Ahead of the start of the upcoming Champions Hockey League season, we asked the Head Coaches of the Stavanger Oilers' six Regular Season opponents what their thoughts are on the Norwegian team - here's what they had to say!
Färjestad Karlstad Head Coach Tomas Mitell: “Färjestad have always had a big following in Norway, so playing Stavanger is going to be interesting. They have won a lot of domestic titles in recent years and will be a team to watch out for.”
Växjö Lakers Head Coach Jörgen Jönsson: “Stavanger are a team that are favourites in Norway each year and always compete for the Norwegian championship. This will be the first time I meet them and I am looking forward to it!”
Oceláři Třinec Head Coach Zdeněk Moták: “We are very curious about the match against Stavanger. We have two players in our team who were part of the last meeting between our two teams in 2015. We’ll see if they will prepare a perfectly organised defense again or if they will want to showcase an offen- sive game in front of their home crowd.”
Dynamo Pardubice Head Coach Václav Varaďa: “A Norwegian team that always finish in the top of their league. They will play with a fighting spirit and speed; a tough style to face for all their opponents. I wouldn’t be surprised if they beat some big teams. Every team will have to work hard to defeat Stavanger.”
Red Bull Salzburg Head Coach Oliver David: “These guys know how to win. They were top of their league from start to finish and ended 2022/23 with a championship. We need to be ready for them.”
HC Bolzano Head Coach Niklas Sundblad: “As with Belfast, the Stavanger Oilers are a team we will have to study carefully. I know that Norwegian hockey is very similar to Swedish hockey – very good tactics and discipline. They are a top team and they proved it by winning the championship two times in a row!”
Find out more about the Stavanger Oilers in the video below!