The path to the Champions Hockey League is not an easy task and despite not reaching success in a final, EBEL clubs have had a constant presence in the competition. So far out of the previous six CHL seasons a total of seven teams from the EBEL have participated, including clubs from Austria, Italy and the Czech Republic. Some have had fleeting moments in the CHL, while others have enjoyed a longer stay. Let’s take a look back and breakdown the stats to see which club has made the biggest impact:
The Vienna Capitals
The Vienna Capitals, ranked 24 overall on the CHL All-Time statistics ladder, have been the kings of consistency. They qualified and competed in all six previous CHL seasons. In their first season Vienna posted their best ever win percentage of 62.5%, with a (5-3) record and also put up a better penalty-kill than Swedish team Luleå, who went on to lift the European Trophy as 2014/15 Champions. However, the good news stops there. Despite their depth of experience, the Capitals have been unable to repeat their debut performance and make it further into the playoff rounds. In their last four CHL appearances, advancing past the Group Stages has been their biggest obstacle. The Capitals have suffered a (2-4) win-loss record for three consecutive seasons.
HC Bolzano
Next up is HC Bolzano who according to the All-Time CHL statistics share rank 42 with Slovakian club HC Košice. HC Bolzano initially competed in the Italian Championships where they dominated, winning 19 championships, before joining the EBEL in 2013/14. Their presence was immediate as they won the league that year and again in 2017/18, and 2019/20. However, stepping into the CHL arena has been a bigger challenge for the team. HC Bolzano’s CHL debut in the 2014/15 season was rocky, being thwarted early in the Group Stages. Their second campaign in 2018/19 showed signs of improvement and they managed to reach the Round 16. In both appearances the Foxes split wins and losses (3-3) and (4-4) respectively to tally a 50% win percentage.
Red Bull Salzburg
Our last contenders are Red Bull Salzburg, who have been crowned EBEL champions an impressive 6 times over the past 13 seasons. This year, Salzburg had to settle for second place but as regular season runners-up they still earned a coveted place in the CHL.
Participating in five out of the six past CHL seasons, Red Bull Salzburg are the top ranked Austrian team in the league. They share rank 13 with Swedish team Djurgården Stockholm in the All-Time CHL statistics. Red Bull’s first year of participation impressed with a 75% win percentage and an impressive 4 goal per game average with a (6-2) win-loss record. In their most recent CHL season, Red Bull posted a lower 50% win percentage (6-3-3), advancing to finish in third-place overall and proving they can compete with the CHL’s best.
What are your thoughts? Will the consistency of the Capitals pay dividends this season? Does Red Bull Salzburg have the goods to make it all the way? Or will HC Bolzano surprise us all? Tell us who you think the best EBEL contender is!