The 2022/23 Champions Hockey League season began with a bang last night as defending Champions Rögle Ängelholm toppled GKS Katowice in spectacular fashion. A 9-goal frenzy, highlighted by three goals in three minutes, was every bit as exciting as the two teams collided for one the more memorable CHL openers.
“Obviously they’re a very good hockey team in Rögle and they’ve got a lot of firepower,” said Katowice’s Brandon Magee. The 28-year-old year scored the equaliser 11 seconds after Tony Sund put his team on the board to begin the contest.
Magee’s tally was an historical moment for the home side as it was the first goal the club recorded in the CHL. “To have that honour of scoring the first goal is a pretty cool feeling,” he conceded.
We knew that if we just got one, we might be able to get another one quickly.Sheen on the team's mentality heading into the final period.
But what really impressed the Canadian was how his team came together against a tough opponent: “My team and I played structurally and as a unit.”
Unfortunately, their effort eventually fell apart as Rögle went on to control the final period of action.
To this end, Magee recognises that his club has to, “make sure we play a full 60 minutes,” because the other competitors in his Group are, “going to have a lot of firepower” and so Katowice will, “take that lesson from tonight and use it moving forward.”
On the other side of the ice, Rögle newcomer Riley Sheen was not surprised by Katowice’s play in the early going.
“If you’re going to give teams in the Champions Hockey League opportunities on your net, they can put them in.”
The former DEL skater admitted that his club, “spotted them a couple,” but was pleased with how the Swedish side was able to turn the tide in their favour, saying, “We knew that if we just got one, we might be able to get another one quickly and put some serious pressure on them.”
To have that honour of scoring the first goal is a pretty cool feeling.Magee on scoring his club's first CHL goal.
Sheen also appreciated the atmosphere of his first CHL game and was impressed by how intense the fans were: “There were times when we couldn’t hear each other on the bench, especially when they had scored a couple in the first period,” also adding, “it was really loud, but it was great.”