Any time you face a Swedish team it's tough, but that is especially the case for 2022 SHL finalists and 2014/15 CHL Champions Luleå Hockey, and Jukurit Mikkeli of Finland learned that the hard way in their first encounter in the 2022/23 season of the Champions Hockey League.

Luleå came away victorious as they beat the Finns 5-2 away. The Swedes scored their first of five six minutes into the game before adding three in the span of five minutes midway through the second period as Julius Honka and Konstantin Komarek scored one each and Einar Emanuelsson scored a brace. 

Jukurit's Niklas Peltomäki scored his side's first-ever goal in the CHL but it wasn't nearly enough to change the tides of an already decided game.

Luleå then travelled to Prague to face Czech Extraliga finalists Sparta Prague. They had a back-and-forth game with the Czechs but ultimately left with three points in the bag and their second win in a row. If they are to make that three out of three, they just need to keep their heads down and focus on their game because they have the skill and talent to make the rest fall in place.

Despite losing on their debut, Jukurit did go on to pick up their first-ever win in the CHL against Danish side Aalborg Pirates. They put five into their net as their top scorers and offensive line-ups were on full display - and looking ahead that is what they will need to display against Luleå if they are to add another W to their name from this game.