Release from 30.08.2023

Trio kicks-off Champions Hockey League season

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The ninth season of the Champions Hockey League starts on Thursday including a trio of win2day ICE Hockey League. EC Red Bull Salzburg, HCB Südtirol Alperia and HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie will play their first two games of the Regular Season until Sunday. This year's CHL campaign will be played in a new format and with innovative rule changes.

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Champion EC Red Bull Salzburg, runner-up HCB Südtirol Alperia and for the first time HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie. These three teams of the win2day ICE Hockey League start from Thursday into the ninth season of the Champions Hockey League, which includes quite a few innovations: The format has been changed, 24 instead of 32 teams participate. They all play a regular season, meeting six different opponents. The best 16 teams qualify for the playoffs. There have also been innovative changes to the rules.

>> You can read about all the changes in detail here.

Bolzano starts against Mannheim and Tampere
With face-off on Thursday at 7:30 pm at Adler Mannheim (GER), HCB Südtirol Alperia will be the first team of win2day ICE Hockey to start the new CHL campaign. For the "Foxes" it is already their fourth appearance in this international competition. The two-time ICE champions never got beyond the round of 16. In the preparation, the South Tyroleans won five of their six preseason games - they were only defeated by the Straubing Tigers (0-2). The second regular season encounter this weekend will be played on Saturday, September 2nd at 7:45 pm at home against Ilves Tampere (FIN). Except for Josh Teves (bureaucratic formalities) and Kris Pietroniro (injured), all players are available to Bolzano.

Innsbruck gives CHL premiere on home ice
HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie will play its first game in the Champions Hockey League on Thursday evening (8.20 pm). The Tyroleans welcome Geneve-Servette (SUI), the reigning Swiss champions. "Everyone in the club is excited, you can feel that. We as a team are fired up and looking forward to taking on one of the best teams in Europe," said head coach Mitch O'Keefe. Two days later (Saturday, September 2nd at 6:30 pm), the "Haie" hit the road. In Switzerland, they will face EHC Biel-Bienne, which has been coached by longtime KAC head coach Petri Matikainen since this summer. Innsbruck won two out of three preseason games.

Salzburg hits the road twice
EC Red Bull Salzburg is challenged twice on the road on the opening weekend: First, the ICE champion takes on Skelleftea AIK (SWE) on Friday, September 1st at 7:00 pm. On Sunday, September 3rd at 4:30 pm, the "Red Bulls" also have to travel to Mannheim. Salzburg is participating in the Champions Hockey League for the ninth time. "We are very well prepared. We had very good opponents in preparation and have also already played with the new CHL rules at the Red Bulls Salute tournament. In Skellefteå we can expect typical Swedish hockey; defensively strong, good puck movement, strong skaters. It will be a great challenge and we are looking forward to it", says Ali Wukovits.

>> Full CHL schedule

The games of the Austrian clubs will be broadcast live on ORF Sport+.