Four Game Days down, and nine to go. That’s where we’re at so far in the 2019/20 Champions Hockey League. But while some teams have a foot in the playoffs already, and others are looking like Game Days 5 and 6 may be their last of this season, more than a wondering eye is also looking at qualification for next season – and with it, how many places each team will get.
The CHL League Ranking works all of that out for you, taking into account the average number of points per game achieved by each league over a four-year period. But leaving that aside for a moment, which leagues are on form this season alone?
Rank | League | Points per game | 2019/20 Points |
1 | Germany | 2.33 | 100 |
2 | Sweden | 1.95 | 95 |
3 | Switzerland | 1.80 | 90 |
4 | Czech Republic | 1.63 | 85 |
5 | Finland | 1.50 | 80 |
5 | United Kingdom | 1.50 | 80 |
7 | Austria (EBEL) | 1.25 | 70 |
7 | Belarus | 1.25 | 70 |
9 | France | 0.75 | 60 |
9 | Slovakia | 0.75 | 60 |
11 | Poland | 0.25 | 50 |
12 | Denmark | 0.00 | 45 |
12 | Norway | 0.00 | 45 |
Germany are this season’s top performers to date, with their teams averaging over two points a game so far! Sweden and Switzerland come next, with Czech teams making a resurgence in Game Days 3 and 4 after disappointing starts for Liberec, Mountfield, and Třinec. From the Challenger Leagues, Belfast and Cardiff’s results have seen the Elite League as one of the better-performing so far, but we’ll see how those sides get on against SHL opposition to close out the group stage.
What does it all mean?
Those points, added to the results from the last three years, give us the League Ranking. Here’s how things would look if today's points counted for next season. Of course, we have to wait until the end of this season before the final allocations can be done!
Rank | Country | 2020/21 places |
1 | Sweden* | 5 |
2 | Switzerland* | 5 |
3 | Germany* | 4 (+1) |
4 | Finland* | 4 |
5 | Czech Republic* | 3 (-1) |
6 | Austria (EBEL)* | 3 |
7 | Belarus | 1 |
8 | United Kingdom | 1 |
9 | France | 1 |
10 | Slovakia | 1 |
11 | Slovakia | 1 |
12 | Norway | 1 |
13 | Poland | 1 |
14 | Denmark | 1 |
* Founding League
The big gain would be for Germany – they’d earn four places for next season’s CHL if they can keep their results going. Czech Republic meanwhile need to start posting some more wins, or risk losing a place for next year.
Click here for the detailed League Ranking, which shows the points over the four-year period.