Rögle Ängelholm will be skating in their first Champions Hockey League match against seasoned contenders the Stavanger Oilers who are returning to the CHL after a two-year absence.
A first-place finish in the GET Ligaen Regular Season means the Oilers will be playing in their fifth CHL campaign; they are also the only team representing Norway. Rögle’s third-place finish in the SHL affords them their place among some established company with four other Swedish teams, including the defending-champion Frölunda Indians, set to skate in the competition.
"The games will have another level of intensity, knowing that one team will be finished after 120 minutes."Cam Abbott (Head Coach, Rögle Ängelholm)
Going into the Round of 32, Head Coach Cam Abbott was unequivocal in his remarks: “We are approaching the CHL with the goal of winning. Being ready for our first-round match-up against Stavanger will be our only focus.” It was this same focus that helped Rögle realize their chance to play in the CHL.
A veteran of the League, himself, Abbott lifted the European Trophy in 2014/15 after which he transitioned to a spot behind the bench, becoming a head coach in 2016/17. The Canadian spent two years minding the Växjö Lakers U20 team before joining Rögle’s staff midway through the 2017/18 season.
Echoing Abbott, Oilers Head Coach Todd Bjorkstrand was candid in his comments about their knock-out round opponents. “We know no matter who our opponent is it will be a very strong team,” he admits. He goes on to assure everyone that he and his club know exactly where they stand amongst the other teams in the competition: “Going into the games we will be the underdogs.”
A fixture behind the pine in European hockey since the early 2000s, Bjorkstrand’s coaching strategy is simple, “Our goal is to be a very tough opponent in each game we participate – we will go on the ice to win.”
The road to the Final is not guaranteed for any team, however, and both Bjorkstrand and Abbott are aware of the other’s willingness to win.
“We are very excited to be playing against Rögle in the first round. They are coming off a great season in the very strong SHL. We look forward to the challenge to see where we are compared to a top team from the SHL,” Bjorkstrand noted.
The Oilers have had historically poor performances in the first round of the CHL; in their last campaign from 2017/18 they recorded a lowly 0-6 record. But that’s in the past and Abbott isn’t concerned with what’s come before. For him, “Stavanger will be a good test and we know they are always a top GET ligaen team. So we need to be prepared to play hard and force them to adjust to our game.”
Because Rögle have never played in the CHL, this new knock-out format isn’t so much a change as a chance to showcase their strengths. Abbott believes that “this style of tournament will force us to be very sharp and in control of how we want to play. The games will have another level of intensity, knowing that one team will be finished after 120 minutes.”
With that in the back of their minds, Rögle are ready to match the intensity of their opponents, and Bjorkstrand is all-too-aware of this. The Minnesotan knows that if the Oilers are to advance then, “Attention to the details will be magnified from the start. Playing a strong tactical game will be important.”
"Going into the games we will be the underdogs."Todd Bjorkstrand (Head Coach, The Stavanger Oilers)
No matter the challenge or challenger, both coaches recognize the significance of playing in the CHL. Abbott’s experience both on and off the ice makes this moment even more poignant: “Playing in the CHL is an honor for our club and we will take this opportunity to show the rest of Europe how good we can be.” He went on to talk about how special it is to share this moment with Rögle’s fans saying, “Our fans are excited to support us both at Catena Arena and abroad.”
Bjorkstrand, too, takes pride in his team, saying, “We are one of only 32 teams fortunate enough to be part of a great tournament. We are proud to be part of CHL based on our strong season last year." As for Stavanger's supporters, he points out that, "It’s always fun and exciting for our fans to watch top teams from other leagues. We have great fans in Stavanger who support us at each home game.”