KAC Klagenfurt

KAC are a staple of the ICE-HL and the most successful club in the history of Austrian hockey. They have won 32 national championships, most recently last season when they beat rivals and fellow CHL Qualifiers HC Bolzano in a dramatic final to clinch their second title in three seasons.

Under the supervision of experienced Head Coach Petri Matikainen, KAC have assembled a multi-national squad of experienced veteran players and up-and-coming youngsters that stand behind their recent success. Proving just how comfortable they are with their current line-up is the fact that for the first time since 1986, KAC have made no new signings over the course of the off-season.

The club first participated in the Champions Hockey League in 2015/16. They also qualified and participated in the 2017/18 season and the 2019/20 season, where they beat elite Finnish side Tappara Tampere and Norwegian newcomers Frisk Asker both at home and away in the Group Stage. Yet, the Austrian club have failed to advance to the Playoffs in all three seasons in the CHL.

Will 2021/22 be the year this club on the up finally makes it into the elimination rounds?

Ones to watch

Thomas Koch – one of the most successful products of the KAC junior programme in the last three decades, veteran forward Koch is an eight-time ICE-HL champion and is entering his 15th season with KAC.

Sebastian Dahm – the Danish goaltender joined KAC in the summer of 2020 and was voted MVP of the regular season, recorded 12 shutouts in 2020/21 and started all seven games for Denmark at the 2021 IIHF World Championships.

First Game

KAC Klagenfurt VS Rouen Dragons, Stadthalle Klagenfurt, 3 September, 20:20 CEST

Rouen Dragons

The Rouen Dragons enter their third CHL season off the back of another successful year in their domestic league. The only French club participating in the 2021/22 season won their 16th league title last year, further cementing their place as the top team in Ligue Magnus.

Rouen’s two previous CHL participations have both been very different. Back in 2016/17 when they made their debut in the pan-European competition, they fell hard losing all four of their games without picking up a single point, but two years later they returned with a bang, winning three of their six Group Stage games and qualifying for the Playoffs. Despite being eliminated in the first elimination round, they proved just how much can change in two years and they will certainly be looking to replicate this form heading into 2021/22.

Ones to watch

Dylan Yeo – the Canadian blueliner joined Rouen this summer after spending seven seasons in the DEL.

Matija Pintaric – the Slovenian goaltender has been with the club since 2017 and has quickly become a favourite with the fans. But he’s not just fun and games – Pintaric has consistently been at the top of the league’s goaltending statistics.

First Game

KAC Klagenfurt VS Rouen Dragons, Stadthalle Klagenfurt, 3 September, 20:20 CEST

Rungsted Seier Capital

Rungsted first secured their Champions Hockey League qualification for the 2019/20 season after becoming Metal Ligaen champions for the first time since 2002. Despite finishing at the bottom of their group in their debut and missing out on the CHL Playoffs, they recorded a win on home ice against HPK Hämeenlinna on the final Game Day to end the season on a somewhat positive note.

The five-time Danish champions are regarded as a strong team that regularly participate in the playoffs and compete for trophies each season.

Heading into 2021/22, their goal is simple according to Head Coach Erik Hjalmarsson – “Our goal is to reach the Playoffs.”

Ones to watch

Nikolaj Rosenthal – the 30-year-old winger scored 39 points last season and became Metal Ligaen champion for the third time. Has the third most points of any player in Rungsted’s history.

Mattias Persson – the “magician”, as he is called in Denmark, has been with Rungsted for four seasons now and returns for his second taste of the CHL after scoring 74 points in just 59 games last season in the Metal Ligaen – his best ever points tally for Rungsted!

First Game

HC Donbass Donetsk VS Rungsted Seier Capital, Palace of Sports, 3 September, 18:30 CEST

HC Donbass Donetsk

A few months ago, HC Donbass Donetsk became the first ever Ukrainian hockey club to qualify for the Champions Hockey League. The 2012/13 IIHF Continental Cup champions and eight-time Ukrainian national champions have set their sights high heading into their debut CHL season: “Donbass always set high goals,” said Head Coach Pavel Mikulchik, “our group is very strong, but we will do our best.”

Donbass have a multi-national squad that has taken years to build featuring players from Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Latvia and the United States.

Their goal for 2021/22? “Getting to the Playoffs,” according to Mikulchik, “but first we need to go through the Group Stage.”

Ones to watch

Viktor Zakharov – started his career with Donbass back in the 2012/13 season, leads the team in games played, points and assists. In 2013/14 he became the youngest Ukrainian to play in the KHL. Watch out for his strong shot!

Andrey Sigarev – Russian forward who joined Donbass in the summer of 2020, spent seven seasons in the KHL.

First Game

HC Donbass Donetsk VS Rungsted Seier Capital, Palace of Sports, 3 September, 18:30 CEST

Tune in later this week for our final Group Preview and be sure to follow the Champions Hockey League’s social media channels to stay up to date on all the news and reactions ahead of the 2021/22 season!