is that only team appeared to have similar attitude was Zlin in first season. Since then all the teams are trying at leats not be embarassed there. Some of them like Litvinov, Pardubice, Vitkovice were significantly weak even in czech league. Others like Sparta, Liberec, Trinec are striving to go farther but I really doubt they adjust their teams to win it. At best they say they want to succeed without clarifying what it means...

Wrong attitude ... but they have been successful this year ... like all other Swiss teams. !

It seems that Swiss teams don't want to embarass themselves anymore ... like last year ... and therefore started training august 1st ... (except Bern) ... and it was pretty successful since in 8 games, they had 8 victories. Day and night compared to last year. And appart of 2 games, they were really above. But no game vs Fins or Swedes.

 

[Yabob]

What will be, will be ... so their is nothing that will be changed ... 48 teams now ...
Frenchs are happy (i speak french, know their medias !) to participate in the CHL. Same for the Brits ... it would be a mistake to think in terms of elite ... bad for the developpment. I have a lot of pleasure in watchnig these teams ... ! i discover other hockey instead of the traditional NLA (Swiss) and NHL and AHL a bit of SEL ! time for Europe to gain ground on the media level.

To develop, a league needs money, hence fans ! on the spot or on PPV or selling their rights to channels.

While it may be less interesting at the beginning, good teams still prepare for the season ... vs a bit less elite teams ... and less elite teams have the chance to play good teams. And the whole gathers audience ! (for the less elite teams, by seeing higher level hockey, and for the elite teams ... seeing their team win, also a reason for fans to show up)

We are in preseason, the season is to unfold. You will have this reduced, more intense and higher level teams playing each other. Maybe a good formula would be like now, and then you remake some groups ... and then go into playoff mode.

European Soccer developed into a very profitable (for all) and spectacular European league by including all teams accross Europe, includin the weaker ones. (not saying soccer formula is THE FORMULA, but do not ignore a successful development in something that has lots of similarities.)

Though in the soccer version almost all of the weaker teams have been eliminated by the time the best teams enter the tournament. As I recall it the old Champion's Hockey League were about to do the same thing (qualification rounds for the teams from weaker leagues) before it were discontinued.

The games are most definitely interesting for the weaker teams and their fans. The teams they face in the CHL are probably the best ones they will face all season. It will probably take a lot more than "free" wins to make it interesting for the fans of the better teams though.... especially at a time of the year when the most interesting thing for many is finding out how good your team really is (which of course require opponents that provide a challenge). Though it is of course still more interesting than facing similar "weak" teams outside the tournament.

All teams having to qualify for the tournament will probably give it a much needed popularity boost though, as many sadly still see it as a glorified pre-season tournament with it's current format (which most likely have something to do with the fact that the tournament that spawned it was a pre- season tournament).

 

[torero]

Though in the soccer version almost all of the weaker teams have been eliminated by the time the best teams enter the tournament. As I recall it the old Champion's Hockey League were about to do the same thing (qualification rounds for the teams from weaker leagues) before it were discontinued.

The games are most definitely interesting for the weaker teams and their fans. The teams they face in the CHL are probably the best ones they will face all season. It will probably take a lot more than "free" wins to make it interesting for the fans of the better teams though.... especially at a time of the year when the most interesting thing for many is finding out how good your team really is (which of course require opponents that provide a challenge). Though it is of course still more interesting than facing similar "weak" teams outside the tournament.

All teams having to qualify for the tournament will probably give it a much needed popularity boost though, as many sadly still see it as a glorified pre-season tournament with it's current format (which most likely have something to do with the fact that the tournament that spawned it was a pre- season tournament).

and when it is interesting for the weaker teams in hockey, it is also interesting for the stronger teams ... because it corresponds to the preseason ! Their is a nice fit. So they face more competition with weaker teams.

And as the season advances, the games will be more interesting and it will be clearer what is at stake (like in soccer .... championship, cup and Euro cup !) and the end of season is a suite of important games.

I would like the present formula ... and instead of passing straight to the playoff formula, another tour with groups. That would be my "ultra-solution".

 

[lakers11]

Pretty fun game sparta prague-färjestad

More games like this

 

[Ciccarelli]

Been watching the Berlin-SaiPa game. Berlin has been controlling the game but SaiPa is doing the scoring. Perhaps for the first time I'm actually rooting against a finnish side. Nothing against SaiPa but would be better for the tournament if Berlin advanced. Would show some parity instead of all finnish and swedish teams advancing plus Berlin has a very nice crowd and the fans deserve it.

 

[Lataba76]

Been watching the Berlin-SaiPa game. Berlin has been controlling the game but SaiPa is doing the scoring. Perhaps for the first time I'm actually rooting against a finnish side. Nothing against SaiPa but would be better for the tournament if Berlin advanced. Would show some parity instead of all finnish and swedish teams advancing plus Berlin has a very nice crowd and the fans deserve it.

And now Tappara works very good for the tournament !

 

[pulverapa]

Anyone feel like buying a CHL jersey for 89,95€?

 

[Yabob]

Anyone feel like buying a CHL jersey for 89,95€?

At least it's not a replica.

I might consider it if the money will be spent on some modern nets in Gap.

 

[scipio]

ZSC Lions with 1,500 fans at their game. Shows they Swiss don't care again this year!

However with 5,000 in Minsk and reported 9,000 in Krakow it's not looking too bad

The game was not played in Zürich as the arena was not available. There will be more fans in the next game...

 

[Jablkon]

I have to say that jerseys are prettier ad prettier every year. Mostly really cool stuff.

I am getting to believe, this league will be succesfull. Its getting better every year...

 

[Jablkon]

So Yunost Minsk beat Vaxjo in overtime and got two points. So Boleslav has to make 3 points from home game against Yunost and hope Vaxjo beat them for three points at home. I doubt this scenario happens.

I am perfectly fine from what I saw from belarusian and norwegian teams in last two CHL seasons. If all "underdogs" play like this it will be fine even with weaker leagues...

 

[lakers11]

So Yunost Minsk beat Vaxjo in overtime and got two points. So Boleslav has to make 3 points from home game against Yunost and hope Vaxjo beat them for three points at home. I doubt this scenario happens.

I am perfectly fine from what I saw from belarusian and norwegian teams in last two CHL seasons. If all "underdogs" play like this it will be fine even with weaker leagues...

It had more to do that Lakers sucked [MOD]

They've been horrible this CHL. Yet we'll probably still win the group

 

[Jablkon]

It had more to do that Lakers sucked [MOD]

They've been horrible this CHL. Yet we'll probably still win the group

I dont know. I havent seen Boleslav against Lakers. But I saw part of the Boleslav - Yonst game and Bolka was terrible imo. So there are probably two badly play teams and one good belarusian

 

[Slimmy]

Luleå with their second loss tonight. Winner of the CHL 2014/15 season looks to not make it out of the group.

 

[Bjornee]

Luleå with their second loss tonight. Winner of the CHL 2014/15 season looks to not make it out of the group.

It does not look good, thats for sure. Would not be surprised if that scenario comes true. They need to get their **** together.

 

[lakers11]

Maybe Im harsh but my god Ive never seen Lakers look this horrible in CHL before and Ive seen all the previous games

I hope this doesnt translate to SHL...

Maybe it takes long(er) time to get the team together

 

[Slimmy]

Maybe Im harsh but my god Ive never seen Lakers look this horrible in CHL before and Ive seen all the previous games

I hope this doesnt translate to SHL...

Maybe it takes long(er) time to get the team together

I read somewhere that they are through to the next round already?

 

[SoupyFIN]

I just wish the teams with big arenas (note: relatively big when compared to the teams taking part) that already know from previous year(s) that they'll have a hard time filling the arena at this time of the year, gave tickets away to local schools for kids or something, because the empty arenas look really depressing and don't exactly improve CHL's image.

Anyone feel like buying a CHL jersey for 89,95€?

Is that really too expensive though, with name & number(s) included? Seems like a fair price for a customised jersey and I think that's in the same ballpark if you ordered a customised one from the team's own shop.