With Skellefteå AIK winning the Swedish Hockey League championship on Monday, the last open spot for the Champions Hockey League’s 2024-25 season has been filled. The seventh game of Switzerland’s National League finals is still to be played, but both teams involved – Zurich and Lausanne – have already qualified.
The 24 participating teams will be:
Switzerland (4 places)
- Genève-Servette (CHL Champions)
- ZSC Lions Zurich
- Fribourg-Gottéron
- Lausanne HC
Austria/ICE Hockey League (3 places)
- Red Bull Salzburg
- KAC Klagenfurt
- Fehérvár AV19 (HUN)
Czechia (3 places)
- Oceláři Třinec
- Dynamo Pardubice
- Sparta Prague
Germany (3 places)
- Eisbären Berlin
- Pinguins Bremerhaven
- Straubing Tigers
Finland (3 places)
- Tappara Tampere
- Ilves Tampere
- Lahti Pelicans
Sweden (3 places)
- Skellefteå AIK
- Färjestad Karlstad
- Växjö Lakers
Challenger Leagues (5 places)
- SønderjyskE Vojens (DEN)
- Rouen Dragons (FRA)
- Storhamar Hamar (NOR)
- Unia Oświęcim (POL)
- Sheffield Steelers (UK)
Last season was the first under the new “groupless” format, which also saw the number of teams reduced from 32 to 24. A similar format, albeit with more teams, will soon be in place for the UEFA Champions League of soccer.
The 2024-25 Champions Hockey League season will begin on September 5 and finish with the final on February 18. The draw to determine each team’s opponents in the preliminary stage of the tournament will take place in Prague on May 22, the day between the end of the group stage and the quarterfinals of the IIHF World Championship.