All the European leagues stopped for a week for the international break. Many players who are still participating in the current CHL season will be called upon to wear their international colours. Let's have a run through and see who will be playing where
Sweden (11 players)
By far the most players who are still going to play in the Playoffs can be found in the Swedish national team - 11 in total. During the international break, the Tre Kronor will participate in Karjala Cup, the very first tournament of the Euro Hockey Tour. The most players sent to wear blue and yellow come from Djurgården Stockholm - three.
Current CHLers in the Swedish national team:
Olle Alsing, Patrik Berglund, Tom Nilsson (all Djurgården Stockholm), Carl Klingberg, Oscar Lindberg (both EV Zug), Linus Johansson, Michael Lindqvist (both Färjestad Karlstad), Max Friberg, Johan Sundström (both Frölunda Indians), Jesper Sellgren (Luleå Hockey), Arvid Lundberg (Skellefteå AIK).
Finland (7 players)
Second place belongs to the Finns, who called seven current CHLers to their home Karjala Cup (hosted by both Finland and Sweden). Again, no more than three players from one team are going to participate, this time, this prize belongs to Tappara Tampere. What's most interesting is that more players come from abroad than from Finland. Alongside Tappara's three representatives, four CHLers based outside of Finland will play for the Leijonat.
Current CHLers in the Finnish national team:
Kristian Kuusela, Niko Ojamäki, Veli-Matti Vittasmäki (all Tappara Tampere), Arttu Ilomäki, Juhani Tyrväinen (both Luleå Hockey), Toni Rajala (EHC Biel-Bienne), Petteri Lindbohm (Lausanne HC).
Switzerland (5 players)
Switzerland shares the third spot in the number of players on the roster who still fight in the Playoffs. The dominant Swiss club in this particular case is EHC Biel-Bienne, who loaned three players to the national team, which hopes to win the gold medal at the Deutschland Cup.
Current CHLers in the Swiss national team:
Jason Fuchs, Samuel Kreis, Yannick Rathgeb (all EHC Biel-Bienne), Dario Simion (EV Zug), Fabian Heldner (Lausanne HC).
Belarus (5 players)
The first challenger league-based national team in this list. It is no surprise that all five current CHLers on its roster play for the Belarusian champion Yunost Minsk, and during the break, all will try their best in front of a Latvian crowd as Belarus participates in the Four Nations Tournament in the Baltic country.
Current CHLers in the Belarusian national team:
Andrei Antonov, Igor Brikun, Sergei Drozd, Stanislav Lopachuk, Yevgeni Nogachyov (all Yunost Minsk).
Czech Republic (4 players)
Another of the Top 4 European nations that will take part in the Euro Hockey Tour and specifically Karjala Cup during this international break. The Czechs have on their roster for this tournament four players who are still in CHL, three from their own league and Jan Kovář who currently playss for EV Zug.
Current CHLers in the Czech national team:
Radovan Pavlík, Petr Zámorský (both Mountfield HK), Jan Kovář (EV Zug), Michal Moravčík (HC Pilsen).
Germany (4 players)
Germany shares fifth place with the Czech Republic as they also called up four players to the national team, however, in their case it is not Karjala Cup which awaits, but the home three-nation tournament which goes by the name of the Deutschland Cup. The national team accurately reflects the current dominance of Red Bull Munich in German hockey because three of the four skaters play for last season's CHL Runners-Up.
Current CHLers in the German national team:
Maximilian Daubner, Maximilian Kastner, Kevin Reich (Red Bull Munich), Simon Sezemsky (Augsburger Panther).
France (3 players)
The French national team flies to Latvia for the Four Nations Tournament, featuring three players who will represent their teams in the Champions Hockey League Round of 16. This number would've been much higher, if Grenoble had not been eliminated from the competition in the Group Stage.
Current CHLers in the French national team:
Thomas Thiry (EV Zug), Jordann Perret (Mountfield HK), Charles Bertrand (Tappara Tampere).
Slovakia (2 players)
Like France, the number of CHL representatives on the Slovak national team has decreased significantly following HC05 Banská Bystrica's exit. Only two current CHLers will feature for Slovakia in the international break.
Current CHLers in the Slovakian national team:
Peter Čerešňák (HC Pilsen), Mislav Rosandić (Mountfield HK).
Norway (2 players)
We finish this list geographically just where we started it - in Scandinavia. Norway has two players whose clubs are still in the Playoffs and speaking about the leagues where do they come from, their case is very similar to Slovakia and France, as both players decided to take their hockey knowledge over to the SHL, one even being the reigning CHL champion with the Frölunda Indians.
Current CHLers in the Norwegian national team:
Michael Haga (Djurgården IF), Mats Rosseli Olsen (Frölunda Indians).
After the international break, the CHL returns with a bang. Make sure you're ready for the Round of 16, which gets underway on Tuesday 12 November! Click here for the full schedule!