Group B features two former European Cup champions in Kometa Brno and the Malmö Redhawks making their CHL debuts, plus two teams that are mainstays in the competition - the Stavanger Oilers and KalPa Kuopio.
Kometa Brno
- Czech Extraliga champions (12 titles overall)
- 1st CHL appearance; won European Cup in 1966, 67, 68
- Club information
Kometa were the kings of Czech and European hockey in the 1960s, but that was a long time ago. After winning their first domestic title in more than 50 years, they will now try to re-assert themselves on an international scene that they’ve been absent from for a long time. In an effort to do so, they have re-signed many of the key cogs of their championship team, including former NHLer Martin Erat, veteran defencemen Jakub Krejčík and Ondřej Němec, and 18-year-old forward Martin Nečas, who was recently drafted 12th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes.
KalPa Kuopio
- Liiga finalists
- 4th CHL appearance; R16 in 2016/17
- Club information
Ever since 2008, KalPa have been solid contenders in the Finnish Liiga, finally reaching the finals for the first time since 1991 this past spring. Last season was also the year that they broke Europe’s “sweet 16” after a couple of subpar performances, and they’ll hope to build on that this year. KalPa have been average at best against Swedish and Czech CHL opponents, and they split their two games with Stavanger in 2015/16. The most recognizable returnees are scoring winger Tommi Jokinen and Slovak goaltender Denis Godla, joined by the addition of Canadian defenceman Mathew Maione, who has put up big numbers everywhere he’s played.
Malmö Redhawks
- SHL semi-finalists, 2 titles overall
- 1st CHL appearance; won European Cup in 1992/93
- Club information
Like Kometa, the Redhawks have a history of success both domestically and internationally but have endured years of mediocrity which they are now starting to rise from. In the early ‘90s they were a Swedish powerhouse, winning titles in 1992 and 1994, and the European Cup in 1993. This past season they made the SHL semi-finals for the first time since 2001 and will try to carry that momentum over into the CHL. Although newcomers, Malmö’s roster features at least 10 players with CHL experience, including former Växjö goalie Cristopher Nihlstorp, former Skellefteå centre Erik Forsell, and three players who played in the 2015 CHL Final: Max Görtz for Frölunda and Daniel Zaar and Lars Bryggman for Luleå.
Stavanger Oilers
- 6-time reigning Norwegian champions, 7 titles overall
- 4th CHL appearance; R32 in 2015/16
- Club information
The Stavanger Oilers have been the class of Norwegian hockey for the past decade or so, and have done reasonably well internationally, winning the 2014 Continental Cup. In the CHL, they have done reasonably well against Czech and Finnish opponents, and they have yet to face a Swedish team. In the 2015/16 Group Stage, the Oilers and KalPa each beat each other at home. Of returning players, Josh Soares is notable for scoring the first CHL goal back in 2014, and defenceman Spencer Humphries is a former teammate of Kometa defencemen Krejčík and Němec from the KHL. Of new recruits, Finnish forward Lassi Kokkala will be familiar to KalPa fans and American forward Tony Romano played the 2014/15 season in Malmö.