Group F spans from Normandy all the way up to the very north of Finland, though teams will be glad the cities of Hradec Kralove and Nuremberg are only separated by around 400km. While most eyes will focus on the sides from Finland, Czech Republic and Germany to battle for the top two spots, Rouen are yet to lose at home in the CHL in regulation.
Kärpät Oulu
- Qualified as: Finnish champions
- Fourth appearance; Finalists in 2016
- Club information
2016 CHL runners-up Kärpät Oulu didn’t qualify for last year’s competition after a poor domestic season the year before. However as both regular season and playoff champions least year at home, they come back for an assault on Europe. 44-year old Head Coach Mikko Manner won the championship in only his second year in the job. He oversees a team with former CHL champion Niklas Lasu on it, while over the summer Mika Pyörälä (NLA), Atte Ohtamaa (KHL), and Michal Krištof (Slovakia) among others have come in. 19-year old Aleksi Heponiemi is one to keep an eye on too – he scored 108 points as Swift Current won the WHL last season. 20-year old Radek Koblížek will undoubtedly be the journalists' favourite in Hradec Kralove.
Mountfield HK
- Qualified as: Extraliga semi-finalists
- Second appearance; Group Stage in 2017/18
- Club information
Mountfield HK’s debut CHL season was one to forget as they finished last in their group and were beaten home and away by the Nottingham Panthers - the only Extraliga side not to make it through to the Last 16. Former Assistant Coach Tomáš Martinec is now behind the team’s bench, while on the ice Brandon Maxwell has joined as the team’s starting goalie. Marquee signings include Tomáš Vincour from Brno and Martin Réway from Slovan Bratislava (also played in the CHL for Sparta Prague); but it’s a changed team with departures including goalie Patrik Rybár (NHL) and forward Andris Dzerins (KHL). Captain Jaroslav Bednář also retired after the playoffs and has taken up a new position as Sport Director.
THOMAS SABO Ice Tigers
- Qualified as: 3rd in DEL
- Debut appearance
- Club information
Off-ice changes for the Ice Tigers over the summer saw Head Coach Rob Wilson leave for Peterborough in the OHL, so Kevin Gaudet is the new man beind the bench, coming from the DEL2. On the ice captain Steven Reinprecht has retired while another 11 players won’t return. The Ice Tigers recruited in the main from other DEL sides with imports Jason Bast, Will Acton, and Chris Brown joining the team, and Brandon Buck coming in from Vienna. On the blue line the team has two standouts, with Tom Gilbert and Milan Jurčina having over 1000 NHL games combined under their belts.
Rouen Dragons
- Qualified as: French Champions
- Second appearance; Group Stage in 2016/17
- Club information
Rouen put two points on the board in their last CHL stint, and were unbeaten at home in regulation as they lost in OT to Davos and Djurgarden in 2016/17. The French champions have some familiar foes in their team, with Juha Koistvo joining from Kärpät, and Nicolas Deschamps having played there four years ago. 23-year-old Atte Mäkinen played in the CHL previously for Tappara and Lukko Rauma before joining Rouen this summer. Offensive leader Marc-André Thinel is set to begin his 14th season with the Dragons!