The 2025/26 Champions Hockey League campaign has been a gritty, hard-fought journey for SHL side Luleå Hockey. Entering as reigning Swedish champions and a perennial contender on the European club ice hockey scene, the former CHL Champions and two-time Finalists of Europe's biggest club ice hockey competition navigated a tough Regular Season draw, dramatic two-legged ties and comeback scares in the Playoffs to reach the ultimate game of the season.
Rewinding the clock all the way back to late August 2025 takes us to the time the northern-most side of the Swedish Hockey League had two back-to-back home games to start their sixth CHL season.
The first game ends in an OT defeat to EV Zug, but game #2 against Swiss mega club SC Bern sees Luleå take their first win of the season, before the Swedes head out on a two-game road trip to the continent, picking up another three points against GKS Tychy but having to do with just one against Sparta Prague as the Czechs beat them in a close game ending in a shootout.
The October CHL Regular Season games saw Luleå wobble again: a 2-0 defeat to Pinguins Bremerhaven on the road meant the Swedes had to finish strong, but Italian side HC Bolzano really made them work for it, with Luleå's Mathias Bromé scoring and epic game-winner in overtime to qualify the Swedes for the Playoffs.
After finishing the Regular Season in 9th place, Luleå were drawn against reigning Czech Extraliga champions Kometa Brno and really upped the pressure, beating the Czechs 6-1 in the Coop Norrbotten Arena. A cagey 5-3 loss on the road followed, but the Swedes still advanced with a comfortable margin and well in control of the game, giving them confidence that they could win tight European series.
It also gave us one of the best goals of the season, featuring Brian O'Neill getting tucking in an epic saucer pass right in front of net!
The Quarter-Finals saw Luleå face their toughest challengers yet: unbeaten Regular Season Winners Ilves Tampere - firm favourites to contest for the European Trophy in March.
But Luleå didn't crack under pressure, instead delivering one of their most complete performances of the campaign against Finnish heavyweights Ilves, with wins both home and away (Ilves's only two losses of the season!) pushing them firmy through into the Top 4.
Remember that Game Day 1 loss to Zug? Luleå had two games to make up for that as they met Swiss side EV Zug again across two games with a place in the CHL Final up for grabs. First up: an away trip to Switzerland.
Away games have troubled Luleå up to this point, but the Swedes were strong when it mattered most, often overpowering Zug and controlling the game to maintain a one-goal edge heading into the Return Game also in large part thanks to some brilliant netminding courtesy of Joel Lassinantti.
And the Return Game? Another 3-2 decision in favour of the Swedes, as a trio of Luleå's most faithful scorers decided the game to qualify the club for their third CHL Final!
Just one final contender awaits Luleå this season, as the Swedes face familiar side Frölunda Gothenburg in the Scandinavium on 3 March 2026. Which of the two will lift the European Trophy? Stick with us and we'll find out when puck drops in the all-or-nothing CHL Final!