The 2023/24 Champions Hockey League season starts today, but before the puck drops for the very first time on our quest to find a new European Club Champion, let's take a look at some of the top talent set to represent their clubs this season. Here are five players you should be on the lookout for when they hit ice rinks across the continent later today!
Ryan Lasch
The three-time CHL Champion is among the most decorated players in the competition's history. A two-time LGT MVP and the Top Scorer in four of the past five seasons, Lasch finds ways to make plays and help his team whenever he’s on the ice. Last year, the American winger ran away with his fifth scoring title, netting seven goals to go along with 15 helpers for 22 points in 11 games. Look for him to add to his totals this year, but not while wearing a Frölunda Gothenburg sweater. In June, the 36-year-old returned to the Lahti Pelicans where he skated for part of the 2020/21 season. New club, same old Lasch?
Christian Heljanko
Coming off his selection as last year’s LGT MVP, Heljanko’s spot as Tappara Tampere’s #1 netminder is undeniable. The 26-year-old posted career numbers during the 2022/23 campaign which culminated in the goalie lifting the European Trophy after helping his squad defeat Luleå Hockey for the title. En route to the CHL Final, Heljanko posted a 93.5 SV% in the Playoffs where he only allowed four combined goals in his final three contests to cap off his historic season. Heljanko is no stranger to success in his domestic league either as the Finn has also won the Finnish championship twice.
Rickard Hugg
The LW was tied for fifth in scoring in last year’s campaign with seven goals and five assists for 12 points, despite playing four fewer games than fourth-placed Niko Ojamäki. In his three years of CHL experience with Skellefteå AIK, Hugg has compiled 11 goals and eight assists for 19 points in 25 games. His high hockey IQ lends itself to generating quality opportunities for his club in the offensive zone and his ability to float passes to his teammates is exceptional. Last season in the SHL playoffs, the 24-year-old posted 12 points, all assists, in 16 contests.
Trevor Parkes
Parkes is as consistent as they come where production is concerned. With 30 games under his belt, the 190 cm 97 kg right shot has accrued 29 points (18G, 11A) putting him just shy of a point-per-game pace in three years of CHL hockey. The Canadian is entering his sixth season with Red Bull Munich and eighth season playing in the DEL where he’s been an ever-present figure on the scoresheet notching 266 points in 321 tilts. Parkes is a former CHL MVP, having won the honour during the 2018/19 campaign. He also outshot his competitors in the DEL in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons where he scored 28 and 23 goals, respectively.
Dominik Lakatoš
The 26-year-old is entering his fifth season with Vítkovice Ridera and his first as captain of the club. Lakatoš was drafted by the New York Rangers in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft but has played his entire professional career in Czechia save for one short stint with SaiPa Lappeenranta during the 2021/22 season. The winger has seen CHL action three times before and has amassed 8 points in 24 games. His production, however, continues to improve - last year in the Czech Extraliga he rallied 47 points (18G, 29A) in 51 games and shared the honour of MVP. The Czech also mustered 3 goals and 3 assists for 6 points in 13 playoff contests.