We spoke to representatives of our five Challenger League participants from Denmark, France, Norway, Poland and Slovakia following the CHL Draw in Zurich, Switzerland, to find out what their goals were for the upcoming season, what they thought about their six Regular Season opponents and who they were most looking forward to playing.
First to speak was Stephan Tartari, CEO and General Manager of the Bordeaux Boxers, who highlighted just how happy the reigning French champions are to be in the Champions Hockey League for the first time.
"We're so excited to discover the CHL!"Stephan Tartari, CEO & General Manager Bordeaux Boxers
"We are playing against two Austrian teams away, which is good for our travel, while at home we have two exciting Czech teams and Adler Mannheim," commented the CEO and General Manager on Bordeaux's Draw.
"In August, we will prepare to face all the teams as best we can. It's going to be very exciting for all our fans and sponsors," he said, going on to highlight Frölunda Gothenburg as the team they are most looking forward to playing: "They are one of the best teams in Europe and are the reigning CHL Champions. They are a great team."
Jaroslaw Rzeszutko, CEO and Sport Director of GKS Tychy said that the reigning Polish champions are prepared to "be ready to play our best hockey" and "ready to give their all every single night".
Their main goal for the season against Europe's best?
"A polish team have never been promoted to the R16 so that's the goal"Jaroslaw Rzeszutko, CEO & Sport Director, GKS Tychy
Aside form that, the Poles are looking forward to facing some of Europe's very best teams, including past CHL Champions Genève-Servette and Tappara Tampere, as well as HC Davos, Adler Mannheim, Dynamo Pardubice and HC Pilsen. Who stands out as the team they are most looking forward to facing?
"Every single one!" said Rzeszutko, "honestly, it's true. Maybe for our Finnish players, facing Tappara will be the one they are looking forward to, but from my view, every game is going to be exciting."
Herning Blue Fox are another team set to make their CHL debut come September and in the words of Head Coach Garth Murray, the reigning Danish champions are ready!
"We're ready to compete at this level," he started, "we want to represent Denmark and our league and show we play good hockey here."
Teams from Finland and Switzerland will make the trip to Demark in the 2026/27 Regular Season, while Herning will visit Czechia and Germany on their quest to make the Round of 16. What are their thoughts on the Draw?
"I'm excited to face Fribourg and hope to learn from them"Garth Murray, Head Coach Herning Blue Fox
"Playing in Germany is something we are really looking forward to. Fribourg-Gottéron coming in is going to be really exciting," commented Murray on the Draw.
"The Finnish teams I've played and coached against before, they are going to make it hard for us. And the Czechs? They are going to be big, strong and structured," he added.
For HK Nitra, it's a big return to the pan-European club ice hockey stage for the first time since 2016/17 and for General Manager Tomáš Chrenko, the goal is simple - though it seemed simpler before the Draw took place.
"The goal was to reach the Playoffs, but after the Draw, we see that's going to be really difficult"Tomáš Chrenko, General Manager HK Nitra
"This really is the Champions Hockey League. We are going to play against really good teams from the best hockey countries in the world," commented Chrenko.
Storhamar Hamar are in the CHL for a third season in a row and once again ready to rise to the challenge. Looking at their Regular Season Draw, featuring not one, not two but THREE past CHL Champions, the Norwegian side really have their work cut out for them.
"We will face very difficult teams, so we need to take it one game at a time," admitted Espen Løvås, CEO of the organisation, "we want to make the Playoffs, but that's going to be very, very difficult."
"Facing Frölunda at home is going to be huge for our fans!"Espen Løvås, CEO Storhamar Hamar
Aside from the three past CHL Champions - Genève-Servette, Tappara Tampere and Frölunda Gothenburg - the 10-time champions of Norway will face experienced Swiss side HC Davos and a duo of teams from Austria in KAC Klagenfurt and reigning ICE Hockey League champions the Graz99ers across the six-game Regular Season.
"It's going to be a tough season, but if you take it a game at a time, you stand a chance - we have to go from that," ended the CEO.
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