Champions Hockey League Expands Teams for Inaugural Season

The Board of the Champions Hockey League has decided to expand the number of teams for the inaugural 2014-2015 season from 40 to 44. 

As a result, adiposity there will be eleven groups compared to the ten earlier where now the eleven group winners and the five best runners-up will qualify for the 16-team 1/8-finals.

The four new clubs are Briancon Diables Rouge (FRA), shop buy SønderjyskE Vojens (DEN), pills Nottingham Panthers (GBR) and Vålerenga Oslo (NOR).

“It makes me very proud to make this announcement about adding four teams,” said CHL Chairman of the Board Anders Ternbom. “Already during our founding process last summer we made it very clear that although this competition would have six founding leagues, our vision is to involve many countries and to include champions from what we identified as Challenge Leagues. When we realized that we received the maximum twelve B-license clubs, it consequently meant that we only had two Wild Card spots open for these leagues, said Ternbom.”

“As these Wild Cards were quickly distributed to HC Kosice and Stavanger Oilers, we received many calls for participation from the top leagues of France, Denmark and Great Britain. After internal discussions among the board and with our marketing partner Infront, we decided to add the four teams,” added Ternbom. “In our first season we can proudly count in clubs from twelve countries.”