Slovakia and Norway get wild card for Champions League

According to Swedish tv SVT, the two remaining spots for next Champions Hockey League (CHL), the so-called wild cards, will be allocated to the champion of Slovakia and Norway, the two leagues that are rated highest by the six leagues that already has teams in the tournament. Last Friday, in a press release, the organization announced DEL finalist Kolner Haie and newly promoted to Swedeish SHL Djurgarden as last two additional teams. The Champions League will count with 40 teams, 38 of which belong to the six founders: Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, Czech Republic, Germany and Austria.. A total of 1.5 million euros will be awarded. It is about five times more than the money that has been at stake in the predecessor European Trophy.

Both Slovakian and Norwegian league are currently at playoffs finals: Continental Cup champion Stavanger Oilers leads series 3-2 over Valerenga, while Nitra and Kosice are 1-1 in Slovakia Extraliga. "It was important for us to have a ranking. France and Denmark were the following ones" says Champions League Chairman Anders Ternbom.  The final list of partecipants wiull be released May 10 and the draw to determine the composition of 10 groups will be held in Minsk May 21 during the World Championship.

These are the clubs participant:

Austria (EBEL): Red Bull Salzburg, Vienna Capitals, VSV Villach, Bolzano Foxes
Czech Republic (Extraliga): Bili Tygri Liberec, HC Pardubice, Sparta Prague, Vitkovice Ostrava, Ocelari Trinec, PSG Zlin
Finland (Liiga): HIFK Helsinki, JYP Jyvaskyla, KalPa Kuopio, Karpat Oulu, Tappara Tampere, TPS Turku, Lukko Rauma, SaiPa Lappeenranta
Germany (DEL): Adler Mannheim, Eisbaren Berlin, ERC Ingolstadt, Krefeld Pinguine, Hamburg Freezers, Kolner Haie
Switzerland (NLA): SC Bern, Fribourg-Gotteron, ZSC Lions Zurich, EV Zug, Geneve-Servette, Kloten Flyers
Sweden (SHL): Djurgarden Stockholm (confirmed after the promotion to SHL), Frolunda Gothenburg, Farjestad Karlstad, HV71 Jonkoping, Linkopings HC, Lulea Hockey. Skelleftea AIK,  Vaxjo Lakers.

Slovakia Extraliga: Nitra or Kosice
Norway GET-Ligaen: Stavanger Oilers or Valerenga

Teams in italic red are the founding clubs, teams in black are the additional teams

 

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