2017-18 Champions Hockey League

[scipio]

It might seem such a small thing when you are a Bern fan, or any big team from nations like Switzerland, Finland or Sweden. But that was a result that should not happen. During the gap between 2nd and 3rd periods, the DJ just played the speech from "Miracle on Ice" over the PA. An apt choice; at least in this little backwater watching my beer league team turnover one the the biggest teams in European hockey.

That's why the Champions League could be such a great tournament. Anything is possible. Reminds me on the CHL season when my team from Zürich was able to win against a KHL team in the finals. It feels so unreal. Enjoy the sweet taste of victory!

PS: Nice game between ZSC and Frölunda yesterday!

 

[doug88]

Will Kari Jalonen be under fire?

Nah, I don't think this champions league is a big deal for the whole organization of Bern. There's probably zero pressure from the club when it comes to European games. Jalonen is safe... as long as he wins in the National League.

 

[albator71]

Nah, I don't think this champions league is a big deal for the whole organization of Bern. There's probably zero pressure from the club when it comes to European games. Jalonen is safe... as long as he wins in the National League.

No it might not be a big deal but it's embarrassing to say the least, for a club of the quality of Bern to get beat at home by a team from the English league ouch!!!

But you are right this will have no effect on Bern NLA season they are still the team to beat and will probably finish 1st in the standings and they are the favorite to win the cup once again this year.

 

[scipio]

No it might not be a big deal but it's embarrassing to say the least, for a club of the quality of Bern to get beat at home by a team from the English league ouch!!!

But you are right this will have no effect on Bern NLA season they are still the team to beat and will probably finish 1st in the standings and they are the favorite to win the cup once again this year.

The game was in Nottingham.

Embarrassing for sure! But then again nobody really cares, the club doesn't and most of the fans don't either. E.g. look at yesterdays game in Zürich against Frölunda: a really great match, good intensity for a pre-season game against the top team of Europe. Attendance was 5000 vs the usual 10000 in the league. Despite free entry for the season ticket holders (around 7000). The champions league just is not there yet.

 

[doug88]

The game was in Nottingham.

Embarrassing for sure! But then again nobody really cares, the club doesn't and most of the fans don't either. E.g. look at yesterdays game in Zürich against Frölunda: a really great match, good intensity for a pre-season game against the top team of Europe. Attendance was 5000 vs the usual 10000 in the league. Despite free entry for the season ticket holders (around 7000). The champions league just is not there yet.

This.

It's obviously more than embarrassing for Bern but it's like a preseason game for them and the game of the century for the brits. I get that the couple of brits who follow ice hockey are happy and all excited, but it really has no meaning outside their island. I didn't even see anything about it on TV over here, as it would normally be the case during the regular season when it's all about hockey. SC Bern season really kicks off next weekend and I don't expect them to be that easy to beat, even though I'd love to see them get crushed.

 

[vorky]

The game was in Nottingham.

Embarrassing for sure! But then again nobody really cares, the club doesn't and most of the fans don't either. E.g. look at yesterdays game in Zürich against Frölunda: a really great match, good intensity for a pre-season game against the top team of Europe. Attendance was 5000 vs the usual 10000 in the league. Despite free entry for the season ticket holders (around 7000). The champions league just is not there yet.

This.

It's obviously more than embarrassing for Bern but it's like a preseason game for them and the game of the century for the brits. I get that the couple of brits who follow ice hockey are happy and all excited, but it really has no meaning outside their island. I didn't even see anything about it on TV over here, as it would normally be the case during the regular season when it's all about hockey. SC Bern season really kicks off next weekend and I don't expect them to be that easy to beat, even though I'd love to see them get crushed.

If SCB & ZSC are not "into the CHL", then the league has no chance in Switzerland. I know there were some expectations in Switzerland when the CHL was launched. I know that both SCB & ZSC have wanted to "go global" for years. So, are both clubs disillusioned by the CHL now? I read that Marc Lüthi criticised the CHL in television a year or two ago. Can you tell us morre details on the story?

 

[lakers11]

If SCB & ZSC are not "into the CHL", then the league has no chance in Switzerland. I know there were some expectations in Switzerland when the CHL was launched. I know that both SCB & ZSC have wanted to "go global" for years. So, are both clubs disillusioned by the CHL now? I read that Marc Lüthi criticised the CHL in television a year or two ago. Can you tell us morre details on the story?

I dont get this mindset as the situation is exactly the same in sweden, no, in fact its actually worse. Attendance in sweden in CHL games are actually lower than those in finland, switzerland, germany and Czech. (Not to mention the lower tier countries)

 

[Jablkon]

I dont get this mindset as the situation is exactly the same in sweden, no, in fact its actually worse. Attendance in sweden in CHL games are actually lower than those in finland, switzerland, germany and Czech. (Not to mention the lower tier countries)

I dont think swedish fans really see some benefit from this confrontation for them or for club. I dont know whats the quality of these matches compare to SHL though. Some teams are very good but they would have to constantly show great performance to attract swedish fans imo because hockey map will still remain same. Sweden will be clear number one in Europe no matter what team appear to be contender in respective CHL year.

 

[lakers11]

I honestly think it would be the best for the tournament if there were no SHL teams in the finals for 1 or 2 years. That would catch an eye to the general public and start questioning the position of the SHL.

The feeling of being an underdog is the best feeling

 

[scipio]

If SCB & ZSC are not "into the CHL", then the league has no chance in Switzerland. I know there were some expectations in Switzerland when the CHL was launched. I know that both SCB & ZSC have wanted to "go global" for years. So, are both clubs disillusioned by the CHL now? I read that Marc Lüthi criticised the CHL in television a year or two ago. Can you tell us morre details on the story?

I actually think that the management of ZSC is somewhat more committed to the CHL than the one from SCB. For the team it's basically a good way to test against top contenders from other European leagues. With the bonus to make some additional money if you progress further in the tournament.

The fans however do not perceive it as attractive. There is potential, as the previous CHL with the KHL teams proved. But I guess for that to happen again, the CHL would need to convince KHL to send teams again and there would need to be much more money involved as additional motivation for the teams.

 

[lakers11]

So I found the last season attendance numbers. More pathetic than I thought lol

Sweden by far the worst. Switzerland has the highest

Sweden 1834

►*Finland 2842

►*Switzerland 4693

►*Czech 3593

►*Austria 2929

►*Germany 3674

 

[frank16]

The game was in Nottingham.

Embarrassing for sure! But then again nobody really cares, the club doesn't and most of the fans don't either. E.g. look at yesterdays game in Zürich against Frölunda: a really great match, good intensity for a pre-season game against the top team of Europe. Attendance was 5000 vs the usual 10000 in the league. Despite free entry for the season ticket holders (around 7000). The champions league just is not there yet.

This.

It's obviously more than embarrassing for Bern but it's like a preseason game for them and the game of the century for the brits. I get that the couple of brits who follow ice hockey are happy and all excited, but it really has no meaning outside their island. I didn't even see anything about it on TV over here, as it would normally be the case during the regular season when it's all about hockey. SC Bern season really kicks off next weekend and I don't expect them to be that easy to beat, even though I'd love to see them get crushed.

As someone who was rinkside last night in Nottingham, I can assure you the players, box full of directors, board members & sponsors & 300+ travelling Bern fans did care.

People can try and belittle the result as much as they want, but the facts are that Bern were going full throttle with their full line-up - Genoni starting + 5 imports all playing (Raymond, Arcobello, Pyorala, Ebbett & Noreau) and they got outplayed by Nottingham, in fact they got dominated in the 2nd & 3rd periods.

The Bern players were not a happy bunch at all during the game and Arcobello was extremely unhappy. He stormed off after the game and went mental, I thought he may even trash the away dressing room. For the approx 40,000 people who attend British ice hockey games every week & the 10's of thousands more who follow the game in the UK, this was a big result and nothing can be taken away from Nottingham.

 

[Jussi]

I actually think that the management of ZSC is somewhat more committed to the CHL than the one from SCB. For the team it's basically a good way to test against top contenders from other European leagues. With the bonus to make some additional money if you progress further in the tournament.

The fans however do not perceive it as attractive. There is potential, as the previous CHL with the KHL teams proved. But I guess for that to happen again, the CHL would need to convince KHL to send teams again and there would need to be much more money involved as additional motivation for the teams.

In Finland, fans have been warming up to it more and more. Several HIFK and JYP fans have been posting at the biggest Finnish hockey board jatkoaika.com that the games are more interesting and exciting to watch because the other teams don't play so much slow tempo puck control hockey that they're used to seeing in Liiga. Though not this season but last season HIFK fans thought the team played much better hockey as well in CHL than in Liiga.

 

[lakers11]

Lol frank, dont mind them.

I still remember when Linköping trashed Bern with something like 8-1 and the fans were quick to make excuses. Well, turned out the same year that SC Bern started the NLA season just as bad as they did in CHL.

 

[vorky]

I dont get this mindset as the situation is exactly the same in sweden, no, in fact its actually worse. Attendance in sweden in CHL games are actually lower than those in finland, switzerland, germany and Czech. (Not to mention the lower tier countries)

CHL 2008 had good attendance, even in Sweden. Current CHL has problems now. What have happened to the fans (in Sweden in particular)? Have they changed so much since 2008?

Briza has said following things: "CHL is a corner stone of pan-European league", "Fans will use to the CHL within ten years & will come to arenas", "Sponsors will come as well". Really? How? The great example of the CHL is Briza´s statement: "We planned that Swedes will be leaders of the CHL. They said us, lets do it! Many Swedish companies will sponsor the CHL" What is a reality? How can we believe him/them anymore?

EDIT:

Briza also said that small clubs dislike the CHL, because they have no depth to play both the CHL & domestic league. How does the CHL want to solve this?

 

[vorky]

I actually think that the management of ZSC is somewhat more committed to the CHL than the one from SCB. For the team it's basically a good way to test against top contenders from other European leagues. With the bonus to make some additional money if you progress further in the tournament.

The fans however do not perceive it as attractive. There is potential, as the previous CHL with the KHL teams proved. But I guess for that to happen again, the CHL would need to convince KHL to send teams again and there would need to be much more money involved as additional motivation for the teams.

Thanks for informations.

My question is. What will SCB (other top teams) do if the CHL will be on the same level in next XY years? If no significant progress? Will SCB still support the CHL? Or will SCB give up from the idea?

As we know, small clubs & big clubs are two different animals. Small club does not want to "go global", the team wants to play local league with local rivalries. Some big clubs, and there is only a few of them, have bigger ambitions than to play local league. Therefore the CHL was launched, because the KHL was not an option (as European clubs used to think). But what if the CHL will not be "so cool" at the end of a day? What is B-plan for the biggest clubs from Europe? To support an idea of the CHL indefinitely? To lauch new league outside of national championships? To join the KHL? In my opinion, option nr.1 is the most real, but it is not a solution (if no big change of the CHL). Even I can imagine a scenario with the KHL (only a few big clubs).I can not imagine option nr.2.

 

[lakers11]

Why are we talking about a tournament that was 9 years ago?

Sweden only ever had 2 teams there and they were the only ones that pretty much guaranteed to have filled arenas. At that time HV71 filled their arena no matter what and Linköping was the yippo team no1 in the country. You wouldnt pull the same numbers today. Other than that the talk was exactly the same back then as it is today, as to whether the teams really take the tournament seriously.

About your comment about sweden promising alot of money. Never heard that. And why would they? Sweden isnt russia

Small teams are the ones that have the most to gain from this tourney. Not the other way around.

 

[lakers11]

Also the only KHL teams that might fill the arenas are ST petersburg and CSKA. No one cares about the rest

 

[vorky]

Why are we talking about a tournament that was 9 years ago?

Sweden only ever had 2 teams there and they were the only ones that pretty much guaranteed to have filled arenas. At that time HV71 filled their arena no matter what and Linköping was the yippo team no1 in the country. You wouldnt pull the same numbers today. Other than that the talk was exactly the same back then as it is today, as to whether the teams really take the tournament seriously.

Fine. But it is not only about Swedish clubs, there were other teams as well. When you look at their current CHL attendance, then it is lower now than in 2008. So what has changed?

About your comment about sweden promising alot of money. Never heard that. And why would they? Sweden isnt russia

Briza said it, he is CHL Board member, so I guess he has some inside information. Or he simply blames Swedes for nothing?

Small teams are the ones that have the most to gain from this tourney. Not the other way around.

I just quoted Briza.

 

[albator71]

So I found the last season attendance numbers. More pathetic than I thought lol

Sweden by far the worst. Switzerland has the highest

Sweden 1834

►*Finland 2842

►*Switzerland 4693

►*Czech 3593

►*Austria 2929

►*Germany 3674

For a young championship its not that bad to be honest

Like I said earlier Rome was not build in a day, it will take time.

 

[doug88]

My question is. What will SCB (other top teams) do if the CHL will be on the same level in next XY years? If no significant progress? Will SCB still support the CHL? Or will SCB give up from the idea?

I don't think SC Bern "supports" the CHL by any means, they just take this whole thing as pre-season games and of course, they try to win them all but just not with the same intensity as they would in the National League. Bern doesn't care if the CHL is doing good or not, they're not doing it for the money -they already own half the town of Bern It's pretty much like any other friendly tournament, if they're qualified they'll play in it, if not they'll find an other tournament.

 

[albator71]

As someone who was rinkside last night in Nottingham, I can assure you the players, box full of directors, board members & sponsors & 300+ travelling Bern fans did care.

People can try and belittle the result as much as they want, but the facts are that Bern were going full throttle with their full line-up - Genoni starting + 5 imports all playing (Raymond, Arcobello, Pyorala, Ebbett & Noreau) and they got outplayed by Nottingham, in fact they got dominated in the 2nd & 3rd periods.

The Bern players were not a happy bunch at all during the game and Arcobello was extremely unhappy. He stormed off after the game and went mental, I thought he may even trash the away dressing room. For the approx 40,000 people who attend British ice hockey games every week & the 10's of thousands more who follow the game in the UK, this was a big result and nothing can be taken away from Nottingham.

I totally agree with you, those guys want to win, to hate to lose, every time they step on the ice they want to win. SCB fans remind me of Canada's fan at the WHC we don't care about it when we lose but we sure like to brag when we win it

 

[lakers11]

For a young championship its not that bad to be honest

Like I said earlier Rome was not build in a day, it will take time.

Unfortunately its really bad in sweden :p

When sponsors pay up and give you free enterance to the matches and the arena is still half empty, you know its bad

Edit:
Maybe if they built the tournament differently it would change. Make the tournament more exclusive. Only the best 2 of each country are qualified.

2 groups containing 5 teams each. Number 1 and 2 of each group go to the semis

The winner of the tournament recieves 1 million euro. The ones that made it through the group stage gets 200k euro

How does that sound?

 

[scipio]

As someone who was rinkside last night in Nottingham, I can assure you the players, box full of directors, board members & sponsors & 300+ travelling Bern fans did care.

People can try and belittle the result as much as they want, but the facts are that Bern were going full throttle with their full line-up - Genoni starting + 5 imports all playing (Raymond, Arcobello, Pyorala, Ebbett & Noreau) and they got outplayed by Nottingham, in fact they got dominated in the 2nd & 3rd periods.

The Bern players were not a happy bunch at all during the game and Arcobello was extremely unhappy. He stormed off after the game and went mental, I thought he may even trash the away dressing room. For the approx 40,000 people who attend British ice hockey games every week & the 10's of thousands more who follow the game in the UK, this was a big result and nothing can be taken away from Nottingham.

Frank, you probably misunderstood my comment and didn't read my other one where I expressed my congratulations to Nottingham.

I do not doubt that the players, coaches and fans who traveled to the UK wanted Bern to win.

I replied to a comment saying that this is embarrassing for SC Bern. Personally, I agree, it is. They know that they should never lose this game.

My point was, that the vast majority of SC Bern fans do not care. Just look at the attendance of 6000 vs 16000 in the regular league. That should make the interest of fans pretty clear. This is not an excuse for losing - they lost fair and square. And it does not belittle the effort and the victor of Nottingham. I'm just making the point that most fans do not care about the CHL and will not even take notice of the result of this game.

 

[vorky]

I don't think SC Bern "supports" the CHL by any means, they just take this whole thing as pre-season games and of course, they try to win them all but just not with the same intensity as they would in the National League. Bern doesn't care if the CHL is doing good or not, they're not doing it for the money -they already own half the town of Bern It's pretty much like any other friendly tournament, if they're qualified they'll play in it, if not they'll find an other tournament.

Got it. There is nothing worse than management not caring for the tournament. Then you can not expect fans to care. They want the CHL to grow, but some teams do not care. A bit complicated to grow the CHL with such an attitude.

HC Davos plays the CHL. What Davos fans say about their participation at tournament in Astana this summer? I read Davos management was positivelly suprised by on/off ice conditions in Astana. HC Davos has been KHL´s long term partner (Spengler Cup, HCD participated at two KHL´s tournaments this summer - senior in Astana & MHL´s Junior Club World Cup as first SUI team in history, rumors about a tournament during Olympics). I do not say HCD going to the KHL. No, I do not say it. I just say that HCD is clever - they cooperate with both the CHL & the KHL - and this attitude should be followed by other European teams if they really care about development of hockey in Europe. You simply can not ignore each other, because of nationality etc. If KHL keeps inviting European teams to KHL´s preseason tournaments, then it could be good for hockey in Europe. If the CHL as entity is not interested in (the KHL), some European clubs might be. Especially if the KHL pays for everything.