Storhamar Hamar bested rival Norwegian club Vålerenga Oslo to claim their eighth national title and secure their place in the 2024/25 Champions Hockey League as they get set to go up against CHL alumni ZSC Lions Zurich who are, themselves, entering the competition having enjoyed their own domestic success claiming their tenth title.

Zurich were the team to beat in their domestic league, producing 35 wins out of 52 games played to secure the top place in the NL. They would eventually go on to face fellow CHL club Lausanne HC in the final where Zurich would engineer a 2-0 shutout in Game 7 of the best-of series.

Leading the forward corps. are former NHLers Denis Malgin, Jesper Frödén, and Derek Grant. Malgin made good with 18 goals, 29 assists for 47 points in 48 contests while Frödén managed 40 points (22G, 18A) and Grant contributed 39 points (18G, 21A) to the cause.

On the Norwegian side, Storhamar have a history of rising to the challenge against Europe's elite, having produced respectable results in both of their previous campaigns - in 2015/16 they defeated the likes of Sparta Prague and Genève-Servette; then in 2018/19, they took down powerhouses in Oceláři Třinec and Tappara Tampere. Now, after five years away from the competition, Storhamar have their sights set on continuing their story of underdogs and upsets.

Jacob Berglund, now in his third season with the club, will be one to watch. Last year, the 32-year-old Swede generated 23 goals and 22 assists for 45 points in 44 games. Meanwhile, Norwegian netminder Markus Røhnebæk Stensrud was terrific in the blue paint, sporting a .920 SV% and 1.62 GAA in 37 regular season match-ups along with .910 SV% and 1.88 GAA in 14 postseason games.