The Champions Hockey League (CHL) stands for great cinema. In order to convey this self-image, the top European ice hockey class held their German information event a week before the start of the new season in a large cinema not far from the arena at Ostbahnhof. In line with this claim, the viewers were presented with action-packed and emotionally charged scenes on a huge screen.
Martin Baumann, the CHL Managing Director, made every effort to convey the fascination of the ice hockey premier class – similar to a trailer for a new film in which the aim is to captivate the audience within a short period of time. “The polar bears play against Frölunda, among others. It’s like when Real Madrid or Chelsea FC are guests at football. What’s better than that?” asks the Swiss rhetorically.
The quality of the 32 teams varies, of course, just like in football. While CHL newcomers like Fehervar AV19 (Hungary) or Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia) are about getting a taste of international flair for the first time – the same applies to the Straubing Tigers from the DEL – the best teams in the industry are primarily concerned with located in northern Europe, to a lot of prestige and a winner’s prize money of 500,000 euros. The CHL prize money totals 3.5 million euros. Six of the previous seven titles have gone to teams from Sweden, the only exception being JYP Jyväskylä from Finland.
“Why not even a German team?” Baumann asked in the auditorium, in which representatives of the four German CHL representatives were sitting: In addition to the polar bears as champions and the final opponent Red Bull Munich, the already mentioned Straubinger and the Grizzlys Wolfsburg are represented. Especially Munich, which was in the final in 2019 and reached the semi-finals this year, can confidently be counted among the favourites.
Especially since a corona wave that swept through the team may have prevented something bigger. “The closer you get to this goal, the greater the hunger,” said Captain Patrick Hager. And coach Don Jackson added: “The further you get, the greater the belief that you can do it.”
So far, this belief has not been particularly pronounced among polar bears. So far, the Berliners have never made it past the round of 16. Last year, even before the final games in the group phase, the CHL ended early. Which of course shouldn’t be repeated this season. “We take this format very seriously because after two championships we know how good success feels,” said coach Serge Aubin. However, he guards against overly offensive announcements. “For us it’s about getting through the group stage, after that we’ll see.”
With the previously mentioned Swedish team Frölunda Göteborg, against whom the polar bears will play their first CHL home game on September 8th after two previous away appearances, the Berliners have perhaps caught their toughest opponent. The Swedes have already lifted the silver CHL Cup four times. At the start on Thursday next week, Aubin’s team will initially face French champions Grenoble. The fourth group representative is HK Mountfield from the Czech Republic.
It does not suit the elaborate warm-up for the new season in the pompous cinema hall that the polar bears all play their three group phase home games in the Corrugated Blechpalast because the European Basketball Championship has priority in the arena at Ostbahnhof. Which of course suits some fans, who are happy about every return to the time-honoured ice rink in the Sportforum Hohenschönhausen. In addition, the club is spared the rather unfortunate external effect that the games in the top ice hockey class of all games usually take place in front of numerous empty ranks, because the interest in this format in the city is still manageable.
Of course, CHL Managing Director Baumann is not particularly happy that the German champions are playing European ice hockey in an alternative hall. Precisely because it is also about making the format better known internationally and being able to market it better. “I prefer it when the hall is full and the fans are making a lot of noise,” he admits. Even if he dreams that one day the polar bear fans will also flock to the arena for CHL games.
Overall, he sees the Champions Hockey League on the right track. 100 teams from 20 countries will have auditioned on the CHL stage in the coming season since the premiere in 2008/09. Despite the corona pandemic, the prize money increased. “You can clearly see that the gap between the teams has narrowed over the years,” says Baumann. This year’s final between Rögle BK and Tappara Tampere was sold out within seven minutes.
Gernot Tripcke, Managing Director of the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) and CHL Supervisory Board member, jumped in accordingly. “The CHL is becoming more and more important to us. In addition to the World Cup, this is a great stage for the players to present themselves internationally.” The appreciation for German ice hockey is there.
So that the polar bears, as the last two-time German champions, can slip into a leading role, they just spent two weeks in South Tyrol and Austria. After three of the four games, the Berliners left the ice as losers. Morgan Ellis, who represented the Polar Bears with Aubin on Wednesday, said: “Losing a few games is okay as long as you take steps in the right direction.” German league has. Which in itself is not a bad prerequisite for causing a sensation internationally.
