CHL Teams Preview: Kometa Brno to Odense Bulldogs

MATCH DAY ONE IS UPON US.

Alright, hockey fans—get ready because the Champions Hockey League is just around the corner! Whether you’re a die-hard supporter or just in it for the highlights, here’s a quick and easy rundown of the teams you’ll want to keep an eye on: Kometa Brno, Lausanne HC, Lukko Rauma, Luleå Hockey, Mountfield HK, and Odense Bulldogs.

Kometa Brno

Let’s start with the Czech legends, Kometa Brno. These guys have been around since 1953 and play their games at Winning Group Arena. Last season, with Kamil Pokorný running the bench, they finished 4th in the regular season—pretty solid. But the real story? They turned it on in the playoffs and grabbed the championship! Their record went 52 games played, 21 wins, 17 losses, 7 overtime wins, and 7 OT losses. Jakub Flek was the big scorer (24 goals, 47 points in 45 games), Kristian Pospisil set up the most goals (27 assists in 46 games), and Rhett Holland wasn’t afraid to mix it up (76 penalty minutes in 36 games!). In goal, Michal Postava was clutch (.921 SV% in 42 games), with Gašper Krošelj backing him up (.918 SV% in 12 games), and Jan Kavan even pulled off a .939 SV% in his one game.

Lausanne HC

Next up: Lausanne HC from Switzerland, founded in 1922. Coach Geoff Ward leads a team that finished first in their league last season (nice!), with 25 wins, 14 losses, 9 OT wins, and 4 OT losses over 52 games. They went all the way to the final. Damian Riat topped the goal chart (17 goals in 52 games), Antti Suomela was the big assist and points guy (25 assists, 40 points in 47 games), and Aurélien Marti brought some edge (84 penalty minutes in 52 games). Goalie Kevin Pasche was on fire with a .926 SV% in 42 games, and Thibault Fatton didn’t let in a single puck during his short outing.

Lukko Rauma

Heading to Finland, Lukko Rauma (est. 1936) took the top spot in the standings last year—32 wins, 18 losses, 6 OT wins, and 4 OT losses in 60 games. They ended up in the third-place playoff, not exactly what they wanted, but still impressive. Sebastian Repo was the top sniper (22 goals in 50 games), Jakob Stenqvist dished out the most assists (39 in 60), and Karson Kuhlman led in points (46 in 60 games). Alex Peters played the whole season and led in penalty minutes with 79. John Lethemon handled most of the net duties (.894 SV% in 42 games), with Joni Ortoi and Daniel Lebedeff as backups.

Luleå Hockey

Time for Sweden! Luleå Hockey (founded 1977) finished 2nd in the regular season—22 wins, 15 losses, 11 OT wins, and 4 OT losses in 52 games—but then went all the way to win it all in the playoffs. Mathias Bromé was their top guy in goals (19) and points (39), while Brian O’Neil was the assist leader (25). Brendan Shinnimin wasn’t shy about getting physical either (53 PIMS in 47 games). In goal, Matteus Ward (.908 SV%) and Joel Lassinantti (.900 SV%) handled things pretty well.

Mountfield HK

Mountfield HK, another Czech squad, has been around since 1926 and plays at CPP Arena. Last season: 2nd place in the standings (26 wins, 17 losses, 4 OT wins, 5 OT losses in 52 games), but lost in the semifinals. Alex Tamasi was the main goal threat (19 goals in 50 games), Aleš Jergl racked up 24 assists and 36 points, and Jordann Perret had a whopping 90 penalty minutes in 45 games. Stanislav Skorvánek was the main dude in net (.919 SV% in 34 games).

Odense Bulldogs

Don’t forget the Odense Bulldogs from Denmark! Founded in 1978, they skate at Spar Nord Arena with Jason O’Leary as coach. They finished 2nd (24 wins, 13 losses, 7 OTW, 4 OT losses in 48 games) but grabbed the championship in the playoffs. Joakim Thelin led in both goals (23) and penalty minutes (45), while Brandon Estes was the playmaker and points leader (38 assists and 52 points in 48 games). Goalie Niklas Lundstrom had a solid .919 SV% in 22 games, with Frederik Søgaard and Fredrik Bergvik backing him up.