In their opening games on Friday night, Luleå Hockey won 5-2 in Finland against Jukurit Mikkeli, while in somewhat of a suprise, Sparta Prague fell 3-2 at home to the Aalborg Pirates. Now Luleå will try to put themselves into a very comfortable position in Group A by winning their first two games with three of their remaining four at home. On the flip side, Sparta are in danger of falling into a deep hole if they drop each of their first two home games.

Sparta lost on Friday but it was not due to lack of try on the part of captain Michal Řepík, who scored both of the team’s goals and was a plus-2. Goaltender Jan Kovář stopped 30 of 33 Aalborg shots. He may expect a lot of rubber again on Sunday as Luleå fired 45 on the Jukurit goal, led by Julius Honka’s nine, which produced a goal. Eimar Emanuelsson scored two goals on six shots.

This will be an interesting game for two Czechs in Luleå’s lineup – 26-year-old defenceman Filip Pyrochta and 21-year-old winger Radek Mužík – who are both likely to have family and friends in attendance. Pyrochta is in his second season in Northern Europe and has several years of Extraliga experience, whereas Mužík has played for Luleå since the age of 17.

Likewise, Sparta have a couple of Swedes in their lineup – brothers Gustaf and Erik Thorell. Erik, 30, played for Sparta last year and is one of the team’s top offensive players, and he’s joined by his older brother this season.

Both of these teams have a lot of CHL experience and success in the competition. This is Luleå’s fifth appearance, winning the European Trophy on home ice back in 2014/15 and reaching the Semi-Finals in their most recent appearance in 2019/20. This is also the fifth time in the CHL for Sparta, who reached the Final in 2016/17 and made the Quarter-Finals last year.

Despite all of that, this will be the first-ever CHL meeting between these two teams.