In Group G, newcomers Brynäs IF will aim to top a group that involves CHL regulars IFK Helsinki and Red Bull Munich, with Comarch Cracovia hoping to earn Poland’s first victory in the competition.
Red Bull Munich
- Two-time defending DEL champions
- 3rd CHL appearance, Round of 32 2015/16 & 2016/17
- Club information
Munich have established themselves as the class of German hockey the past two seasons. However, they haven’t been as lucky in the knockout stages in the CHL. After topping their group twice, the Red Bulls were defeated in the Round of 32 both years. First it was Lukko Rauma and then the Växjö Lakers, so Finnish and Swedish teams have been their Achillies heels. If they hope to get into the Round of 16 for the first time this year, they’ll have to beat either IFK Helsinki or Brynäs. In their attempt, coach Don Jackson will ice a similar lineup, led by veteran forwards Michael Wolf and Keith Aucoin and German national team goaltender Danny aus den Birken.
Brynäs IF
- SHL finalists, 13 titles overall
- 1st CHL appearance, European Cup runners-up 1971/72 & 1972/73
- Club information
Brynäs has a long and proud history in Swedish hockey, and the club’s trip to the SHL finals last season means a chance to compete for a European title after a long absence. After reaching the European final twice and the final four twice more, the club has not appeared on European club hockey’s biggest stage since 1999/2000. Despite this, the club does have CHL experience on its roster, particularly goalie David Rautio, defenceman Elias Fälth (who won the title with Frölunda in 2015/16) and young Finnish winger Juuso Ikonen.
IFK Helsinki
- Liiga quarter-finalists, 7 titles overall
- 4th CHL appearance, Round of 16 in 2014/15 & 2016/17
- Club information
After a less-than-stellar 9th-place finish in the Finnish regular season, IFK Helsinki advanced to the semi-finals to re-qualify for the CHL. Twice they’ve reached the Round of 16, where they were felled by Swedish clubs. They’ve never faced German or Polish opponents. Historically, IFK Helsinki finished 3rd in the European Cup in 1974/75 and 2nd in 1980/81. Heading into the new season, the team’s biggest addition might be two-time CHL champion forward Patrik Carlsson, formerly of Frölunda. The team seems set in goal, where youngster Kevin Lankinen has unseated veteran Nicklas Bäckström.
Comarch Cracovia
- Two-time defending Polish champions, 10 titles overall
- 2nd CHL appearance, 2nd Round of Continental Cup, 2009/10 and 2010/11
- Club information
For the second straight year, Cracovia won the Polish championship to qualify for the Champions Hockey League. Last year, they lost all four games in a tough group with Sparta Prague and Färjestad Karlstad, but played home games in front of large, enthusiastic crowds and lost narrowly in Prague 5-4, thanks to a CHL-record 60-save performance by Rafał Radziszewski. Radziszewski, the veteran goaltender of the Polish national team, will be back again to try to help the Polish squad earn its first CHL points. Another veteran that will try to help the team is Czech defenceman Lukáš Zib, who joined the team part way through last season. Zib scored a CHL goal for Oceláři Třinec back in 2014/15.