Another international break is upon us, and again we see many of the names that have made their marks around Europe this season.
Finland (10 players)
Finland's national team will boast the most CHLers from this season when they take to the ice in the Channel One Cup. Six players come from Kärpät Oulu and HPK Hämeenlinna combined, while Lausanne HC's Petteri Lindbohm is also in there as the only Finn not playing in the country's domestic league.
CHLers in the Finnish national team:
Juho Lammikko, Mikko Niemelä, Jesse Puljujärvi (all Kärpät Oulu), Elmeri Eronen, Niklas Friman, Valtteri Puustinen (all HPK Hämeenlinna), Jere Karjalainen, Valtteri Kemiläinen (both Tappara Tampere), Hannes Björninen (Lahti Pelicans), Petteri Lindbohm (Lausanne HC)
Czech Republic (6 players)
Team Czech Republic will take a total of six CHLers to Russia with four coming from CHL teams Bílí Tygři Liberec and two from HC Pilsen - the rest of the squad is made up of players plying their trades in the Nordic countries. The best shooter of the CHL, Milan Gulaš, is of course part of the team.
CHLers in the Czech national team:
Tomáš Filippi, Radan Lenc (both Bílí Tygři Liberec), Milan Gulaš, Michal Moravčík (both HC Pilsen), Vojtěch Mozík (Färjestad Karlstad), Jakub Krejčík (Kärpät Oulu)
Switzerland (5 players)
With the third-highest amount of CHL players in their squad we have Switzerland who will host a four-nation tournament. All five of the CHLers called up come from SC Bern.
CHLers in the Swiss national team:
Simon Moser, Vincent Praplan, Thomas Rüfenacht, Tristan Scherwey, Ramon Untersander (all SC Bern)
Sweden (4 players)
The lowest number of CHLers in the Channel One Cup from participating countries is on the Swedish roster with four players called up. However, the top scorer among all the CHL defensemen and third overall, Olle Alsing, will miss the tournament.
CHLers in the Swedish national team:
Linus Johansson, Gustav Rydahl (both Färjestad Karlstad), Calle Andersson (SC Bern), Arvid Lundberg (Skellefteå AIK)
Norway (3 players)
The Norwegians too are to miss their biggest CHL star, Michael Haga in their case. Nevertheless, they will have the second-most CHLers at the NaturEnergie Challenge 2019, and, similarly to Switzerland, all three of them come from the same team (and the only Norwegian club in the CHL) - Frisk Asker.
CHLers in the Norwegian national team:
Viktor Granholm, Christian Kåsastul, Max Krogdahl (all Frisk Asker)