The opening night of the 2025-26 Champions Hockey League season
featured six games that were all relatively close, including two that
were decided in overtime. Swiss club EV Zug was one of the day’s
winners, thanks in part to ex-NHLers Tomáš Tatar and Dominik Kubalík, who were both making
their debuts with the team.
Luleå Hockey (SWE) 2 – EV Zug (SUI) 3 [OT]
Swede Lukas Bengtsson scored the overtime winner for visiting Zug in Luleå, finishing off an evenly played game between two of Europe’s more skilled teams. A goal by Slovak Tatar – a pass attempt that went in off a skate – assisted by Czech Kubalík on a delayed penalty had Zug in front heading into the third period, but Heikki Liedes tied it for Luleå in the third.
Storhamar Dragons (NOR) 0 – Eisbären Berlin (GER) 3
In a match-up between two teams that are two-time reigning champions of their respective leagues, Berlin got a goal in all three periods, Jonas Müller recorded two assists, and Jonas Stettmer made 18 saves for the shutout.
ERC Ingolstadt (GER) 1 – Ilves Tampere (FIN) 3
Jens Lööke and Matias Mäntykivi had two points each to stake visiting Ilves out to a 3-0 lead after two periods. Daniel Schmölz got one for Ingolstadt early in the third but that was the only one of the German team’s 28 shots to beat Dominik Pavlát.
Belfast Giants (EIHL) 2 – KalPa Kuopio (FIN) 3 [OT]
The Giants never trailed in this game, taking leads of 1-0 and 2-1 on their home ice on the Emerald Isle, but Juuso Mäenpää tied it for KalPa with just over a minute left in regulation time and then Patrick Curry scored a beauty in overtime, finishing off a 2-on-1.
Grenoble Brûleurs de Loups (FRA) 0 – SC Bern (SUI) 2
Bern’s two goals in this game came just 18 seconds apart in the second period from Waltteri Merelä and Anton Lindholm. Otherwise, goaltenders Adam Reideborn and Matija Pintarič were perfect. There were fireworks in the late going, including a fight between Benjamin Baumgartner and Alexandre Mallet.
KAC Klagenfurt (AUT) 1 – Sparta Prague (CZE) 4
Latvian Mārtiņš Dzierkals scored twice and Devin Shore had two points as the team from the Czech capital opened with a win in Austria. Finn Van Ee got Klagenfurt’s lone goal with 7:09 to play and ex-NHLer Tomáš Hýka iced it with an empty-netter.
Friday’s schedule:
Lukko Rauma (FIN) –
Lausanne HC (SUI)
Mountfield Hradec
Králové (CZE) – Odense Bulldogs
(DEN)
Frölunda Gothenburg (SWE) –
Bolzano Foxes (ITA)
Kometa Brno (CZE) – Brynäs
Gävle (SWE)
ZSC Lions Zurich (SUI) – Pinguins
Bremerhaven (GER)
Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) – GKS Tychy (POL)
