Testing a new European Super League concept...so far it's pretty fun! For testing purposes, same rules and finances as the KHL.
- I didn't want to completely obliterate the traditional domestic leagues so the league has been capped at 16 clubs.
- With its central location and financial pull - Switzerland is the HQ/home nation for the competition.
- I plan on creating domestic cups for all the major nations so that ESL clubs and clubs left in the domestic leagues still have a championship to play for against each other.
- Tried to do some sort of relegation/playout league with bottom ESL finishers and domestic champs but there is no way to direct EHM to relegate teams into the proper league. Plus the ESL finances or so vastly different it would be a harsh drop. So for now the ESL is a self-contained league like the NHL and KHL.
LEAGUE LINE-UP
Let me start by saying this is not a Champions Hockey League style tournament - it's a full league of 60 games. Members were not chosen based on recent record or recent domestic championships - they have been chosen based on traditional power, attendance / financial / arena setup and population base. So you won't see SHL powerhouse Vaxjo Lakers or recent Finnish champs Rauman Lukko who draw from relatively small areas and have small areanas / attendance. Almost all these selected teams average at or above 7,000 fans per game - a lot average much more especially in good season.
SWEDEN
- Djugardens: The primary club in Stockholm, big attendance, big arena, historically mighty
- Frolunda: The primary club in Goteborg (Sweden's second city), big attendance, big arena, plenty of recent success
- Farjestad: Extremely well-supported with excellent attendance and arena capacity, historically mighty with the most Swedish championships of all time
- Malmo Redhawks: The primary club in Malmo (Sweden's third city), very big arena and good attendance
HV71 might have made it but got torpedoed out of the SHL in real life with a very poor season. Linkoping, Brynas, Leksands all meet the qualifications but had to draw a line. Vaxjo and Rogle among the best recent Swedish team's but small markets/arenas. This will keep the SHL a good viable league though.
FINLAND
- Jokerit: They move over from the KHL to a more familiar league...not much to say - powerful roster and attendance and Helsinki-based
- HIFK: Local Helsinki rivals to Jokerit with large arena and best attendance in Liiga.
Note: I know two Finnish teams from a great hockey nation seems light but the rest of the clubs, even the good ones, have modest attendance and arenas...just not a ton of population. Karpat, TPS and the two Tampere clubs would be close if I made the ESL bigger. But this leaves Liiga still as a very good league with them only losing HIFK essentially.
CZECH REPUBLIC
- Sparta Praha: Prague-based with good history and huge arena and attendance - a no-brainer.
- Kometa Brno: The primary club in Brno (Czech's second city), big attendance, big arena, historically mighty with domestic and European Cups.
- Dyanmo Pardubice: Extremely well-supported with big attendance and very big arena...7500-8000 attendance even in poor years
Liberec almost make it but not quite as good of historical attendance...but still pretty good and tons of recent success
GERMANY
- Kolner Haie: #3 in all of Europe (including KHL) in attendance. Humongous arena and support. Factory for German players.
- Eisbaren Berlin: #4 in all of Europe (including KHL) in attendance. Berlin market. Huge arena and support. Plenty of titles.
- Adler Mannheim: #5 in all of Europe (including KHL) in attendance. Huge arena and support. Factory for German players.
Had to draw a line somewhere so Dusseldorfer miss out but in terms of financials and attendance they could very well be in here over some other teams. Also with Red Bull backing, EHC Munchen has a case as well. Just didn't want too many German clubs.
SWITZERLAND
- SC Bern: No-brainer - far and away the best supported team inn Europe year after year, including the KHL clubs.
- ZSC Lions: #8 in Europe in attendance, Zurich market, Swiss factory...no question.
- HC Lausanne: Extremely well-supported (11th in all of Europe) in big, brand new state-of-the-art arena in Switzerland's 4th city.
EV Zug just miss the cut - big, well-supported team and Swiss player factory. Almost all the Swiss teams have great attendance and financials but had to draw a line.
SLOVAKIA
- Slovan Bratislava: Former KHL team that has always had great ambitions. Had insanely good support in KHL days with attendance over 10,000 per game. This gives them a good home to match their ambition.
Any qualms about my choices? Anybody want to make a case for somebody I left out? I don't want the league to get too big so I have to draw a line in the sand with membership.