Before the CHL next week we look at Group P

HV71 Jönköping

The SHL side are based in the south of Sweden and although they made the close season were defeated by Skellefteå AIK. Their home rink is the Kinnarps arena which was one of the venues chosen for the 2002 World Championships.

Their roster is a mixture of Swedes and imports but the one who stands out is Mattias Tendenby. He was 24^th overall in the draft of 2008 being taken by the New Jersey Devils. He played over 120 games for them before returning to HV71 where he played for the last two years. Someone else to watch for is Canadian centre Chris Abbott who captained Luleå to their inaugural title in 2014-15.

Last season they were in the same group as Salzburg, and this is the third season in a row they have been paired together at the group stage.

They exited at the last 16 stage, losing 4-2 to Finns Espoo Blues. HV71 are four times Swedish champions. They were formed after a merger between Husqvarna IF:s and Vätterstads IF on  May 24 1971.

Red Bull Salzburg

Champions of the EBEL they won the league convincingly, a clear ten points (105 in all) in front of their nearest rivals Orli Znojmo. It is their second successive title and sixth overall.

They play out of the Eisarena Salzburg which has a capacity of 3,600.

Last season Salzburg made the last 32 of the CHL, beaten by Norwegian side Storhamar Ishockey 6-3 over two legs.

In Canadian forwards John Hughes and Ryan Duncan they have two players who were in the top five of scoring in the whole league last year, Hughes topping the scoring in 2013-14. They were first and second respectively for their club: Hughes with 66 points and Duncan with 10 less.

Sheffield Steelers

This will be their second journey in the CHL. Last year they were up against top sides Frölunda Indians (Sweden) and JYP Jyväskylä (Norway) and found them too hot to handle, going out in after the group stage.

They play from the 8,500 capacity Sheffield Arena, a stadium originally built for the Student games in 1991.

They are nine times champions of Britain and they have won it for the last two years.

There stand out players are Mathieu Roy – top scorer two years ago – and Tyler Mosienko who top score with 68 points last year.

Rod Sarich (577 appearances) the long serving defenceman is coming out of retirement for the CHL.

CHL PROMOTION VIDEO FROM SHEFFIELD

Tweets by @eurohockey