The Champions Hockey League's Board has approved and confirmed the qualification eligibility for the teams taking part in the IIHF Continental Cup in January. Traditionally, the winner of the Continental Cup is awarded a place in the Champions Hockey League - Yunost Minsk made this season's CHL through this route.

At its meeting held in Vienna on Monday, the CHL Board approved that HK Gomel (BLR), the Belfast Giants (GBR) and GKS Katowice (POL) fulfil the standards required to qualify for the 2019/20 Champions Hockey League should they win the Continental Cup. All of them would be new in Europe’s most prestigious club competition, as none of them have played in the Champions Hockey League before.

Conversely, the CHL Board cannot accept the fourth IIHF Continental Cup finalist Arlan Kokshetau (KAZ) as a CHL qualifier for the reason that travel logistics to Kazakhstan are too extensive for CHL teams. If Arlan Kokshetau win the tournament, the CHL place for the IIHF Continental Cup winners will be returned to the Champions Hockey League and a Wild Card to another team will be granted as per a CHL Board decision.

Should HK Gomel, the Belfast Giants or GKS Katowice win the IIHF Continental Cup, their national league will be granted an additional second place for the 2019/20 Champions Hockey League season – which is allocated to the league champions. Should the IIHF Continental Cup winners also be the national champions, the second place will be allocated to the regular season winners of Belarus/Poland or to the playoff winners of Great Britain (as, in line with their traditions, the EIHL crowns their national champions at the end of the regular season).

The IIHF Continental Cup Final will be played over 11-13 January 2019 in Belfast.