We've asked representatives from the clubs a few questions relating to their club competing in the CHL in 2014/15. We've arranged the answers into 11 articles, one for each group. We started with Group A, and up next is Group B, which consists of ZSC Lions Zurich, Färjestad Karlstad, the Vienna Capitals and Vålerenga Oslo. Zurich will finally have a chance to defend the Champions Hockey League crown they won in 2009.
Staff Writers
What do you think of the group you've been drawn into?
Peter Zahner (CEO, ZSC Lions Zurich): "It's an interesting group for us. Of course the Swedish teams are some of the best in Europe and they are favourites in their groups, but so far we are very satisfied with the draw."
Leif Carlsson (sports manager, Färjestad Karlstad): "We're playing against Oslo, which is almost a derby, only two hours by bus from our city. We've got Vienna, and our coach (Tommy Samuelsson) was a coach there for three years. And then also ZSC Lions, which are one of the best Swiss clubs."
Franz Kalla (general manager, Vienna Capitals): "It's great. I mean, if you just look at the names of our opponents, it is a perfect group with some strong teams. I am especially happy that Tommy Samuelsson (former Capitals coach, now with Färjestad) is coming back to Vienna. He already texted me, saying 'Welcome to Karlstad!'"
Jan Tore Kjær (general manager, Vålerenga Oslo): "I am very happy with the draw. There are some strong teams in our group. We have the champions of Switzerland and Sweden and a top Austrian team. It is going to be a great experience for the club and the players."
Which team in your group do you think is the strongest?
Zahner (ZSC): "Farjestad has a really good team, well known in Europe, but we like to play against Swedish teams and we have a good chance. Maybe we're the favourites on paper against Oslo and Vienna, but countries like Norway and Austria have made so much progress in recent years."
Carlsson (FBK): "It's really hard to say, but Zurich is always a good team."
Kalla (VIC): "They'll all be a challenge for us. There's a reason we were in pot number three (for the Draw)."
What does competing in the Champions Hockey League mean to your club?
Zahner (ZSC): "We're the defending champions of the Champions Hockey League, which played only one season in 2008/09. I look forward to this new CHL because I feel it is very important for ice hockey to have this type of international competition."
Carlsson (FBK): "It's something special for our fans to see teams from different countries, and we hope a lot of them come to support us abroad, especially in Oslo. We also have a three Norwegian players on our team (Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, Marius Holtet and Martin Roymark), so it will be very interesting for them to play against a Norwegian club."
Kalla (VIC): "The CHL is a great product."
Kjær (VIF): "I think our fans are going to enjoy it. Some games start early in the season (late August), but I still think many of them will come out to support us."
How far do you expect your team to advance in the competition?
Zahner (ZSC): "I expect to proceed to the next round of course. You cannot play in the group stage and not have this goal, but all four teams will have the same goal, so let's see who'll make the next step."
Carlsson (FBK): "We want to go as far as we can and hopefully make the final, as we did last year in the European Trophy. We want to be one of the best teams in Europe, that's always our goal."
Kalla (VIC): "We want to play hard against our opponents, compete with them, but we're not the favourites."
Kjær (VIF): "On a good day, we can advance to the next level, but it's obviously going to be tough. But this is our chance to put Norwegian clubs on the hockey map."