The Champions Hockey League held a Virtual Press Conference earlier today ahead of the start of the upcoming 2024/25 season - the big 10-year anniversary season of the elite European club ice hockey competition.
First to speak and take viewers through the agenda was CHL COO Monika Reinhard who went on to welcome CHL President Jörgen Lindgren to the stage who welcomed everybody to the pre-season event, saying: "Finally hockey is back. I'm really looking forward to the games on Thursday."
"Finally hockey is back!"CHL President Jörgen Lindgren
The CHL President also pointed out that he was very satisfied with the new format that was introduced last season, highlighting: "The unified standings were easy to follow and it was clear to see where you can go up to. It creates excitement from the first games."
After a short look back at the epic CHL Final 2024, the Head Coaches of last season's Finalists - Jan Cadieux of Genève-Servette and Robert Ohlsson of Skellefteå AIK - joined the press conference and reviewed the great event in Geneva, Switzerland earlier this year and talked about the upcoming season and their goals.
CHL Marketing & Events Director Philip Schuler introduced and ran viewers through the new Champions Hockey League visual language and look, highlighting all the important points fans will interact with and the reasons behind their change.
"Time to change things up!"Philip Schuler, CHL Marketing & Events Director
"It was time for something new, time to change things up," revealed Schuler, going on to dive deep into the process of developing the new brand visuals.
Following Schuler's segment, Monika Reinhard ran through ten moments that were picked as some of the biggest moments of the league's 10-year history. We covered these in two parts earlier in the pre-season: part 1 & part 2.
Fadri Holinger, CHL Sport Manager, went through this season's grid, introduced the teams geographically and generally, and presented an interesting summary and review of the successful new on-ice rule changes that were introduced for 2023/24: "The rules had a significant impact without completely changing the games and we will continue with them for the 2024/25 season."Also, Holinger revealed that the CHL will also mandate neck guards.
"The CHL has also decided to include neck guards as an obligation for 2024/25."Fadri Holinger, CHL Sport Manager
Following Holinger's segment, Head Coaches of the participating clubs responded to some questions and commented briefly on their goals and expectations.
"It's a great opportunity and privilege for our players and organisation to play in this type of competition," said Patrick Emond of Fribourg-Gottéron.
"Qualifying for the Champions Hockey League was one of the main high points of our 2023/24 goals and we're happy to have reached them," was Tappara Tampere Head Coach Rikard Grönborg's response.
After some of the Head Coaches spoke, CHL COO Monika Reinhard introduced Alexander Sulzer of Pinguins Bremerhaven who spoke about his side's recent progress and journey into the CHL and Nik Zupančič of CHL newcomers Unia Oświęcim. She then went on to go through prize money, the competition format and the plan for the 2024/25 season.
"The team battled from the first day right down to the very last day and deserve to be part of the CHL line-up."Alexander Sulze, Pinguins Bremerhaven Head Coach
Reinhard also spent time discussing the recent announcement that CHL Champions Genève-Servette will wear Warrior's sustainable jersey for the 2024/25 campaign and introducing the CHL's prediction game that is returning for a second season after making waves in 2023/24 - CHL Predictor. She then passed on to the other group of Head Coaches who responded to questions.
"We have to be mentally and physically ready when the puck drops, it's a tough challenge, a tough competition - every game is going to be tough," commented Färjestad Karlstad's Head Coach Tomas Mitell.
"Having played in the CHL in the past definitely helps us"Tom Pokel, Straubing Tigers Head Coach
"Last season was eye-opening for us, it really hit us. This season we need to be better prepared for all the challenges that come," revealed Red Bull Salzburg's Head Coach Oliver David.
Just as she had opened the event, CHL COO Monika Reinhard also concluded it by thanking everyone who participated, watched and also all the CHL's official partners and sponsors.