The Växjö Lakers and SC Bern are two of the more recognizable names in European club hockey right now. Both teams are entering their fifth consecutive CHL campaigns and both have been dominant in their domestic leagues in recent years, with the Lakers capturing two Swedish titles in the last four seasons and Bern winning four Swiss titles out of the last eight. These two teams met in the CHL Quarter-Finals last season, with the Lakers prevailing 6-5 on aggregate, and both have their sights set on advancing past the Group Stage again.

Last season, Växjö won just about everything there was to win except for one thing, losing the CHL Final to JYP Jyväskylä on home ice on 6 February. They’ll try to open up the new CHL campaign on the right foot but it won’t be easy, going up against perennial Swiss powerhouses SC Bern. A lot of the key pieces to their championship team last season are gone, including Robert Rosén and Elias Pettersson to the KHL and NHL, respectively. They are fortunate to be able to use the services of Joel Persson, who has signed with the Edmonton Oilers, before NHL training camps begin. A notable addition is Czech forward Roman Horák.

After bowing out to Växjö in the CHL, Bern finished first overall in the National League regular season but failed to three-peat as Swiss champions, losing in the semi-finals. Since then, there have been some changes to their roster, with a notable addition being defenceman Adam Almqvist, who has plenty of CHL experience. Slovene centre Jan Muršak, a former Detroit Red Wing, will also make his competitive debut with Bern. Muršak, Almqvist and defenceman Calle Andersson all have SHL experience. 

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