These two teams had quite the opposite experiences when Game Day 1 of the 2024/25 season of the Champions Hockey League struck - for reigning Norwegian champions Storhamar Hamar it was a 0-point season start whilst for Fribourg-Gottéron it was a full +3 points. 

However, both teams were wobbly in the back with both of them letting in three (in Fribourg's case) or more (in Storhamar's case) goals throughout 60 minutes. Despite the contrasting results, there were positives from their first outings of the season. For instance, both teams played a clean game with limited penalty minutes and therefore didn't find themselves on the back foot often. 

For Storhamar, who failed to overcome the mighty ZSC Lions Zurich, the first and so far only goalscorer of the season heading into this game is Jacob Berglund. For Fribourg, Killian Mottet shined up front with two goals, including a very nice game-winner that won him the first Play of the Night of the season, and teammates Marcus Sörensen (1G, 2A) and Lucas Wallmark (1G, 3A) all had nights to remember with great offensive showings.

Fribourg may have the slight upper hand in this match-up but Storhamar weren't completely out of depth against reigning Swiss champions Zurich and had some promising plays. With their home fans behind them, Storhamar could just surprise Fribourg, and if anything has proved successful against them, it's been surprises, because when the Sheffield Steelers came out at them all guns blazing, the Swiss found themselves two goals down on home ice under five minutes into the game. That can't happen again.