2019–20 Champions Hockey League Explained

Tourney Name:Champions Hockey League
Year:2019–20
Num Teams:32
Type:other
Winners: Frölunda HC
Count:4
Second: Mountfield HK
Games:125
Goals:683
Attendance:430750
Scoring Leader: Ryan Lasch[1]
Points:22
Mvp: Ryan Lasch[2]
Prevseason:2018–19
Nextseason:2020–21 (cancelled)

The 2019–20 Champions Hockey League was the sixth season of the Champions Hockey League, a European ice hockey tournament. 32 teams are competing in the tournament, and qualification was on sporting merits only. The six founding leagues are represented by between three and five teams (based on a three-year league ranking), while seven "challenge leagues" are represented by one team each. One place was awarded to the champion of the 2018–19 Champions Hockey League as well as a wild card spot selected by the board. Unlike in the first three editions of the tournament, founding teams did not automatically qualify.[3]

Swedish team Frölunda HC successfully defended their Champions Hockey League title, defeating Czech team Mountfield HK 3–1 in the final to win the European Trophy for a fourth time.[4] For the first time in the history of the league, the final was held in the Czech Republic as Mountfield HK earned the right to host the game at ČPP Arena.[5]

Team allocation

A total of 32 teams from 13 different European first-tier leagues are participating in the 2019–20 Champions Hockey League. There were 24 teams from the six founding leagues, as well as the national champions from Slovakia, Norway, Denmark, France, Belarus, the United Kingdom and Poland qualified. Out of the founding leagues Sweden and Switzerland were allocated 5 teams, Finland and Czech Republic 4 with Austria and Germany given 3. Because no league was allowed more than five teams, the winner of the 2018–19 Champions Hockey League won a berth but at the expense of a place for their league.

Due to the fact that Arlan Kokshetau of the Kazakhstan Hockey Championship were ineligible to qualify for the Champions Hockey League despite winning the 2018–19 Continental Cup, it was announced that the board would select a Wild Card team in its place.[6] On 13 February, the Champions Hockey League announced that the Belfast Giants as Continental Cup runners-up had been approved to take part as the Wild Card entry.[7]

The qualification for these places was set out in the rules as follows:[8]

  1. CHL champions
  2. National league champions (play-off winners)
  3. Regular season winners
  4. Regular season runners-up
  5. Regular season third-placed team
  6. Regular season fourth-placed team
  7. Regular season fifth-placed team

For the Austrian Hockey League teams are however picked in this order:[8]

  1. League champions
  2. Regular season winners
  3. Pick Round winners
  4. Pick Round runners-up
  5. Losing playoff finalists

Note: the United Kingdom is the lone exception as the EIHL, in line with their traditions, determine their national champion following the regular season (not in the playoffs).[9]

Teams

TeamCity/AreaLeagueQualificationParticipationPrevious best
Frölunda HCGothenburgSwedish Hockey League2019 CHL winner6thdata-sort-value="1"Champion
Färjestad BKKarlstadSwedish Hockey LeagueRegular season winner4thdata-sort-value="6"Round of 32
Luleå HFLuleåSwedish Hockey LeagueRegular season runner-up4thdata-sort-value="1"Champion
Djurgårdens IFStockholmSwedish Hockey LeagueRegular season fourth5thdata-sort-value="5"Round of 16
Skellefteå AIKSkellefteåSwedish Hockey LeagueRegular season fifth5thdata-sort-value="3"Semi-finals
SC BernBernNational LeaguePlay-off champion6thdata-sort-value="4"Quarter-finals
EV ZugZugNational LeagueRegular season runner-up6thdata-sort-value="5"Round of 16
Lausanne HCLausanneNational LeagueRegular season third1stdata-sort-value="8"First appearance
EHC BielBiel/BienneNational LeagueRegular season fourth1stdata-sort-value="8"First appearance
HC Ambrì-PiottaAmbrìNational LeagueRegular season fifth1stdata-sort-value="8"First appearance
HPKHämeenlinnaLiigaPlay-off champion1stdata-sort-value="8"First appearance
KärpätOuluLiigaRegular season winner5thdata-sort-value="2"Final
TapparaTampereLiigaRegular season runner-up6thdata-sort-value="5"Round of 16
PelicansLahtiLiigaRegular season third1stdata-sort-value="8"First appearance
Oceláři TřinecTřinecCzech ExtraligaPlay-off champion5thdata-sort-value="3"Semi-finals
Bílí Tygři LiberecLiberecCzech ExtraligaRegular season winner5thdata-sort-value="3"Semi-finals
HC PlzeňPlzeňCzech ExtraligaRegular season third3rddata-sort-value="3"Semi-finals
Mountfield HKHradec KrálovéCzech ExtraligaRegular season fourth3rddata-sort-value="7"Group stage
Adler MannheimMannheimDeutsche Eishockey LigaPlay-off champion5thdata-sort-value="5"Round of 16
Red Bull MünchenMunichDeutsche Eishockey LigaRegular season runner-up5thdata-sort-value="2"Final
Augsburger PantherAugsburgDeutsche Eishockey LigaRegular season third1stdata-sort-value="8"First appearance
EC KACKlagenfurtAustrian Hockey LeaguePlay-off champion3rddata-sort-value="7"Group stage
Graz 99ersGrazAustrian Hockey LeagueRegular season first round winner1stdata-sort-value="8"First appearance
Vienna CapitalsViennaAustrian Hockey LeagueRegular season pick round winner6thdata-sort-value="5"Round of 16
Belfast GiantsBelfastElite Ice Hockey LeagueContinental Cup Wild Card1stdata-sort-value="8"First appearance
Yunost MinskMinskBelarusian ExtraleaguePlay-off champion3rddata-sort-value="6"Round of 32
Frisk AskerAskerGET-ligaenPlay-off champion1stdata-sort-value="8"First appearance
HC '05 Banská BystricaBanská BystricaTipsport LigaPlay-off champion3rddata-sort-value="7"Group stage
Brûleurs de LoupsGrenobleLigue MagnusPlay-off champion2nddata-sort-value="7"Group stage
Rungsted IshockeyRungstedMetal LigaenPlay-off champion1stdata-sort-value="8"First appearance
Cardiff DevilsCardiffElite Ice Hockey LeagueRegular season runner-up3rddata-sort-value="7"Group stage
GKS TychyTychyPolska Hokej LigaPlay-off champion2nddata-sort-value="7"Group stage

Group stage

For the group stage, the teams were drawn into 8 groups of 4 teams. Each team played home and away against every other team for a total of 6 games. The best 2 teams qualify to the round of 16.

Pots

The reigning CHL champions is the top seeded team and therefore given a place in pot 1. In the top pot there were also the reigning champions of the six founding leagues and the regular season winner of SHL. The 16 remaining teams from the founding leagues were placed to pots 2 and 3. The fourth pot include the playoff champions from the seven challenge leagues and the Belfast Giants, the wild card team following the 2018–19 IIHF Continental Cup.

width=25%Pot 1width=25%Pot 2width=25%Pot 3width=25%Pot 4
Frölunda HC
Färjestad BK
SC Bern
HPK
Oceláři Třinec
Adler Mannheim
EC KAC
Luleå HF
EV Zug
Kärpät
Bílí Tygři Liberec
Red Bull München
Graz 99ers
Djurgårdens IF
Lausanne HC
Tappara
HC Plzeň
Augsburger Panther
Vienna Capitals
Skellefteå AIK
EHC Biel
Pelicans
Mountfield HK
HC Ambrì-Piotta
Yunost Minsk
Frisk Asker
HC '05 Banská Bystrica
Brûleurs de Loups
Rungsted Ishockey
Cardiff Devils
GKS Tychy
Belfast Giants

Group stage tie-breaking criteria

If two teams were tied in points after the group stage is finished, the teams precedence is decided by head-to-head games. If the teams are still tied after that, then the team that was ranked higher prior to the tournament took precedence. When comparing head-to-head results, the following criteria were applied:[9]

  1. more points in games against the other tied team
  2. better goal difference in games against the other tied team
  3. more goals scored against the other tied team
  4. more goals scored in a single game against the other tied team
  5. overtime wins against the other tied team
  6. more goals scored in the two game winning shot competitions
  7. higher position in the 2016–17 CHL club ranking

Playoffs

Qualified teams

GroupWinners (seed)Runners-up
A EHC Biel Tappara
B EV Zug HC Plzeň
C Luleå HF Augsburger Panther
D Lausanne HC Yunost Minsk
E Skellefteå AIK SC Bern
F Adler Mannheim Djurgårdens IF
G Red Bull München Färjestad BK
H Frölunda HC Mountfield HK

Format

In each round except the final, the teams played two games and the aggregate score decided which team advanced. As a rule, the first leg was hosted by the team who had the inferior record in the tournament with the second leg being played on the home ice of the other team. If aggregate score is tied, a sudden death overtime followed. If the overtime is scoreless, the team who wins the shoot out competition advances.

The final was played on the home ice of the team who had the better record in the tournament.

Bracket

The eight group winners and the eight second-placed teams advanced to the Round of 16. The teams were divided into two seeding groups and group winners were randomly drawn against runners-up. Teams who had faced each other in the group stage could not be drawn against each other in the round of 16. The draw took place in Helsinki, Finland on 18 October 2019.[10]

Note:

  1. The teams listed on top of each tie were runners up in the group stage and play the first leg at home. The bottom team were group winners and play the second leg at home. Skellefteå AIK, however, would play their first leg at home in their tie against Djurgårdens IF.
  2. The order of the legs (which team starts at home) in the future rounds may be changed as the team with the best record should have the second game at home.

Round of 16

Second Leg

Quarter-finals

Second Leg

Semi-Finals

Second Leg

Final

Statistics

Scoring leaders

The following players led the league in points.[11]

PlayerTeamdata-sort-type="number" style="width: 2em;"
Frölunda HC13616220+51203716.22%
Frölunda HC12313166-50302412.50%
Djurgårdens IF123121514+31202313.04%
Frölunda HC1176134+101004117.07%
Luleå HF1167138+91302030.00%
HC Plzeň684122+43302040.00%
Frölunda HC1275128+62403122.58%
Luleå HF1266122+52102524.00%
Frölunda HC1265114+40603815.79%
Luleå HF1229116+4100238.70%

Leading goaltenders

The following goaltenders led the league in save percentage, provided that they have played at least 40% of their team's minutes.[12]

PlayerTeam
EHC Red Bull München440121596.03%1.221256
EV Zug531102595.33%0.981305
HC Ambrì-Piotta431120695.24%1.511238
EHC Biel-Bienne422153895.03%1.961245
SC Bern523146894.81%1.730278

Notes and References

  1. News: LGT Top Scorer:Ryan Lasch. Champions Hockey League. championshockeyleague.com.
  2. News: LGT Most Valuable Player:Ryan Lasch. Champions Hockey League. championshockeyleague.com.
  3. Web site: New CHL format for 2017–18! 32 teams & on-ice qualification only. championshockeyleague.net. 2016-06-14. 2018-01-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20161130083341/http://www.championshockeyleague.net/news/new-chl-format-for-2017-18-32-teams-and-on-ice-qualification-only/1727. 2016-11-30. dead.
  4. Web site: Fourth for Frölunda with victory over Mountfield HK. championshockeyleague.com.
  5. Web site: First CHL Final in the Czech Republic: ČPP Arena. championshockeyleague.com.
  6. Web site: CONTINENTAL CUP DOESN'T UNVEIL FIRST CHL QUALIFIER. championshockeyleague.com.
  7. Web site: BELFAST GIANTS INVITED TO 2019/20 CHL. championshockeyleague.com.
  8. Web site: Qualification criteria updated for 2019/20. championshockeyleague.com. 2018-09-19. 2019-01-24.
  9. Web site: The CHL Format. championshockeyleague.com. 2019-01-24.
  10. Web site: Playoff draw in the books! The road to the final starts now! . championshockeyleague.com . 21 October 2019.
  11. Web site: Statistics 2019/20: Players. Champions Hockey League. Champions Hockey League (CHL) AG. 3 May 2021.
  12. Web site: Statistics 2019/20: Goalkeepers. Champions Hockey League. Champions Hockey League (CHL) AG. 3 May 2021.