Men's Ice Hockey IIHF European Champions Hockey League 2025 - 2026

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Men's Ice Hockey IIHF European Champions Hockey League 2025 - 2026

 

Continental Championship - 28 August 2025 - 3 March 2026

 

 

Official Website
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Edited August 26 by Sindo

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The CHL Format

 

The 2025/2026 edition of the Champions Hockey League will feature 24 participating teams.

 

The structure allows the CHL to run a balanced, attractive and entertaining competition.

 

 

How are the Regular Season fixtures drawn?

 

To draw the fixtures for the Regular Season, teams are allocated into four pots featuring six teams each.

 

The seeding is dependent on the teams’ achievements in their national leagues and the respective league’s standing in the CHL League Ranking.

 

Each team is then drawn against six opponents by drawing two opponents from each of the other three pots.

 

Teams play one team per pot at home and the other one away.

 

The result of each game will combine to make up the overall standings (1st to 24th).

 

Three points are awarded for a win, should a game go to overtime or a shootout, teams share the points 2-1.

 

 

How do the Playoffs work?

 

The Playoffs start with the Round of 16 and all rounds will be played in a two-game, home-and-away, aggregate-scoring series except the Final.

 

Teams face each other based on the overall standings of the Regular Season (1st vs 16th, 2nd vs 15th etc.). 

 

 

 

How are the places allocated?

 

The six Shareholder Leagues take 18 places, equally split to three representatives each.

 

Teams qualify in their domestic leagues on sporting merits according to the following criteria:

 

1. National Champions
2. Regular Season Winners
3. Regular Season Runners-Up
4. Regular Season Third-Placed

 

The reigning CHL Champions are automatically qualified for the next CHL season, which grants an extra qualification place to their league.

 

The minimum of participating countries is set at 11 and therefore five Wild Card teams from Challenger Leagues are part of the CHL.

 

The allocation of Wild Cards is subject to Board approval for each season.

 

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The Teams participating to the 2025/2026 CHL

 

 

•  Belfast Giants
•  Brynäs IF
•  ERC Ingolstadt
•  EV Zug
•  Eisbären Berlin
•  Frölunda Gothenburg
•  GKS Tychy
•  Brûleurs De Loups Grenoble
•  HC Bolzano Foxes
•  Ilves Tampere
•  KAC Klagenfurt
•  KalPa Kuopio
•  Kometa Brno
•  Lausanne HC
•  Lukko Rauma
•  Luleå Hockey
•  Mountfield HK
•  Odense Bulldogs
•  Pinguins Bremerhaven
•  Red Bull Salzburg
•  SC Bern
•  Sparta Prague
•  Storhamar Hamar
•  ZSC Lions Zürich

 

Edited August 26 by phelps

[phelps 8,306]

CHL introduces new “No Return” rule for 3-on-3 Overtime

 

The Champions Hockey League (CHL) remains committed to developing the game by adding a new rule to 3-on-3 overtime starting in the 2025/26 season.

 

The rule is being introduced in close cooperation and agreement with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).

 

The “No Return” rule will prohibit teams in control of the puck in the attacking zone from retreating into the neutral zone during overtime.

 

Should the rule be infringed, play will be stopped and the ensuing face-off will take place in the offending team's defending zone.

 

The rule helps to counteract the recent trend of regrouping under minimal pressure, which has reduced the intensity of 3-on-3 play and led to a higher percentage of games needed to be decided in a shootout.

 

“When 3-on-3 overtime was introduced, it quickly became a fan-favorite due to its quick transitions and odd-man rushes ultimately leading to frequent scoring chances,” said Fadri Holinger, CHL Sport Director.

“However, we’ve seen a steady rise in puck possession-based strategies, with teams constantly leaving the offensive zone, leading to fewer decisive moments. With the ‘No Return’ rule, we want to restore the pace, unpredictability and excitement that 3-on-3 play was meant to deliver. We are confident that it will further increase the excitement for the good of the game.”

 

“We are pleased to support this initiative together with the CHL,” stated Kim Pedersen, IIHF Sport Director and Member of the CHL Sport Committee.

“The ‘No Return’ rule will provide valuable insight into how it can enhance the dynamics of 3-on-3 overtime and the IIHF will closely monitor its implementation, as well as the data and findings gathered throughout its evolution at the highest European club level.”

 

As a baseline, the CHL studied the game flow in overtime across several seasons.

 

Key findings from games over past years showed a significant increase in regrouping and a rise in dead time spent outside the offensive zone, alongside a drop in shot attempts.

 

As a result, the number of games that were not decided in overtime fell continuously.

 

Data analysis from other leagues across Europe and overseas has confirmed similar figures.

 

The CHL previously introduced three other on-ice rule changes for the 2023/24 season.

 

These rules will remain in effect for the 2025/26 season following their successful implementation and the achievement of the predefined aims.

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Regular Season

 

Day 1, Part 1

Thursday 28.08.2025 - Schedule*

 

19:00  Luleå (SWE) - EV Zug (SUI)

19:00  Storhamar Hamar (NOR) - Eisbären Berlin (GER)

19:30  ERC Ingolstadt (GER) - Ilves Tampere (FIN)

20:00  Belfast Giants (GBR) - KalPa Kuopio (FIN)

20:15  Grenoble (FRA) - SC Bern (SUI)

20:20  KAC Klagenfurt (AUT) - Sparta Prague (CZE)

 

*All times CET

 

 

Watch live

 

Check here for details of live TV broadcasts:

https://www.championshockeyleague.com/en/fans/where-to-watch

[phelps 8,306]

Regular Season

 

Day 1, Part 1

Thursday 28.08.2025 - Results

 

Luleå (SWE) - EV Zug (SUI)  2-3 OT (1-0, 0-2, 1-0, 0-1)

Storhamar Hamar (NOR) - Eisbären Berlin (GER)  0-3 (0-1, 0-1, 0-1)

ERC Ingolstadt (GER) - Ilves Tampere (FIN)  1-3 (0-2, 0-1, 1-0)

Belfast Giants (GBR) - KalPa Kuopio (FIN)  2-3 OT (1-1, 1-0, 0-1, 0-1)

Grenoble (FRA) - SC Bern (SUI)  0-2 (0-0, 0-2, 0-0)

KAC Klagenfurt (AUT) - Sparta Prague (CZE)  1-4 (0-1, 0-1, 1-2)

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Regular Season Standings after Day 1, Part 1

 

https://www.chl.hockey/en/standings#select_standings=0&tab_standings=regular-season

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curious start of the CHL season...only road wins 

[phelps 8,306]

Regular Season

 

Day 1, Part 2

Friday 29.08.2025 - Schedule*

 

17:30  Lukko Rauma (FIN) - Lausanne HC (SUI)

17:30  Mountfield HK (CZE) - Odense Bulldogs (DEN)

19:00  Frölunda Gothemburg (SWE) - Bolzano Foxes (ITA)

19:00  Kometa Brno (CZE) - Brynäs IF (SWE)

19:45  ZSC Lions Zürich (SUI) - Pinguins Bremerhaven (GER)

20:20  Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) - GKS Tychy (POL)

 

*All times CET

 

 

Watch live

 

Check here for details of live TV broadcasts:

https://www.championshockeyleague.com/en/fans/where-to-watch

[phelps 8,306]

Regular Season

 

Day 1, Part 2

Friday 29.08.2025 - Results

 

Lukko Rauma (FIN) - Lausanne HC (SUI)  4-1 (2-1, 0-0, 2-0)

Mountfield HK (CZE) - Odense Bulldogs (DEN)  3-4 SO (1-1, 1-0, 1-2, 0-0, 0-1)

Frölunda Gothemburg (SWE) - Bolzano Foxes (ITA)  3-0 (1-0, 1-0, 1-0)

Kometa Brno (CZE) - Brynäs IF (SWE)  4-1 (1-0, 2-1, 1-0)

ZSC Lions Zürich (SUI) - Pinguins Bremerhaven (GER)  2-3 OT (0-1, 2-0, 0-1, 0-1)

Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) - GKS Tychy (POL)  3-1 (1-0, 0-1, 2-0)