Straubing Tigers will make their Champions Hockey League debut against a Genève-Servette team returning to the competition for the first time in four years.
For the Tigers, their European debut comes after the organisation’s highest ever finish in the DEL of third. Genève, from the French-speaking part of Switzerland, haven’t been seen in European competition since 2015/16 where they ended Group M last behind Storhamar Hamar and Sparta Prague.
“Genève-Servette are a challenging draw that we are looking forward to. They played a strong 2019/20 season establishing themselves in the top four of a very fast and competitive Swiss National League. They are no strangers to the CHL tournament and have a team with great experience,” said Tigers Head Coach Tom Pokel. “We expect the games to be filled with speed and skill. These are the kind of games that our Straubing Tigers thrive and excel in. We are the new kids on the block in the CHL and are always ready and excited for new challenges and benchmarks.”
We want to improve the way we will play all around the competition.Pat Edmond, Head Coach Genève-Servette
His counterpart Pat Edmond, who led Genève to a fourth-place finish in his first season in the job, added: “It’s a great opportunity for our team to play against the best teams of other countries. We want to improve the way we will play all around the competition and go as far as we can. We are satisfied with the Draw and playing against Straubing in the first round will be a great challenge for us.”
Pokel is no stranger to the CHL having previously led Vienna into the Round of 16 ahead of the ZSC Lions and Färjestad Karlstad in the 2014/15 Group Stage. “The CHL is a tournament of champions, and champions want to win so we want to go as far as possible and establish ourselves at international level. The CHL represents the best of the best in all of Europe and we are very proud to have secured our spot in this prestigious tournament,” revealed the 52-year-old. “Winners are never satisfied, and every team in the Champions Hockey League has winning qualities. Therefore, we are not just happy to be participating in the tournament but want to prove ourselves with the best of the best. It will be very challenging and exciting for all of us. We are looking forward to this special event.”
The club, the team and the fans are very deserving of the recognition and honour involved with playing in the King’s class of European hockey.Tom Pokel, Head Coach Straubing Tigers
He's also under no illusions about what qualifying for the CHL means for the Tigers. “Playing in the CHL for the first time in the club’s history is an incredible experience and honour for the work that the organization has been doing progressively since moving up to the top German hockey league (DEL) back in 2006. The team is especially rewarded for their accomplishments of playing the best season in the Club’s history in the 2019/20 season placing in the top three,” explained Pokel. “The fans and their support in Straubing are a strong part of the growth that the organization has built up in the DEL and now reaching the ever so prestigious CHL. The club, the team and the fans are very deserving of the recognition and honour involved with playing in the king’s class of European hockey.”
In Geneva, qualification for the CHL after four seasons outside looking in isn’t without its recognition. “It means a lot for us as we didn’t participate to the CHL for the last four years,” Edmond explained. “It’s a great opportunity and a good exposure for Geneva and the club Genève-Servette HC. Of course, our fans are really excited, and they will be behind us like they always were so passionately in the past.”