New champions League logo unveiled

The shareholders - the International Ice Hockey Federation and the six founding leagues  (Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland) - and the 26 founding clubs had the first General Meeting in Zurich to elect the Board, the previous interim Board was re-elected, including Swedish Anders Ternbom as chairman. A staff of four people was named to work in the new tournamet management:

Martin Baumann, who brings with him vast experience in managing businesses in international environments from the finance industry, was presented as Managing Director, Szymon Szemberg, who has been working for the IIHF for the last 13 years, was introduced as Chief Operating Officer, Bo Lennartsson, former Färjestad club manager, who has been working for the European Trophy, was appointed Sport Director, and Patrick Jost, who was involved in the Champions Hockey League in 2008/2009 working for the then commercial partner of the league’s first edition, will be the new Marketing and Event Director.

The 26 founding members (see below) own a so called A-licence, similar to one existing in Basketball Euroleague, with multiple-year participation if they fulfil a number of pre-conditions including being a member of their country’s top league in 2014/2015. The 12 B-licence clubs are two additional teams from each of the six founding leagues – mainly the champion and the regular-season winner. In case they are already in as A-licence clubs, other teams from the country such as the runner-up of the regular season, the losing playoff finalist or a losing semi-finalist will take the B-licence spot. The remaining spots - from two to five - will be distribuited for C-licence clubs from other countries. The targeted contries are Slovakia, Norway, Denmark, France, Italy and Great Britain. The countries will be named in March. 13th May is the deadlineto close the  list of teams while the draw is planned on 21st May in Minsk during the Ice Hockey World Championship.

The board also announced that the total prize money will be €1.5 million in the first year including €875,000 that will go to teams as participation fees. The C.H.L. winner will be able to earn up to €160,000.

“We are in negotiation with the KHL. We won’t have them in for the first season but we hope we will have a deal signed for the second season”  said Anders Ternbom about tthe question of the absence of Russian and KHL clubs

During the General Meeting was also unveiled the new logo for the league. “We wanted the logo to be simple, cool, buts still classic and European, red seems to be the colour that mostly fits with all other colours. Like that we won’t have arguments about the team colours of the many clubs.” said board Member Timo Everi.

The CHL Board

Representing the Clubs:
Anders Ternbom, SWE, chairman
Petr Briza, CZE
Timo Everi, FIN
Peter John Lee, GER
Peter Zahner, SUI
Rupert Zamorsky, AUT

The Leagues:
Christian Feichtinger, AUT
Gernot Tripcke, GER

The IIHF:
Kalervo Kummola, FIN

The Founding Leagues and its Founding Clubs:

Austria (EBEL): Red Bull Salzburg, Vienna Capitals.

Czech Republic (Extraliga): Bili Tygri Liberec, HC Pardubice, Sparta Prague, Vitkovice Ostrava.

Finland (Liiga): IFK Helsinki, JYP Jyväskylä, KalPa Kuopio, Kärpät Oulu, Tappara Tampere, TPS Turku.

Germany (DEL): Adler Mannheim, Eisbären Berlin, ERC Ingolstadt, Krefeld Pinguine.

Switzerland (NLA): SC Bern, Fribourg-Gottéron, ZSC Lions Zurich, EV Zug.

Sweden (SHL): Djurgården Stockholm, Frölunda Gothenburg, Färjestad Karlstad, HV71 Jönköping, Linköpings HC, Luleå Hockey.

 

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