The race to qualify for the milestone 10th season of Europe's biggest club ice hockey competition is in full swing and with 14 places of the 24-strong line-up already filled, it's time to give an overview of who could be joining the Champions Hockey League fold soon!
ICE Hockey League
The ICE HL playoffs semi-finals are in full swing and with already-qualified KAC Klagenfurt breezing past Val Pusteria 4-0, the spotlight is on Red Bull Salzburg vs. HC Bolzano who are currently tied 2-2 in their battle for a place in the finals.
That opens up two outcomes - if Salzburg beat Bolzano to the spot in the finals, they will be sure of a place in the upcoming season of the Champions Hockey League as they can either qualify as ICE HL champions or as the third-placed finishers in the regular season in the case Klagenfurt beat them. In short, win-win for Salzburg.
However, if Bolzano take on Klagenfurt in the finals it's all in the Italian club's hands. If they are crowned ICE HL champions, they're through for their fifth season on the pan-European stage. If they lose and Klagenfurt win the series, Salzburg are the lucky loser.
The deciding games are just days away!
Challenger Leagues
After getting our first Challenger League qualifier late last week in the form of the EIHL's Sheffield Steelers, our next will most likely come from Poland, as the battle for the Polish national title and the league's one and only place in the CHL is set to start very soon.
The two teams gearing up for the fight? 2022/23 CHL participants GKS Katowice and Unia Oswiecim - a team we've yet to have welcomed to our European hockey family.
We'll keep you posted!
Shareholder Leagues
The playoffs are in progress across all of Europe's leagues and we're closer and closer to getting new qualifiers but we still have to wait a bit longer.
Be sure to return for all the latest Champions Hockey League news and stay tuned to our social channels to be the first to find out about new qualifiers and other updates!