Following the Group Stage Draw for the 2022/23 season of the Champions Hockey League, we spoke to representatives of the teams drawn into Group C to find out their thoughts about their opponents.

Group C is one of the toughest groups of the upcoming season. CHL newcomers Rapperswil-Jona Lakers will have to fend off seven-time participants and last season's Finalists Tappara Tampere, six-time participants and last season's Semi-Finalists Red Bull Munich and internationally experienced side Slovan Bratislava from Slovakia.

Janick Steinmann, Sports Director of Rapperswil-Jona Lakers, acknowledged that his side were drawn into a "really tough group," adding, "but I'm really excited and I believe it will be a great challenge for us."

Munich's Sports Director Christian Winkler said, "It's a really challenging Group Stage, we will play three top teams, especially Tappara, who we played in last season's Semi-Final." 

Tappara and Munich battled it out for a place in the Final in a one-game Semi-Final showdown last season. Tappara won the game 3-0 and moved on to face Rögle Ängelholm in the Final, but Munich had many key players missing from their line-up and are looking forward to a rematch in full strength. 

"I think it will be a really high-end game," said Winkler, "but also Slovan Bratislava, who are one of the top teams in Slovakia and with Rapperswil-Jona we will face a Swiss team on the rise."

"These teams will challenge us, but in the end we want to be one of the teams that moves on to the Playoffs," ended Winkler.

"Group C is one of the toughest Groups in this season of the CHL," started Slovan Bratislava's Sports Director Oto Haščák, "Tappara are reigning Liiga champions, they are from a country that just won the World Championship and their roster and talent is amazing."

"Munich have been really strong over the last few years and are challenging for the title each and every season," said Haščák about the DEL side.

"Rapperswil are strong offensively with a high forecheck and have many experienced players in their line-up," concluded the Slovak.

Aki Näykki, Goaltending Coach for Tappara Tampere thinks, "it's a really tough and tight group for sure, there are some really good teams coming up but that's the goal in the CHL."

"We're looking forward to the challenge," concluded Näykki.

Watch their full reactions below