Tonight, Tuesday 4 December sees the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Champions Hockey League with four fixtures featuring three Swedish teams:
Kometa Brno (CZE) v Frölunda Indians (SWE)
Skellefteå AIK (SWE) v HC Pilsen (CZE)
Red Bull Munich (GER) v Malmö Redhawks (SWE)
Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) v Kärpät Oulu (FIN)
Tonight’s match will be played at the first team’s rink and the second leg will be next Tuesday, 11 December.
The first two games sees Sweden verses Czech Republic in matches that could go either way. I’m backing Frölunda Indians to take the series against Kometa Brno because they’ve got experience of what it takes to win the CHL and whilst not playing their best hockey, are still getting results in the SHL. Look out for young Samuel Fagemo of Frölunda trying to assert his rights in the Junior Worlds team and get drafted by in the NHL.
Despite undoubted talent, Skellefteå AIK are struggling and lie in 10th place in the SHL. Whilst Skellefteå can excel in the heat of playoff hockey, they have not done so in the CHL before. Together with the fact that HC Pilsen have not lost in the CHL at all means the Czech team will take the series. Look out for Pilsen’s talented Milan Gulas who has played in Sweden for Färjestad.
The third match sees one of my non-Nordic tips for the CHL, Red Bull Munich take on Malmö Redhawks. Had I not seen the Swedish team play, I would rate the Germans chances as high as on paper the Redhawks have no standout players. But the fact is they are playing brilliantly and I think will win the series easily against Munich. Look out for Emil Sylvegård (photo) agitating the Munich backs in front of goal and hard forechecks in the offensive zone.
The final game contains no Swedes but the only Austrian and Finnish sides left in the tournament. Red Bull Salzburg will surely be outclassed by the Finnish league leaders. Whilst Red Bull lie in fourth the EBEL, Kärpät Oulu are 11 points clear at the top of Liiga and have only lost 4 games all season. Look out for their NHL drafted pair of Aleksi Heponiemi and Rasmus Kupari who will be trying to impress the national and international crowds.
@ABritOnThinIce1
