Champions Hockey League (CHL) - Game Day 5 Review

Group A

Sweden's Frölunda Indians crushed Denmark's Aalborg Pirates 6-0 at home ensuring qualification for themselves and knocking out the Danes. 18 year old Samuel Fagermo impressed for the home side with three goals on the night.

In the other game ZSC Zurich set themselves up nicely with a 7-4 home victory over Vienna Capitals with a third period that saw six goals, three each. It sets up a dramatic final match next week where only the winner will qualify for the knockout stages.

Group B

Red Bull Munich secured top place in the group with a 3-2 victory at home over Malmö Redhawks. And despite their loss, the Swedish team will also go through to the knockout phase. That's because results in the other game, where Finnish TPS beat Youost Minsk at home, means that neither of these teams can qualify leaving them playing for pride when they meet next week in Belarus. Munich's Canadian forward Trevor Parkes, however, will probably be eager to add to his six goals which currently make him the top goal scorer in the competetion.

Group C

Swedish giants, Skellefteå AIK recorded their fourth regulation win, with a 5-1 victory away from home against IFK Helsinki. Two assists by Joakim Lindström (pictured)put him on nine points in third place in the competition on Total Points. Meanwhile his team are safely through to the next round.

In the other match Italian team HC Bolzano Foxes find themselves in danger of not qualifying despite a near perfect start to the campaign with wins against Swedish and Finnish oppositions. Polish champions GKS Tychy took their first points of the campaign winning at home 5-3 against the EBEL champions. The Italians must win their home game against the Poles next week or rely on Skellefteå repeating their victory to qualify.

Group D

Like Group B, we now know who will go forward to the knockout round from this group. Czech Kometa Brno may have lost 2-3 to Swiss team, EV Zug on the night but both teams will qualify to the next round. Zug decided to leave it late with all three goals coming in the last 13 minutes of play, Lino Martschini getting one goal and one assist in the frantic final period.

In the other match, German club, Eisbären Berlin finally got it's first win in the competition in a 4-1 home victory over Neman Grodno. The Belarus team will be wanting revenge next week as well as looking to build momentum as their defend their national title.

Group E

The only team certain to qualify with one match to go is Finnish Tampere Tappara who won a close fought game 5-3 away from home against Stockholm Djurgården IF. That means the Swedish club must win in the return fixture next week in Finland to guarantee to qualifying for the knockout stages.

Patrik Thoresen kept Norwegian club Storhamar Hamar's hopes of second round play alive with a game winning goal with just 1:21 left on the clock. They overcame a 1-2 deficient coming into the last period against last year's semi-finalists, Ocelari Trinic. Thoresen continues to impress on his return to his youth club cementing his reputation as one of the best players the country has ever produced.

Group F

Finnish club, Kaapat Oulu, made certain of entry to the second round with a home win against Mountfield HK, who cannot qualify now.

In the other match in France Rouen Dragons had a magical third period where they put 3 past rivals Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers to run out winners 4-2 at home. That forces an exciting return match next week in Germany where only the winner will qualify for the knockout rounds. 

Group G

This is another group which will not need the final game to decide who goes through. Game Day 5 may have seen a 3-1 home win by last year's finalists, Växjö Lakers over Cardiff Devils, but the Swedish club will not be going further than the group stages this year. That's because Swiss SC Bern and Austrian Red Bull Salzburg drew 1-1 in regulation taking a home a point a piece. The extra point was won from the shoot out when Swiss Olympian Gräten Haas netted for Bern after teammate and Slovakian Olympic captain, Jan Mursak, leveled for the home side with 7:23 left on the clock in regulation.

Group H

HC Pilzen are through to the knockout stages by virtue of being the only team with a perfect record with five wins out of five, including this week’s win 6-4 at home against HC05 Banská Bystrica. Their Czech forward David Stach also leads the competition in Total Points with 10 (3G plus 7A).

The remaining place will be decided in Finland next week when HC Lugano take on reigning champions JYP in a winner takes all encounter. The current title holders are on the back-foot after losing 0-2 in Switzerland this week where Swiss Olympian Gregory Hofmann was the game changer netting both goals.

Next week sees the final matches of the group stages and the knockout phase begins on 6 November.

Qualification Summary

Frölunda Indians SWE

Zurich Lions SUI or Vienna Capitals AUT

Red Bull Munich GER

Malmö Redhawks SWE

Skellefteå AIK SWE

HC Bolzano ITA or IFK Helsinki FIN

Kometa Brno CZE

ZV Zug SUI

Tampere Tappera FIN

Djurgården IF SWE or Storhamar Hamar NOR

Kaapat Oulu FIN

Rouen Dragons FRA or Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers GER

SC Bern SUI

Red Bull Salzburg AUT

HC Pilsen CZE

JYP Jyväskylä FIN or HC Lugano SUI

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