On Tuesday it's time for the long-awaited Semi-Finals in the Champions Hockey League. Today, however, we can reveal the top five candidates for the NordicBet MVP Trophy, the official CHL award dedicated to the tournament's most valuable player.
The jury, with eminent names such as Bo “Kulon” Lennartsson and journalist Johan Svensson (aka “Mr Madhawk”), have nominated the candidates, which all come from the four Semi-Finalists.
At the beginning there were 48 teams from 13 leagues which competed in the CHL. Now only four teams remain – Frolunda Gothenburg, Sparta Prague, Vaxjo Lakers and Fribourg-Gotteron. During the Final, on Tuesday, 7 February, the winner of the NordicBet MVP Trophy will be announced at the Final venue. For the third consecutive year, sports betting company NordicBet will present the prize. NordicBet is also an official partner of the CHL.
The five nominees for the NordicBet MVP Trophy:
- Henrik Tommernes, Frolunda Gothenburg
- Joel Lundqvist, Frolunda Gothenburg
- Robert Rosen, Vaxjo Lakers
- Lukas Pech, Sparta Prague
- Yannick Rathgeb, Fribourg-Gotteron
It's now up to Europe’s hockey enthusiasts to assist the jury in picking a winner, by voting here. The voting ends on Sunday, 5 February. The candidates will be reduced to three finalists by Thursday, 12 January, based on fan votes. Both the hockey fans and the expert jury will choose the final winner, where both parties have equal power of 50 percent each.
The jury consists of Johan Svensson (aka “Mr Madhawk”, the biggest hockey blogger in Sweden), CHL Sports Director Bo “Kulon” Lennartsson, journalist and author Daniel Nilsson-Padilla, Swedish sports journalist Marthen Bergman and Dennis Kjellin from NordicBet.
Previous NordicBet MVP Trophy winners:
2015-16: Ryan Lasch, Frolunda Gothenburg
2014-15: Mathis Olimb, Frolunda Gothenburg