The Champions Hockey League

[Coog]

What do you think about it? Will it fly or crash and burn? I think the later but hopes for the former. I'm some what excited for it but right now I don't even know where to watch it. They havent marketed the competition one bit and I think they have to if they want to catch any interest.

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[Linnarhult]

I don't think the fans in Sweden will recognize the tournament, but I do however think it will grow in Europe. It will take a couple of years before there's some prestige in winning it.

Here's SVTs TV schedule:

21 augusti:
Djurgården - Fribourgh-Gottéron, 20.00-22.30 SVT24/Play
Vienna Capitals - Färjestad, 19.25-22.00 SVT Play
Krefeld Pinguine - Skellefteå AIK, 19.25-22.00 SVT Play
Gèneve-Servette - Frölunda, 19.40-22.00 SVT Play

22 augusti:
HV71 - Kloten Flyers, 20.00-22.30 SVT24/Play
Hamburg Freezers - Luleå, 19.25-22.00 SVT Play

23 augusti
Sönderjyske Vojens - Skellefteå, 17.00-19.30 SVT2/Play
Briancon Diables Rouges - Frölunda, 19.40-22.15 SVT Play

24 augusti
Linköping - Bolzano, 14.30-17.00 SVT2/Play
Nottingham Panthers - Luleå, 13.30-16.00 SVT Play
Växjö Lakers - Sparta Prague, 15.55-18.30 SVT Play
PSG Zlín - Djurgården, 17.00-19.30 SVT Play

4 september
Färjestad - ZCS Lions Zürich, 20.00-21.00 SVT2/Play and 21.00-22.30 SVT24/Play
Frölunda - Genève-Servette, 20.00-22.30 SVT Play
Sparta Prague - Växjö Lakers, 20.00-22.30 SVT Play

5 september
Luleå - Hamburg Freezers, 20.00-22.30 SVT24/Play
HC Pardubice - Linköping, 17.25-20.00 SVT Play
Kloten Flyers - HV71, 19.40-22.15 SVT Play

6 september
Skellefteå AIK - Krefeld Pinguine, 14.30-17.00 SVT2/Play
Adler Mannheim - Växjö Lakers, 14.30-17.00 SVT Play

7 september
Frölunda-Villach SV, 14.30-17.00 SVT2/Play
Luleå - Nottingham Panthers, 14.30-17.00 SVT Play
Red Bull Salzburg - HV71, 17.40-20.15 SVT Play
HC Bolzano - Linköping, 18.25-21.00 SVT Play

23 september
Djugården - PSG Zlin, 20.00-22.30 SVT24/Play
JYP - HV71, 17.30-20.00 SVT Play
Färjestad - Vålerenga, 20.00-22.30 SVT Play

24 september
Växjö Lakers - Kalpa Kuopio, 20.00-22.30 SVT24/Play
TPS Turku - Linköping, 17.30-20.00 SVT Play
Skellefteå AIK - IFK Helsinki, 20.00-22.30 SVT Play

7 oktober
HV71 - JYP, 20.00-22.30 SVT24/Play
Villach - Frölunda, or IFK Helsinki - Skellefteå, 19.30-22.00 SVT Play
Fribourg - Djurgården or Lukko - Luleå, 19.45-22.15 SVT Play

8 oktober,
Vålerenga - Färjestad, 20.00-22.30 SVT24/Play

 

[VictorLustig]

I don't like the negative attitude towards this and previous attempts. I see potential and I will watch.

 

[Yabob]

It's hockey and it involves "my team", so I will obviously follow it. I guess it will take time to for it to attract a wider audiance though.

Linköping's first game this Friday is sold out. But it's the official re-opening under the new name and tickets are set to 10SEK (yes, I typed the correctly)..... and SAAB have the entire upper floor for their employees. Around 4000 tickets are sold for the Sunday game (same price).

 

[BPilgrim]

I'm pretty positive to the concept, but I think many fans in Sweden think it's "uncool" to like another competition then SHL. Or atleast it's not what a good supporter would do.

And bearing in mind how previous european club cups have panned out it's certainly a risk the whole thing will disappear as quick as it appeared. But for some reason this feels a bit more steady.

 

[PuckPoise]

Getting SVT to broadcast it was huge. Now lots of fringe supporters will watch as well as the die-hards obviously, I think this will be the best attempt by far, and here to stay.

As for prestige in winning it I think you got to get KHL on board before it can get even close to the status of a European soccer or handball competition, but I still think the clubs will care about it, especially the ones who have a chance to actually win it like Frölunda, Skellefteå etc., maybe Djurgården will use them more as pre-season games.

Maybe the in-season group stage games will be a little bit over-shadowed by league play, but the early games and the playoff stages will get decent numbers on SVT and lots of people, neutral and fans of the clubs, caring.

 

[joe89]

I don't see any big risk of a crash with multiple TV deals in place and widespread interest. However, it's not a guaranteed success.

 

[SurMartin]

Getting SVT to broadcast it was huge. Now lots of fringe supporters will watch as well as the die-hards obviously, I think this will be the best attempt by far, and here to stay.

As for prestige in winning it I think you got to get KHL on board before it can get even close to the status of a European soccer or handball competition, but I still think the clubs will care about it, especially the ones who have a chance to actually win it like Frölunda, Skellefteå etc., maybe Djurgården will use them more as pre-season games.

Maybe the in-season group stage games will be a little bit over-shadowed by league play, but the early games and the playoff stages will get decent numbers on SVT and lots of people, neutral and fans of the clubs, caring.

Skellefteå has hardly been on ice for two weeks and are in the middle of the heaviest workout period. But yeah i'm sure these guys are ready to take it seriously...

Swedish fans don't like it because it's not best-on-best and it interferes with the SHL. Also, the jerseys are ****ing horrible.

 

[Dosing]

Sorry but no malmö equals no "champion" anything. And to me this looks the same as all other international events. Bunch of unknown teams we're supposed to be happy about beating. It's to forced. Probably why it's on webtv.

 

[Jonimaus]

Since my team doesn't play I don't care at all.

 

[romelson]

Since my team play, I care, but its on the same level as any other preseason game.
I hope they dont advance to the playoffs, because those midseason games is the most screwed up part of it this tourney.
The second most annoying part is that my team is forced to play in ****** jerseys that are stripped of the team identity: the yellow stripes on the shoulders & arms. It doesnt feel like its my team out there.

 

[Vikke]

The best part for me is the opportunity to see a bunch of teams I don't usually see.

 

[Pathiic]

Can anyone tell me why on earth Skellefteä is projected to win this whole shizzle?
To me it looks like they are definately lacking ALOT of power in the team, and looking at the players they lost like Arvidsson, möller, Bellemare, Lindström and Hollowy to name a few i just dont get why they are still projected so highly

 

[VictorLustig]

Can anyone tell me why on earth Skellefteä is projected to win this whole shizzle?
To me it looks like they are definately lacking ALOT of power in the team, and looking at the players they lost like Arvidsson, möller, Bellemare, Lindström and Hollowy to name a few i just dont get why they are still projected so highly

Projected to win by who?

 

[Pathiic]

Projected to win by who?

read it in the media a while back, dont ask me how it got stuck in my head.
guessing most people arent aware they arent the same team as they were

 

[Exarz]

Also, the jerseys are ****ing horrible.

Amen.

Can anyone tell me why on earth Skellefteä is projected to win this whole shizzle?
To me it looks like they are definately lacking ALOT of power in the team, and looking at the players they lost like Arvidsson, möller, Bellemare, Lindström and Hollowy to name a few i just dont get why they are still projected so highly

They were projected to win the CHL before their top players left for NHL and KHL. Now they're a decent team, but don't got the full winning material.