Tag: Champions Hockey League

Champions Hockey League confirms Round of 16 dates

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

The Champions Hockey League has confirmed the schedule framework for the first round of its 2026/27 Playoffs, with the Round of 16 to be played across two weeks in November.

The 16 remaining clubs will contest their First Games on Tuesday, 10 November and Wednesday, 11 November. The Return Games are scheduled for the following week, on Tuesday, 17 November and Wednesday, 18 November.

The announcement follows the conclusion of the regular season in Europe’s biggest club ice hockey competition. It confirms the dates on which the knockout stage will begin, although no individual pairings, venues or start times are included in the available schedule details.

Key Facts

  • The Champions Hockey League has confirmed the Round of 16 schedule framework for the 2026/27 Playoffs.
  • Sixteen teams remain in the competition for the Round of 16.
  • First Games will be played on Tuesday, 10 November and Wednesday, 11 November.
  • The Round of 16 will take place across two weeks in mid-November.

IHM Discussion

The confirmation moves the Champions Hockey League from its regular-season phase into a defined knockout timetable. The four dates create a two-leg window for each Round of 16 participant, with first meetings followed by return fixtures the next week.

The available information does not identify the match-ups, host clubs, venues or face-off times, so those elements cannot be drawn from the confirmed dates alone.

For the remaining 16 teams, the schedule is the formal marker that the 2026/27 playoff phase is approaching. The Round of 16 will be staged within a compact mid-November period, placing all first-leg and return-leg action across four specified dates.

Why It Matters

The Round of 16 is the first playoff round of the 2026/27 Champions Hockey League campaign. Confirming the dates provides the remaining clubs with a fixed competition window after the regular season and formally sets the start of the knockout stage.

The schedule also confirms that every Round of 16 tie will have First Games and Return Games on consecutive weeks.

CHL regular season ends as Round of 16 awaits

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

The 2026/27 Champions Hockey League regular season is complete, bringing the competition to its playoff stage after six Game Days and 72 games.

The Round of 16 field and playoff bracket have been set, establishing each remaining team’s route towards the Champions Hockey League Final. Eight Round of 16 match-ups will open the knockout phase.

The detailed Round of 16 schedule has yet to be announced.

Key Facts

  • The 2026/27 Champions Hockey League regular season was played across six Game Days.
  • A total of 72 regular-season games were completed.
  • The conclusion of the regular season has set the Champions Hockey League playoff bracket.
  • The knockout phase begins with eight Round of 16 match-ups.
  • The Round of 16 schedule is still to be confirmed.

IHM Discussion

The end of the regular season turns the Champions Hockey League from a league-phase competition into a direct knockout contest. The completed bracket now provides a defined path to the final for every team still involved, while the Round of 16 will determine which clubs remain in contention.

With the match-ups established but dates not yet detailed, the immediate focus is on the formal schedule release. That announcement will provide the practical framework for the opening playoff ties without changing the bracket already in place.

Why It Matters

The regular season has settled the playoff picture and reduced the competition to eight Round of 16 series. From this point, progress in the Champions Hockey League depends on navigating the knockout bracket all the way to the final.

CHL regular season ends with six decisive games

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

The 2026/27 Champions Hockey League regular season reaches its final day with six games across Finland, Denmark, Norway, Austria and Switzerland. Points remain available for clubs seeking a place in the Playoffs or a stronger position in the final standings.

SaiPa Lappeenranta host HC Pilsen in the opening fixture at 17:30 CEST. The remaining programme includes Herning Blue Fox against Fribourg-Gottéron, Storhamar Hamar versus Graz99ers, Eisbären Berlin’s trip to KAC Klagenfurt, HC Davos against Bílí Tygři Liberec, and Genève-Servette’s home game with Kölner Haie.

The final two games begin at 19:45 CEST in Switzerland, bringing the regular-season schedule to its conclusion. With positions potentially decided by more than points alone, the competition’s tie-breaking order could carry major weight once the games are complete.

Key Facts

  • Six games complete the 2026/27 Champions Hockey League regular season.
  • SaiPa Lappeenranta host HC Pilsen at 17:30 CEST.
  • Herning Blue Fox play Fribourg-Gottéron and Storhamar Hamar face Graz99ers, with both games scheduled for 19:00 CEST.
  • HC Davos meet Bílí Tygři Liberec, while Genève-Servette host Kölner Haie, at 19:45 CEST.
  • Clubs tied on points are first separated by regulation-time wins, followed by total wins, goal difference, goals scored, away points and away goals.
  • If teams remain level after those six criteria, their position in the current season’s CHL draw-pot allocation determines the higher standing. The same formula applies to the overall accumulated team record.

IHM Discussion

This is a clean final-day scenario: every club has one last regular-season opportunity to affect its own standing before the Playoffs field and ordering are settled. The schedule is spread across six venues, but the standings consequences are connected across the whole competition.

The tie-breaking sequence gives the evening an added layer beyond simply counting points. Regulation-time victories take precedence over total wins, so a club’s record in three-point games is particularly significant when teams finish level. Only after that do overtime and shootout victories enter through total wins.

Goal difference and goals scored are the next separators, followed by away-game points and away goals. Those measures mean the final table can turn on margins as well as results. The draw-pot criterion sits at the end of the process, providing a final ordering mechanism if every sporting measure listed above fails to separate clubs.

The fixture list also underlines the competition’s reach. Finland, Denmark, Norway, Austria and Switzerland all host games, while travelling sides include HC Pilsen, Fribourg-Gottéron, Graz99ers, Eisbären Berlin, Bílí Tygři Liberec and Kölner Haie. For each participant, the task is immediate: play the final regular-season game, collect what is available and then await the confirmed table.

Why It Matters

The final standings determine whether teams reach the Playoffs and, for those already in contention, whether they improve their position. The rules make clear that a level points total does not automatically mean a level finish.

For supporters, coaches and players, the relevant details extend from regulation wins to scoring margins and away records.

Mini Q&A

How many games remain in the CHL regular season?

Six games remain on the final day of the 2026/27 regular season.

Which game starts first?

SaiPa Lappeenranta versus HC Pilsen starts at 17:30 CEST.

What is the first CHL tie-breaker for clubs level on points?

The first tie-breaker is the greater number of regulation-time, or three-point, wins.

What happens if teams remain tied after six listed tie-breakers?

The higher position in the current season’s CHL draw-pot allocation decides the higher standing.

Coach Mark Comment

Final matchdays demand clarity rather than complication. Teams must understand the competition’s priorities, especially the value placed on regulation-time wins, while remaining disciplined enough not to chase a game recklessly. The structure of the tie-breakers also places value on game management: every goal can matter when goal difference and goals scored are part of the ordering process.

IHM Final View

The Champions Hockey League regular season closes with six fixtures and a clear set of criteria for settling any ties. The on-ice outcomes will decide the points totals; the tie-breakers will determine the order where those totals are not enough on their own.

Four CHL Play-off Places Still Open Before Game Day 6

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

The Champions Hockey League regular season reaches its final Game Day with four places in the Round of 16 still to be decided. After five Game Days of the 2026/27 campaign, seven teams remain in contention for those four remaining play-off positions across a 12-game programme.

Twelve clubs have already secured their places in the Playoffs, but Game Day 6 also carries significance at the top of the regular-season table. HC Pilsen, Kölner Haie, Dynamo Pardubice and Skellefteå AIK are the four highest-ranked teams entering the final round and each still has an opportunity to add points in the contest for the Regular Season Winners crown.

The opening day of Game Day 6 includes six fixtures, beginning with KooKoo Kouvola against Adler Mannheim in Finland at 17:30 CEST. Dynamo Pardubice host Växjö Lakers at Enteria Arena at 18:00 CEST, while GKS Tychy meet Tappara Tampere in Poland and HK Nitra face Rögle Ängelholm in Slovakia at the same time.

Frölunda Gothenburg play Bordeaux Boxers in Sweden at 19:00 CEST, with Skellefteå AIK hosting Red Bull Salzburg in another 19:00 CEST face-off. With qualification, seeding and the regular-season lead all still relevant, the final round leaves little room for clubs to treat points as a secondary concern.

Key Facts

  • Seven teams are competing for the final four available places in the CHL Round of 16 after five Game Days of the 2026/27 regular season.
  • Twelve teams have already qualified for the Playoffs.
  • HC Pilsen, Kölner Haie, Dynamo Pardubice and Skellefteå AIK are the four top-ranked teams entering Game Day 6.
  • Game Day 6 comprises 12 scheduled games.
  • KooKoo Kouvola play Adler Mannheim at 17:30 CEST, while Dynamo Pardubice face Växjö Lakers at 18:00 CEST.
  • GKS Tychy play Tappara Tampere and HK Nitra meet Rögle Ängelholm, both at 18:00 CEST.
  • Frölunda Gothenburg face Bordeaux Boxers and Skellefteå AIK play Red Bull Salzburg, both at 19:00 CEST.
  • The first tie-breaker for clubs level on points is the greater number of regulation-time wins; total wins are second and goal difference is third.

IHM Discussion

The final regular-season round is carrying two distinct pressures. For the seven teams chasing the final four qualification places, the immediate objective is clear: earn enough from Game Day 6 to finish inside the Round of 16 positions. For the clubs already through, the remaining games still matter because the regular-season standings have not been reduced to a formality.

That applies particularly to HC Pilsen, Kölner Haie, Dynamo Pardubice and Skellefteå AIK. The four leading sides have one final chance to improve their points totals in the race for the Regular Season Winners crown. Dynamo and Skellefteå are also among the teams in action on the opening day, ensuring that the top of the table remains part of the final-round narrative rather than a separate contest.

The format also means that teams cannot assess their situation through points alone. The Champions Hockey League’s tie-break sequence begins with regulation-time wins, followed by total wins, goal difference, goals scored, away-game points and away goals. Only after those measures does draw-pot position come into play. In a compact six-game regular season, that ordering gives the manner of victory added importance when teams are level in the standings.

There is a similar consequence for clubs already qualified. A point added in the final round can still affect their regular-season placing, while a regulation victory is more valuable in the first tie-breaker than an overtime or shootout win. The standings therefore remain live across more than the four open qualification positions.

Why It Matters

Four of the 16 Round of 16 places remain unclaimed, so Game Day 6 will complete the qualification picture for the next stage. The 12 teams already through are not simply waiting for the field to be filled: their final regular-season positions remain subject to the points earned in the concluding games.

The tie-break rules make the final round especially important where clubs finish level on points. Regulation wins are the first separator, ahead of total wins. Goal difference and goals scored can then become relevant, followed by away-game points and away goals. Those details give every goal and every route to victory potential significance in a final-round schedule.

At the top, HC Pilsen, Kölner Haie, Dynamo Pardubice and Skellefteå AIK retain a direct stake in the Regular Season Winners crown. At the qualification line, seven teams are competing for four places. The final round therefore has consequences for both access to the Round of 16 and the order in which the qualified teams finish the regular season.

Mini Q&A

How many CHL Round of 16 places are still available?

Four places remain available, with seven teams still in the race after five Game Days.

Which teams lead the CHL regular-season standings entering Game Day 6?

HC Pilsen, Kölner Haie, Dynamo Pardubice and Skellefteå AIK are the four top-ranked teams entering the final round.

What is the first CHL tie-breaker for teams level on points?

The first tie-breaker is the greater number of wins in regulation time, defined as three-point wins.

When do Dynamo Pardubice play Växjö Lakers?

Dynamo Pardubice play Växjö Lakers at 18:00 CEST at Enteria Arena.

Coach Mark Comment

The defining coaching challenge in a final-round league phase is discipline around game state. The CHL tie-break order gives regulation wins priority, so teams level on points must understand that the value of a result is not always identical once the standings are applied. That does not change the need to manage risk, but it does make clear communication on late-game decisions essential.

For sides already qualified, the task is equally practical: retain competitive sharpness while pursuing the strongest possible regular-season position.

What Comes Next

Game Day 6 will conclude the CHL regular season through 12 scheduled fixtures. The six opening-day games listed are KooKoo Kouvola versus Adler Mannheim, Dynamo Pardubice versus Växjö Lakers, GKS Tychy versus Tappara Tampere, HK Nitra versus Rögle Ängelholm, Frölunda Gothenburg versus Bordeaux Boxers and Skellefteå AIK versus Red Bull Salzburg. Once the final-round results are recorded, the remaining four Round of 16 qualifiers and the final regular-season order will be determined using the stated points and tie-break criteria.

IHM Final View

The final CHL regular-season round has a clear competitive shape: four Round of 16 places remain open, while the leading clubs still have points to pursue at the summit. With regulation wins leading the tie-break sequence, Game Day 6 is not merely a final chance to qualify. It is the point at which the full order of the 2026/27 regular season will be settled.

Four KAC players return to training before Pioneers

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

EC-KAC will take a fuller squad to Feldkirch for Friday’s win2day ICE Hockey League meeting with Pioneers Vorarlberg after four players returned to full team training.

Clemens Unterweger and Raphael Herburger have recovered from illness, while Simeon Schwinger and Travis St. Denis have resumed training without restriction after upper-body issues. All four will make the trip to Vorarlberg.

The fixture is EC-KAC’s ninth league game of the season. KAC enter it with five wins and three defeats, while Pioneers Vorarlberg remain without a win after eight losses.

Key Facts

  • Clemens Unterweger and Raphael Herburger returned to full team training after illness.
  • Simeon Schwinger and Travis St. Denis resumed full training after being limited by upper-body issues.
  • Unterweger, Herburger, Schwinger and St. Denis will travel with EC-KAC to Vorarlberg.
  • Jacob Hudson and Jan Muršak have returned to light skating but remain in non-contact jerseys and are not in contention against the Pioneers.
  • Sebastian Dahm, Fabian Hochegger and Matt Fraser will also be absent.
  • EC-KAC have five wins and three defeats entering their ninth ICEHL game; Pioneers Vorarlberg have eight defeats from eight games.

IHM Discussion

The four players’ return to full training gives EC-KAC more options than they had for Tuesday’s CHL game, when nine regular players were unavailable. Their inclusion on the travelling party is confirmed, although the available information does not specify how each will be used against Pioneers Vorarlberg.

Hudson and Muršak are a step behind the quartet. Their return to light ice work is positive, but their non-contact status means they are not yet available for this fixture. KAC will therefore still travel without a number of established players.

Why It Matters

EC-KAC’s improved availability comes before a league game against the side at the foot of the table. KAC are second in the standings, while Pioneers Vorarlberg are still seeking their first win, making the visitors’ expanded travelling group a notable development ahead of the meeting.

Mini Q&A

Which EC-KAC players have returned to full training?

Clemens Unterweger, Raphael Herburger, Simeon Schwinger and Travis St. Denis have all resumed full team training and will travel to Vorarlberg.

Who remains unavailable against Pioneers Vorarlberg?

Jacob Hudson and Jan Muršak are not yet in contention, while Sebastian Dahm, Fabian Hochegger and Matt Fraser will also miss the game.

What Comes Next

EC-KAC face Pioneers Vorarlberg in Feldkirch on Friday,, with face-off scheduled for 19.30.

EC-KAC Sign Latvian Goaltender Mareks Mitens

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

EC-KAC have signed Latvian goaltender Mareks Mitens after Sebastian Dahm’s season came to an end. The 28-year-old joins the Klagenfurt club on a contract running until the international break, which begins in early November.

Mitens arrives following two seasons in Slovakia, where he recorded 36 victories. A left-catching netminder, he will provide an additional option alongside Florian Vorauer as the Red Jackets face a busy run of domestic and European fixtures.

General manager Oliver Pilloni said the club’s goaltending coach had closely assessed around 30 available goaltenders before EC-KAC selected Mitens, balancing sporting requirements with financial considerations.

Key Facts

  • Mareks Mitens, a 28-year-old Latvian goaltender, has joined EC-KAC.
  • His contract runs until the international break, which starts in early November.
  • Mitens spent the previous two seasons in Slovakia and registered 36 wins.
  • He is a left-catching goaltender.
  • Mitens represented Latvia at the most recent IIHF World Championship.
  • EC-KAC general manager Oliver Pilloni said Mitens was chosen after the club assessed around 30 available goaltenders.
  • Sebastian Dahm’s season has ended.
  • EC-KAC have ten competitive matches remaining before the international break, including their final Champions Hockey League group-stage game in Berlin next Wednesday.

IHM Discussion

The signing gives EC-KAC a timely extra goaltending option for the run to the international break. Pilloni’s comments make clear that the club were seeking a fit alongside Vorauer rather than presenting Mitens as a standalone solution to every workload question.

Mitens brings recent game experience from Slovakia, a record of 36 wins across the past two seasons and international exposure with Latvia. Those are useful credentials for a short-term arrangement, particularly with ten competitive fixtures still scheduled before early November. The agreement’s duration also establishes a defined initial window in which both club and player can assess the fit.

Why It Matters

Goaltending depth has become an immediate issue for EC-KAC following the end of Dahm’s season. Mitens gives the club another available senior netminder during a concentrated sequence that includes the final Champions Hockey League group-stage fixture as well as domestic competition.

The move also keeps the response measured. EC-KAC have added a goaltender with recent European league experience on a deal tied to the next international break, rather than announcing a longer-term commitment.

Mini Q&A

How long has Mareks Mitens signed for at EC-KAC?

His contract runs until the international break, which begins in early November.

What recent record does Mitens bring to Klagenfurt?

He spent the past two seasons in Slovakia, recording 36 wins, and also played for Latvia at the most recent IIHF World Championship.

What Comes Next

Mitens’ first checkpoint with EC-KAC is the run of ten competitive matches before the international break in early November. That stretch includes the club’s final Champions Hockey League group-stage match in Berlin next Wednesday.

CHL Playoff Race Leaves Four Round of 16 Spots Open

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

The Champions Hockey League’s 2026/27 playoff field is nearing completion after the penultimate regular-season round, with 12 of the 16 Round of 16 places now secured.

Skellefteå AIK, Kölner Haie and HC Pilsen were the first sides to qualify at the end of the September schedule. HC Pilsen lead the current regular-season standings. Finnish club SaiPa Lappeenranta subsequently joined the qualified teams, along with eight further sides.

That leaves four knockout places unresolved before next week’s final regular-season round. The Round of 16 will contain 16 teams.

Key Facts

  • Twelve of the 16 available Round of 16 places have been secured in the 2026/27 Champions Hockey League.
  • Skellefteå AIK, Kölner Haie and HC Pilsen were the first teams to qualify, doing so at the end of the September portion of the schedule.
  • HC Pilsen are the current leaders of the Champions Hockey League regular-season standings.
  • SaiPa Lappeenranta have also secured a playoff place.
  • Four places remain open ahead of the final regular-season round next week.

IHM Discussion

The final regular-season round now carries a clear qualification threshold: four places remain in the knockout stage. For the clubs already through, the immediate uncertainty over reaching the Round of 16 has been removed. For those still outside the confirmed group, the last round will settle the remaining positions in the 16-team field.

HC Pilsen’s early qualification is accompanied by their place at the top of the current standings, while Skellefteå AIK and Kölner Haie were alongside them as the first three sides to book their places. SaiPa Lappeenranta’s qualification adds Finnish representation to the confirmed group.

The competition has therefore moved from establishing the first qualifiers to deciding the final four berths. The supplied update confirms that the race remains active rather than complete.

Why It Matters

Qualification for the Round of 16 is the key dividing line in the Champions Hockey League regular season. With only four positions left, the final round will complete the knockout bracket and determine which clubs remain in the competition beyond the league phase.

Mini Q&A

How many teams have qualified for the Champions Hockey League Round of 16?

Twelve teams have secured their places, leaving four of the 16 knockout berths open.

Which teams were the first to qualify?

Skellefteå AIK, Kölner Haie and HC Pilsen were the first three teams to qualify at the end of the September schedule.

Who leads the current regular-season standings?

HC Pilsen lead the current Champions Hockey League regular-season standings.

What Comes Next

The final Champions Hockey League regular-season round takes place next week and will decide the remaining four Round of 16 places.

Paul Stapelfeldt Given One-Game CHL Suspension

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

Graz99ers player Paul Stapelfeldt has received a one-game suspension and a €700 fine following a kneeing incident involving Saipa forward Patrik Siikanen.

The Champions Hockey League Sport Disciplinary Panel ruled that Stapelfeldt’s action warranted supplementary discipline under IIHF Rule 50. The suspension and fine take effect immediately.

The incident occurred at 12:10 on Tuesday night, when Stapelfeldt was assessed a major penalty and an automatic game misconduct for kneeing Siikanen. Siikanen sustained an apparent injury in the collision.

The panel classified the offence as Category 1, described as “Careless”, after reviewing video evidence and the ruling of the CHL PSC.

Key Facts

  • Paul Stapelfeldt of the Graz99ers has been suspended for one game, effective immediately.
  • Stapelfeldt was also fined €700, effective immediately.
  • The discipline relates to an incident at 12:10 involving Saipa forward Patrik Siikanen.
  • Stapelfeldt received a major penalty and automatic game misconduct for kneeing during Tuesday night’s game.
  • The CHL panel found that Stapelfeldt adjusted his lower body and extended his knee towards Siikanen, creating leg-on-leg contact.
  • The incident was ruled supplementary discipline under IIHF Rule 50 for kneeing and classified as Category 1, “Careless”.
  • Stapelfeldt will be regarded as a repeat offender should further supplementary discipline be required in the CHL.

IHM Discussion

The disciplinary finding turns on the panel’s assessment that the contact was avoidable. Siikanen moved left while attempting to evade the check, but the ruling states that Stapelfeldt responded by extending his leg to ensure contact rather than continuing through a conventional body check.

That distinction was central to the decision. The panel explicitly ruled out an unavoidable knee-on-knee collision caused solely by the puck carrier’s late movement. Instead, it found that Stapelfeldt’s adjustment created the forceful leg-on-leg contact which met the threshold for supplementary discipline.

The on-ice major and automatic game misconduct were therefore followed by a separate review process, resulting in the one-game ban and financial penalty. The ruling applies specifically within the Champions Hockey League.

Why It Matters

Knee-on-knee contact is treated seriously because of the potential for injury, and the panel recorded that Siikanen suffered an apparent injury from the incident. For Stapelfeldt, the immediate consequence is a one-game absence and a €700 fine.

The repeat-offender designation is also significant within future CHL disciplinary proceedings. It does not determine any future sanction, but it establishes Stapelfeldt’s status should another case requiring supplementary discipline arise.

Five CHL Fixtures Shape the Play-off Picture

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

Five Champions Hockey League games are scheduled for Game Day 5 as clubs pursue points in the Regular Season standings and the 16-place play-off line-up takes shape.

Tappara Tampere host Storhamar Hamar in the opening fixture at 17:30 CEST. Two German-based games follow at 19:30 CEST, with Adler Mannheim welcoming Polish champions GKS Tychy at SAP Arena and Kölner Haie hosting Danish newcomers Herning Blue Fox at LANXESS Arena in Cologne.

Bordeaux Boxers then face Czech Extraliga champions Dynamo Pardubice at Patinoire Mériadeck at 20:15 CEST. The programme concludes five minutes later when Red Bull Salzburg meet reigning DEL champions Eisbären Berlin in an Austria-Germany match-up.

Key Facts

  • Tappara Tampere host Storhamar Hamar at 17:30 CEST.
  • Adler Mannheim play Polish champions GKS Tychy at SAP Arena at 19:30 CEST.
  • Kölner Haie welcome Herning Blue Fox, Danish newcomers to the competition, at LANXESS Arena in Cologne at 19:30 CEST.
  • Bordeaux Boxers host Czech Extraliga champions Dynamo Pardubice at Patinoire Mériadeck at 20:15 CEST.
  • Bordeaux conceded 10 goals when a Czech side last visited Patinoire Mériadeck.
  • Red Bull Salzburg face reigning DEL champions Eisbären Berlin at 20:20 CEST.
  • The league’s Regular Season standings will determine a 16-place play-off line-up.

IHM Discussion

The schedule offers a broad cross-section of the competition: Finnish, Norwegian, German, Polish, Danish, French, Czech and Austrian clubs are all involved, while Eisbären Berlin bring the status of reigning German champions into their meeting with Salzburg. Every fixture carries the same basic value in a Regular Season format where the available places are limited to 16.

The evening also places established domestic champions on the road. Dynamo Pardubice travel to Bordeaux as Czech Extraliga champions, while GKS Tychy visit Mannheim as Polish champions. Herning Blue Fox’s trip to Cologne gives the Danish newcomers another opportunity to test themselves in the competition.

Why It Matters

The slate contains several cross-border tests between clubs from different domestic leagues, including Salzburg against Berlin and Bordeaux against Pardubice.

Mini Q&A

Which teams play in the opening Game Day 5 fixture?

Tappara Tampere host Storhamar Hamar at 17:30 CEST.

What are the two 19:30 CEST fixtures?

Adler Mannheim host GKS Tychy at SAP Arena, while Kölner Haie play Herning Blue Fox at LANXESS Arena in Cologne.

Which game closes the schedule?

Red Bull Salzburg face Eisbären Berlin at 20:20 CEST.

IHM Final View

Game Day 5 presents five fixtures across four start times, beginning in Tampere and ending with Salzburg against Berlin. The immediate focus is straightforward: collect Regular Season points and strengthen a club’s position in the chase for a place in the 16-team play-offs.

Erik Thorell exits after collision during Frölunda comeback

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

Erik Thorell, the 34-year-old Frölunda forward, made his comeback from a wrist injury in Frölunda’s second game of the 2026/27 season and recorded an assist in the first period. He left the game in the second period after a collision with Färjestad’s Axel Bergkvist. No penalty was called on the play, prompting protests from the Frölunda bench and the crowd. Frölunda coach Robert Ohlsson said after the game that he believed Thorell had “got a knock” and had not yet seen him after the match; Thorell was unable to finish the game. It remains unclear whether he will be available when Frölunda travel to Norrbotten to face Luleå, their opponents in last season’s quarter-final and CHL final. Thorell played only 20 games last season and registered 16 points, and his contract with Frölunda runs out after this season.

Key Facts

  • Erik Thorell is a 34-year-old forward for Frölunda.
  • Thorell had been carrying a wrist injury through large parts of last season.
  • His comeback occurred in Frölunda’s second match of the 2026/2027 season.
  • Thorell recorded an assist in the first period of that match.
  • He left the ice in the second period after a collision with Färjestad’s Axel Bergkvist.
  • No penalty was assessed on the collision; Frölunda’s bench and the crowd protested.
  • Frölunda coach Robert Ohlsson: ” I think he got a knock there. So we’ll see how he is. I haven’t seen him afterwards but he couldn’t finish the match.”
  • Ohlsson praised the referees: ” I must also say that these two head referees are the league’s two best referees in my view. I don’t think they miss such a thing. Then they’ll go out and look if that would be the case.”
  • Last season Thorell played 20 games and had 16 points.
  • Frölunda travel to Norrbotten next to face Luleå, their opponents in last season’s quarter-final and CHL final.
  • Thorell’s contract with Frölunda expires after this season.

IHM Discussion

This was intended to be a straightforward return for Erik Thorell after a wrist problem that limited him last season, and his first-period assist suggested he could contribute immediately. The collision with Axel Bergkvist, however, interrupted that return. The officials did not call a penalty on the play, sparking protests from Frölunda’s bench and the crowd. Robert Ohlsson offered a cautious assessment, saying he believed Thorell had “got a knock” and that he had not yet seen the player after the match. He confirmed only that Thorell could not complete the game. The immediate question is whether Thorell will be available for Frölunda’s next trip.

Why It Matters

Thorell’s availability matters to Frölunda after a season in which he played only 20 games and recorded 16 points. His return had already produced an assist before the collision ended his game. Frölunda next travel to Norrbotten to face Luleå, their opponents in last season’s quarter-final and CHL final, while Thorell’s contract is due to expire after this season.

Mini Q&A

What happened to Thorell in his comeback match?

Erik Thorell made his comeback in Frölunda’s second game of the 2026/27 season, assisted in the first period, then left in the second after a collision with Färjestad’s Axel Bergkvist and could not finish the game.

Was a penalty called on the collision?

No penalty was assessed on the collision, which resulted in protests from both the Frölunda bench and the crowd.

What did coach Robert Ohlsson say about the incident?

Ohlsson said, ” I think he got a knock there. So we’ll see how he is. I haven’t seen him afterwards but he couldn’t finish the match.” He also praised the referees, calling them ” the league’s two best” in his view.

How much did Thorell play last season and what were his stats?

Last season Thorell played 20 games and recorded 16 points.

Is Thorell contracted to Frölunda beyond this season?

No. Thorell’s contract with Frölunda runs out after this season.

What Comes Next

Frölunda travel to Norrbotten next to face Luleå, their opponents in last season’s quarter-final and CHL final. It remains unclear whether Erik Thorell will be available for the trip.

IHM Final View

Erik Thorell made an immediate impact with a first-period assist on his comeback, but the collision and his departure in the second period leave Frölunda awaiting an update on his availability. For now, it is unclear whether he will be ready for the trip to face Luleå in Norrbotten.