It’s been a long time but the Champions Hockey League finally made it’s return, and Group C saw action in South Wales as the Cardiff Devils took on Adler Mannheim.

With hockey finally returning to Cardiff after a long wait, it was up to Mannheim to spoil the party, and they wasted no time in doing so.

Less than a minute in, Jordan Swzarz got his debut off to the best start possible, opening the scoring just 57 seconds in after the Devils failed to clear their zone, to begin a period that was largely dominated by the visitors.

Midway through, Mannheim didn’t just double their lead, but added two in quick succession.

Firstly a blast from Joonas Lehtivuori made it 2-0, and just over a minute later it was the extended pressure again from Mannheim that paid off as Moritz Wirth fired in a third from just inside the circle.

Mannheim continued to press in the second, and when a powerplay came their way midway through they wasted no time in adding a fourth through a wrist shot by Borna Rendulic through traffic to extend the visitors lead for the only score of the second period.

An early powerplay in the third gave Cardiff a chance to get back into the game, but they couldn't find a way past the strong defence of Mannheim as the chance went by without a goal going on the board.

In fact, it was Mannheim who would strike instead shortly after after a shot by Moritz Wirth was tipped in front by Andrew Desjardins, all but sealing victory for Mannheim, matching their highest ever CHL winning margin.