2019–20 Champions Hockey League
Tournament details
Dates29 August 2019 – 4 February 2020
Teams32
Final positions
Champions Sweden Frölunda HC (4th title)
Runner-up Czech Republic Mountfield HK
Tournament statistics
Games played125
Goals scored683 (5.46 per game)
Attendance430,750 (3,446 per game)
Scoring leader(s)United States Ryan Lasch[1] (22 points)
MVPUnited States Ryan Lasch[2]

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

Team City/Area League Qualification Participation Previous best
Sweden Frölunda HC Gothenburg Swedish Hockey League 2019 CHL winner 6th Champion
Sweden Färjestad BK Karlstad Swedish Hockey League Regular season winner 4th Round of 32
Sweden Luleå HF Luleå Swedish Hockey League Regular season runner-up 4th Champion
Sweden Djurgårdens IF Stockholm Swedish Hockey League Regular season fourth 5th Round of 16
Sweden Skellefteå AIK Skellefteå Swedish Hockey League Regular season fifth 5th Semi-finals
Switzerland SC Bern Bern National League Play-off champion 6th Quarter-finals
Switzerland EV Zug Zug National League Regular season runner-up 6th Round of 16
Switzerland Lausanne HC Lausanne National League Regular season third 1st First appearance
Switzerland EHC Biel Biel/Bienne National League Regular season fourth 1st First appearance
Switzerland HC Ambrì-Piotta Ambrì National League Regular season fifth 1st First appearance
Finland HPK Hämeenlinna Liiga Play-off champion 1st First appearance
Finland Kärpät Oulu Liiga Regular season winner 5th Final
Finland Tappara Tampere Liiga Regular season runner-up 6th Round of 16
Finland Pelicans Lahti Liiga Regular season third 1st First appearance
Czech Republic Oceláři Třinec Třinec Czech Extraliga Play-off champion 5th Semi-finals
Czech Republic Bílí Tygři Liberec Liberec Czech Extraliga Regular season winner 5th Semi-finals
Czech Republic HC Plzeň Plzeň Czech Extraliga Regular season third 3rd Semi-finals
Czech Republic Mountfield HK Hradec Králové Czech Extraliga Regular season fourth 3rd Group stage
Germany Adler Mannheim Mannheim Deutsche Eishockey Liga Play-off champion 5th Round of 16
Germany Red Bull München Munich Deutsche Eishockey Liga Regular season runner-up 5th Final
Germany Augsburger Panther Augsburg Deutsche Eishockey Liga Regular season third 1st First appearance
Austria EC KAC Klagenfurt Austrian Hockey League Play-off champion 3rd Group stage
Austria Graz 99ers Graz Austrian Hockey League Regular season first round winner 1st First appearance
Austria Vienna Capitals Vienna Austrian Hockey League Regular season pick round winner 6th Round of 16
United Kingdom Belfast Giants Belfast Elite Ice Hockey League Continental Cup Wild Card 1st First appearance
Belarus Yunost Minsk Minsk Belarusian Extraleague Play-off champion 3rd Round of 32
Norway Frisk Asker Asker GET-ligaen Play-off champion 1st First appearance
Slovakia HC '05 Banská Bystrica Banská Bystrica Tipsport Liga Play-off champion 3rd Group stage
France Brûleurs de Loups Grenoble Ligue Magnus Play-off champion 2nd Group stage
Denmark Rungsted Ishockey Rungsted Metal Ligaen Play-off champion 1st First appearance
United Kingdom Cardiff Devils Cardiff Elite Ice Hockey League Regular season runner-up 3rd Group stage
Poland GKS Tychy Tychy Polska Hokej Liga Play-off champion 2nd Group stage

Group stage

Teams in the 2019–20 Champions Hockey League
Black: Group A; Purple: Group B; Blue: Group C; Red: Group D; Orange: Group E; Green: Group F; White: Group G; Yellow: Group H.

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.

Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4

Sweden Frölunda HC
Sweden Färjestad BK
Switzerland SC Bern
Finland HPK
Czech Republic Oceláři Třinec
Germany Adler Mannheim
Austria EC KAC
Sweden Luleå HF

Switzerland EV Zug
Finland Kärpät
Czech Republic Bílí Tygři Liberec
Germany Red Bull München
Austria Graz 99ers
Sweden Djurgårdens IF
Switzerland Lausanne HC
Finland Tappara

Czech Republic HC Plzeň
Germany Augsburger Panther
Austria Vienna Capitals
Sweden Skellefteå AIK
Switzerland EHC Biel
Finland Pelicans
Czech Republic Mountfield HK
Switzerland HC Ambrì-Piotta

Belarus Yunost Minsk
Norway Frisk Asker
Slovakia HC '05 Banská Bystrica
France Brûleurs de Loups
Denmark Rungsted Ishockey
United Kingdom Cardiff Devils
Poland GKS Tychy
United Kingdom Belfast Giants

Group A

Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification BIE TAP KAC FAS
1 Switzerland EHC Biel 6 5 0 0 1 16 9 +7 15 Advance to Playoffs — 1–0 4–2 2–1
2 Finland Tappara 6 4 0 0 2 21 11 +10 12 1–0 — 8–3 7–3
3 Austria EC KAC 6 3 0 0 3 18 20 −2 9 3–6 3–2 — 3–0
4 Norway Frisk Asker 6 0 0 0 6 7 22 −15 0 2–3 1–3 0–4 —

Group B

Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification EVZ PLZ HPK RUN
1 Switzerland EV Zug 6 4 0 2 0 22 11 +11 14 Advance to Playoffs — 5–2 3–4 (SO) 5–2
2 Czech Republic HC Plzeň 6 2 3 0 1 24 16 +8 12 2–1 (SO) — 5–4 (OT) 9–3
3 Finland HPK 6 1 1 2 2 13 16 −3 7 1–3 1–2 (OT) — 2–0
4 Denmark Rungsted Ishockey 6 1 0 0 5 10 26 −16 3 0–5 2–4 3–1 —

Group C

Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification LHF AUG LIB BEL
1 Sweden Luleå HF 6 3 2 1 0 26 15 +11 14 Advance to Playoffs — 2–3 (SO) 4–1 4–0
2 Germany Augsburger Panther 6 2 2 2 0 18 15 +3 12 4–5 (OT) — 2–3 (SO) 3–1
3 Czech Republic Bílí Tygři Liberec 6 1 1 1 3 20 20 0 6 4–5 (OT) 2–3 — 6–1
4 United Kingdom Belfast Giants 6 1 0 1 4 12 26 −14 4 3–6 2–3 (OT) 5–4 —

Group D

Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification LAU YUN TRI PEL
1 Switzerland Lausanne HC 6 2 2 2 0 20 17 +3 12 Advance to Playoffs — 3–2 5–3 4–3 (SO)
2 Belarus Yunost Minsk 6 2 1 1 2 15 17 −2 9 3–2 (OT) — 2–0 2–3 (SO)
3 Czech Republic Oceláři Třinec 6 2 1 0 3 17 14 +3 8 2–1 (OT) 7–2 — 5–3
4 Finland Pelicans 6 1 1 2 2 16 20 −4 7 4–5 (SO) 2–4 1–0 —

Group E

Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SKE SCB KAR BdL
1 Sweden Skellefteå AIK 6 2 2 1 1 19 14 +5 11[lower-alpha 1] Advance to Playoffs — 3–2 (SO) 2–0 1–2
2 Switzerland SC Bern 6 2 1 3 0 17 14 +3 11[lower-alpha 1] 4–5 (SO) — 1–2 (SO) 4–1
3 Finland Kärpät 6 2 2 1 1 18 13 +5 11[lower-alpha 1] 5–4 (SO) 2–3 (OT) — 3–1
4 France Brûleurs de Loups 6 1 0 0 5 8 21 −13 3 1–4 1–3 2–6 —
Source: Champions Hockey League
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. 1 2 3 Head-to-head points: Skellefteå AIK 8, SC Bern 5, Kärpät 5.

Group F

Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification MAN DIF VIC GKS
1 Germany Adler Mannheim 6 4 1 0 1 23 10 +13 14 Advance to Playoffs — 2–1 4–0 5–0
2 Sweden Djurgårdens IF 6 4 0 0 2 20 14 +6 12 6–3 — 3–6 2–0
3 Austria Vienna Capitals 6 2 0 0 4 15 21 −6 6 1–6 1–2 — 5–2
4 Poland GKS Tychy 6 1 0 1 4 10 23 −13 4 2–3 (OT) 2–6 4–2 —

Group G

Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification RBM FBK AMB BAB
1 Germany Red Bull München 6 3 1 1 1 14 9 +5 12 Advance to Playoffs — 2–1 3–0 3–0
2 Sweden Färjestad BK 6 3 1 0 2 17 10 +7 11 3–1 — 2–1 6–1
3 Switzerland HC Ambrì-Piotta 6 3 0 1 2 13 12 +1 10 2–3 (SO) 2–1 — 4–3
4 Slovakia HC '05 Banská Bystrica 6 0 1 1 4 10 23 −13 3 3–2 (SO) 3–4 (OT) 0–4 —

Group H

Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification FHC MHK CAR GRA
1 Sweden Frölunda HC 6 4 0 1 1 34 17 +17 13 Advance to Playoffs — 2–3 9–2 5–6 (SO)
2 Czech Republic Mountfield HK 6 4 0 0 2 22 13 +9 12 3–4 — 5–2 7–1
3 United Kingdom Cardiff Devils 6 2 1 0 3 18 30 −12 8 2–9 3–2 — 4–3 (SO)
4 Austria Graz 99ers 6 0 1 1 4 14 28 −14 3 1–5 1–2 2–5 —

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

Group Winners (seed) Runners-up
A Switzerland EHC Biel Finland Tappara
B Switzerland EV Zug Czech Republic HC Plzeň
C Sweden Luleå HF Germany Augsburger Panther
D Switzerland Lausanne HC Belarus Yunost Minsk
E Sweden Skellefteå AIK Switzerland SC Bern
F Germany Adler Mannheim Sweden Djurgårdens IF
G Germany Red Bull München Sweden Färjestad BK
H Sweden Frölunda HC Czech Republic 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]

Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
                  
1 Sweden Djurgårdens IF 3 4 7
16 Sweden Skellefteå AIK 3 1 4
Sweden Djurgårdens IF 5 3 8
Germany Red Bull München 1 0 1
8 Belarus Yunost Minsk 2 0 2
9 Germany Red Bull München 3 6 9
Sweden Djurgårdens IF 1 0 1
Czech Republic Mountfield HK 3 3 6
5 Finland Tappara 3 1 4
12 Switzerland EV Zug 3 3 6
Switzerland EV Zug 1 0 1
Czech Republic Mountfield HK 1 4 5
4 Czech Republic Mountfield HK 1 1 2
13 Germany Adler Mannheim 0 1 1
Czech Republic Mountfield HK 1
Sweden Frölunda HC 3
6 Germany Augsburger Panther 2 1 3
11 Switzerland EHC Biel (OT) 2 2 4
Switzerland EHC Biel 3 3 6
Sweden Frölunda HC (OT) 2 5 7
3 Sweden Färjestad BK 6 2 8
14 Sweden Frölunda HC 3 8 11
Sweden Frölunda HC 2 3 5
Sweden Luleå HF 3 1 4
7 Switzerland SC Bern 0 2 2
10 Sweden Luleå HF 3 4 7
Sweden Luleå HF 2 5 7
Switzerland Lausanne HC 1 2 3
2 Czech Republic HC Plzeň 1 4 5
15 Switzerland Lausanne HC (OT) 2 4 6

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.

Final

4 February 2020
18:45 (UTC+1)		Mountfield HK Czech Republic1–3
(1–3, 0–0, 0–0)		Sweden Frölunda HCČPP Arena, Hradec Králové
Attendance: 6,890
Game reference
Marek MazanecGoaliesJohan MattssonReferees:
Finland Kristian Vikman
Finland Mikko Kaukokari
Linesmen:
Germany Andreas Hofer
Netherlands Joep Leermakers
Koukal (Cibuļskis, Pavlík) (PP) – 06:531–0
1–116:29 – Hjalmarsson (Lundqvist, Lasch) (PP)
1–218:21 – Friberg (Grönlund)
1–319:21 – Sundström (Ekbom, Fagemo)
10 minPenalties8 min
18Shots29

Statistics

Scoring leaders

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

Player Team GP G A PTS PIM +/– GWG PPG SHG SOG S%
United States Ryan Lasch Sweden Frölunda HC 13 6 16 22 0 +5 1 2 0 37 16.22%
United States Rhett Rakhshani Sweden Frölunda HC 12 3 13 16 6 -5 0 3 0 24 12.50%
Sweden Olle Alsing Sweden Djurgårdens IF 12 3 12 15 14 +3 1 2 0 23 13.04%
Sweden Samuel Fagemo Sweden Frölunda HC 11 7 6 13 4 +10 1 0 0 41 17.07%
Finland Arttu Ilomäki Sweden Luleå HF 11 6 7 13 8 +9 1 3 0 20 30.00%
Czech Republic Milan Gulaš Czech Republic HC Plzeň 6 8 4 12 2 +4 3 3 0 20 40.00%
Sweden Joel Lundqvist Sweden Frölunda HC 12 7 5 12 8 +6 2 4 0 31 22.58%
Sweden Robin Kovacs Sweden Luleå HF 12 6 6 12 2 +5 2 1 0 25 24.00%
Sweden Simon Hjalmarsson Sweden Frölunda HC 12 6 5 11 4 +4 0 6 0 38 15.79%
Sweden Nils Lundkvist Sweden Luleå HF 12 2 9 11 6 +4 1 0 0 23 8.70%

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]

Player Team GP W L SV GA SV% GAA SO MIN
Germany Danny aus den Birken Germany EHC Red Bull München 4 4 0 121 5 96.03% 1.22 1 256
Switzerland Luca Hollenstein Switzerland EV Zug 5 3 1 102 5 95.33% 0.98 1 305
Czech Republic Dominik Hrachovina Switzerland HC Ambrì-Piotta 4 3 1 120 6 95.24% 1.51 1 238
Switzerland Jonas Hiller Switzerland EHC Biel-Bienne 4 2 2 153 8 95.03% 1.96 1 245
Switzerland Niklas Schlegel Switzerland SC Bern 5 2 3 146 8 94.81% 1.73 0 278

References

  1. ↑ "LGT Top Scorer:Ryan Lasch". Champions Hockey League. championshockeyleague.com.
  2. ↑ "LGT Most Valuable Player:Ryan Lasch". Champions Hockey League. championshockeyleague.com.
  3. ↑ "New CHL format for 2017–18! 32 teams & on-ice qualification only". championshockeyleague.net. 14 June 2016. Archived from the original on 30 November 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  4. ↑ "Fourth for Frölunda with victory over Mountfield HK". championshockeyleague.com.
  5. ↑ "First CHL Final in the Czech Republic: ČPP Arena". championshockeyleague.com.
  6. ↑ "CONTINENTAL CUP DOESN'T UNVEIL FIRST CHL QUALIFIER". championshockeyleague.com.
  7. ↑ "BELFAST GIANTS INVITED TO 2019/20 CHL". championshockeyleague.com.
  8. 1 2 "Qualification criteria updated for 2019/20". championshockeyleague.com. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  9. 1 2 "The CHL Format". championshockeyleague.com. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  10. ↑ "Playoff draw in the books! The road to the final starts now!". championshockeyleague.com. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  11. ↑ "Statistics 2019/20: Players". Champions Hockey League. Champions Hockey League (CHL) AG. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  12. ↑ "Statistics 2019/20: Goalkeepers". Champions Hockey League. Champions Hockey League (CHL) AG. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
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