Champions Hockey League opening night good for Tampere teams
Photo: Fredrik Hagen / Storhamar IF / CHL - Champions Hockey League opening night good for Tampere teamsThe Champions Hockey League began its 10th anniversary season on Thursday with half of the 24 participating teams in action. Among the six games were both Tampere-based earning wins in extra time.
Dynamo Pardubice (CZE) 7 – Fehérvár AV19 (HUN) 0
Pardubice enters the season favored to dominate the Czech Extraliga and feasted on the visiting club from Hungary in the CHL opener. Pardubice was lethal on the power play, going 3-for-7, and got a goal and two assists from ex-Ottawa Senator Jiří Smejkal.
Ilves Tampere (FIN) 4 – Unia Oświęcim (POL) 3 [OT]
A big shock that Polish champion Oświęcim was able to steal a point in Finland thanks to two goals from Krystian Dziubiński and a 38-save performance by Swedish goalie Linus Lundin. Eemeli Suomi led Ilves with three points and scored the overtime winner.
Växjö Lakers (SWE) 3 – Eisbären Berlin (GER) 1
Canadian Gabriel Fontaine scored the first period’s lone goal for visiting Berlin but Växjö goalie Adam Åhman was perfect the rest of the way, making 27 saves. Dennis Rasmussen and Joachim Blichfeld had two points each for the Swedish victors.
Storhamar Dragons (NOR) 1 – ZSC Lions Zurich (SUI) 4
The defending Swiss champions from Zurich have started this season off on the right note with a 4-1 win in Norway. Denis Malgin, Chris Baltisberger and John Henry had two points each for Zurich, with Malgin scoring a shorthanded goal. Jacob Bergland scored for Storhamar.
Sparta Prague (CZE) 1 – Tappara Tampere (FIN) 2 [SO]
Two strong, evenly-matched teams engaged in a defensive battle that lasted 65 minutes, followed by a marathon 10-round shootout. Juha Metsola outdueled Josef Kořenář in goal, while Kristian Tanus scored twice in the shootout after missing a penalty shot early in the game.
Fribourg-Gottéron (SUI) 4 – Sheffield Steelers (GBR) 3
Fribourg and Sheffield scored three goals each in a wild first period, but there wasn’t another goal until Killian Mottet scored the eventual game-winner in the first minute of the third. Lucas Wallmark had four points for Fribourg, while eight different Steelers had one point.
On Friday, the other 12 teams are in action. By the end of this weekend, all 24 teams will have played twice and will play twice more next week before the regular season concludes in October with two midweek games. The top 16 teams advance to the playoffs, which start in November and finish with the final on February 18.
Friday’s schedule:
Lahti Pelicans (FIN) – Färjestad Karlstad (SWE)
Lausanne HC (SUI) – Oceláři Třinec (CZE)
Straubing Tigers (GER) – SønderjyskE Vojens (DEN)
Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven (GER) – Genève-Servette (SUI)
Rouen Dragons (FRA) – KAC Klagenfurt (AUT)
Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) – Skellefteå AIK (SWE)
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