At least one team taking part in the Champions Hockey League for the first time will make it to the Quarter-Finals with EHC Biel-Bienne and Augsburger Panther meeting in the Round of 16.
EHC Biel-Bienne have made their mark in their debut CHL season. The Swiss side finished the Group Stage top of Group A, and with the joint best defence in the competition. Through six games, EHC Biel-Bienne have conceded just nine goals, with only Group G winners Red Bull Munich matching this total. Biel-Bienne won all three of their home games by a combined score of 7-3, whilst the only blemish on their record was a 1-0 shutout loss in Tampere against Tappara.
Perhaps the best performance of their CHL season so far was Peter Schneider’s incredible four goal night on Game Day 5 away at KAC Klagenfurt. The Austrian forward truly made his mark on his return to his homeland! Other standout performers for EHC Biel-Bienne include Toni Rajala (3+2 in six games). Except starting netminder Jonas Hiller to feature in the Playoffs. The former NHLer played just two of his team’s Group Stage games, conceding just one goal, and holding a save percentage of 98.5%.
It was a great start to their first Champions Hockey League campaign for the Augsburger Panther as they qualified for the playoffs at the first time of asking. The side from Germany finished second in Group C with 12-points, thanks to a Game Day Six victory over Bílí Tygři Liberec. In each of their six games in the Group Stage, Augsburger picked up at least a point with their only two losses coming after regulation.
One of the main parts of the Panther success was the play of forward Matthew Fraser. The 29-year-old had a good first year with the club last year, but with seven goals in the Group Stage, the Canadian forward was just one of many big players to help Augsburger through the playoffs.
"Making the round of 16 was our first goal, now we’re excited to continue our journey in Biel. With our great fans behind us we want to battle hard and try our best to reach the next round."Tray Tuomie (Head Coach, Augsburger Panther)