It's just over a week until the last two teams standing face off in the 2020 Champions Hockey League Final. We're asking journalists covering each team to tell us why they think it'll be their year this time around.
We start with Johan Rylander from Göteborgs-Posten, who gives us five reasons why it'll be Frölunda Indians lifting the trophy again this season:
1. Tradition
This could almost be a carbon copy of last year's prediction, but it’s a fact that the Champions Hockey League has existed for six seasons and Frölunda have reached the final in five out of those six. In Hradec Králové, the Swedish team has the chance of title number four – that is really impressive, and a huge mental advantage.
2. Skill
Frölunda do still have more skilled players than their final opponents. Samuel Fagemo is heading for the NHL in the next season – but he’s not the only threat. You also have the tournament MVP in Ryan Lasch, the all-time CHL scoring leader with 29 goals. You also have players like Rhett Rakhshani, Patrik Carlsson, Johan Sundström, Nicklas Lasu, Simon Hjalmarsson and future NHL star Lucas Raymond. He is to be drafted this summer – and I predict he is going Top 3 in the NHL draft. Any of those players can decide a final.
3. Four producing lines
If Frölunda, like last year, use the speed of all four lines in the final, well … then Mountfield HK will also have problems catching them! And when you have problems catching someone, you will take penalties. And we all know how good this Swedish team is with a man advantage: almost three in ten powerplay opportunities result in a goal.
4. Strong fan base
The arena in Hradec Králové hosts almost 7000 fans – and Frölunda will come with approximately 700 of those. They will create a red wall of noise, and an early goal will most certainly silence the home crowd.
5. The coach
Roger Rönnberg arrived in Gothenburg seven seasons ago and I would say that he is the best addition Frölunda have made in this millennium. His results at the club are extraordinary, in fact the best in history. Five titles will become a sixth in the Czech Republic – because after two games against Mountfield HK in the preliminary rounds the Swedish Head Coach will most certainly have figured out a lethal game plan.