CHL starts with new mode and rule innovations

EC Red Bull Salzburg, HCB Südtirol Alperia and HC TIWAG Innsbruck will represent the win2day ICE Hockey League in the upcoming CHL season, which will be conducted in a new format with 24 participating teams. The basic structure of a regular season (formerly group stage) followed by playoffs will be retained, with two important changes:

• Teams will play six different opponents during the regular season instead of only three (teams will play each other only once)
• Teams will be ranked from 1 to 24 overall, instead of in groups.

Once all Regular Season matches have been played, teams ranked 1-16 will advance to the playoffs, where they will be automatically assigned opponents based on their position in the standings - a playoff draw as in the past is no longer necessary.

CHL introduces rule innovations
The Champions Hockey League will draw attention to the upcoming season with a novelty: Europe’s elite club ice hockey competition will introduce three on-ice rule innovations as a first mover. The new rules will change the game and add an extra layer of excitement.

The following three on-ice rule changes will be introduced starting with the 2023/24 Champions Hockey League season:

• Minor penalties dealt the same as major: a team which caused a minor penalty will remain shorthanded even if the opposing team scores a goal
• Serving delayed penalties: a minor penalty will be served even if a goal is scored while a delayed penalty is pending
• Shorthander erases current minor penalty: if a shorthanded team scores, the minor penalty against will end

"Changes are important for hockey"
Tom Kowal, who has worked 1,106 games in the NHL, has been Director of Officiating in the win2day ICE Hockey League since 2021. The 55-year-old also holds this position in the Champions Hockey League, and as a member of the CHL Sports Committee he was involved in the rule changes. "Some of our ideas have been way out there and some have been just minor changes. I think the game has evolved and the players have evolved, changes are important. What we're trying to do here is to make the game better at the end of the day, goals or even just scoring chances create excitement. Look at the generation of fans is coming up. We have to create excitement and so they come back to the buildings. I think that's what these rules are designed for. I think these changes will really effect the game - especially in the third period and I'm excited to see them play out", said Kowal, who also talked on the coaches' perspective: "It's amazing to see how coaches adapt and how coaches thrive. They're thinking about how the new rules can help their team. So I'm interested to see how the teams adapt in the different styles they play through these rules".


Referee expert Tom Kowal was involved in the CHL rule innovations.

In the Champions Hockey League, there are seven head referees and seven linesmen each from the win2day ICE Hockey League. The Canadian is sure that all referees will quickly get used to the new rules. "Many of the game officials work international IIHF events. They've had to use different rule books at times, and perhaps a different standard at times, so I think the group that we have is very adaptable and I think they're excited by it. And I think they'll do a great job again".