Lukko Rauma will host Swiss side Lausanne HC at Kivikylän Areena to open their 2021/22 Champions Hockey League season. Both clubs will be facing off against each other for the first time, so there’s plenty to be excited about.

Lausanne qualified for the competition after finishing fourth in the Swiss NL, and newly appointed head coach John Fust is looking to translate that success onto the CHL ice. With his club’s combination of Swiss and North American hockey styles, Fust believes they will be able to “grind away” at their opponents and advance past the Group Stage.

The Swiss side is prepared to repeat their run from the 2019/20 season having acquired some significant additions, including Martin Gernát on the backend and Jason Fuchs at centre. Gernát arrived from HC Oceláři Třinec, where he posted 41 points in 50 games this past season. Fuchs brings speed and sees the ice extremely well; it also helps that Fust trained him with the Swiss U20 national team.

Lukko have qualified for four previous campaigns where they have had mixed results. After earning a 6-4 record during the 2014/15 season, their last appearance - a 1-5 record in 2016/17 - was anything but memorable.

This year could be drastically different. On the heels of their first Finnish title in nearly 60 years, Lukko look “to play hard and get good results since the first game,” according to head coach Marko Virtanen. Having arguably the best goalie in Finland in Lassi Lehtinen should go a long way.