The 2023/24 CHL Draw took place yesterday setting the stage for the upcoming Champions Hockey League season!
Legendary Finnish goaltender Pekka Rinne was at the event to help CHL President Jörgen Lindgren, CHL CEO Martin Baumann and Niklas Bäckström draw the teams into the Regular Season Grid as each team found out which six opponents they will face in the first phase of Europe's elite club ice hockey competition.
"Playing in the CHL is the perfect opportunity for players to improve and showcase themselves"Pekka Rinne
Pekka Rinne, who has well over 700 NHL starts to his name, retired from ice hockey in 2021. Since then he has taken up a role with the Finnish U20 national team as a goalie coach, working on developing the rising stars of tomorrow.
What is his view on the CHL offering young players the chance to test themselves on an international level?
"Playing in the CHL is an amazing chance for young players," started Rinne, "playing international games is the perfect opportunity for them to improve and showcase themselves."
"International games are like a measuring stick - you compare yourself with the best teams in Europe. It's a unique chance for all the players and teams in the CHL," he added.
The ex-Nashville Predator had an amazing career, what is the one lesson he will now try and pass on to young players?
"Work ethic," thinks Rinne, "you can't replace that. You have to also have passion, love the game - you can't teach these things," ended Rinne.
Watch the full interview from the 2023/24 CHL Draw below