Champions Hockey League

The Champions Hockey League (CHL) is a premier European ice hockey tournament featuring top teams from across the continent. It was launched in the 2014–15 season by 26 clubs, six leagues, and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). The tournament aims to crown the best team in European hockey.

Background of the CHL

The first CHL was launched by the IIHF in 2008 as part of its 100th anniversary. However, this initial tournament only lasted one season, with Switzerland's ZSC Lions winning the title before playing in the 2009 Victoria Cup. Due to the global economic crisis and difficulties in finding sponsors, subsequent seasons were canceled. In December 2013, the IIHF, along with a group of 26 clubs from six countries, revived the CHL, leading to its relaunch for the 2014–15 season.

Evolution of the Tournament

The 2014–15 season began with 44 teams divided into 11 groups. Each team played a double round-robin format, and the group winners, along with the top five runners-up, advanced to a single-elimination playoff series. Swedish team Luleå HF defeated Frölunda HC to win the inaugural season's championship.

In the 2015–16 season, the tournament expanded to 48 teams across 16 groups, including the 26 founding clubs, 12 league-based teams, and 10 wild cards. Frölunda HC won their first title, defeating Finland's Oulun Kärpät in the final. The 2016–17 season maintained this format, with Frölunda HC winning again, this time against HC Sparta Praha of the Czech Republic.

From the 2017–18 season onward, the tournament format was streamlined to 32 teams, chosen based on performance rather than fixed spots for founding clubs. JYP Jyväskylä from Finland emerged victorious in this season, beating Växjö Lakers of Sweden in the final.

The format stayed the same until 2023–24 when the number of participating teams was reduced to 24. These teams played six games in a regular season, and the top 16 advanced to the playoffs. Genève-Servette HC from Switzerland claimed their first title, defeating Skellefteå AIK in the final.

Competition Format

Initially, founding clubs had guaranteed spots in the tournament. However, starting from the 2017–18 season, entry was based solely on on-ice performance. The tournament features teams from six founding leagues: Sweden's SHL, Finland's Liiga, Switzerland's National League, Czech Republic's Extraliga, Germany's DEL, and Austria's ICEHL. Additionally, wild card spots are granted to champion teams from various "challenge leagues" and, at times, the Continental Cup.

In 2023–24, the CHL format changed, featuring 24 teams with the top 16 advancing to the playoffs after a regular season. Each league's representation is determined by a coefficient ranking system based on their teams' performances over the past four seasons.

League Ranking and Points System

The CHL uses a points-based system to rank leagues. Points are awarded for wins, overtime victories, and advancing through tournament rounds. A league's coefficient is calculated annually by averaging the points of all participating teams. This coefficient determines the number of spots allocated to each league.

Notable Achievements

Sweden has been the dominant nation in the CHL, winning six titles and finishing as runner-up four times. Frölunda HC is the most successful club, securing four championships (2015–16, 2016–17, 2018–19, 2019–20). Finland's Tappara and JYP Jyväskylä, Switzerland's Genève-Servette HC, and Sweden's Rögle BK have each claimed one title. Other notable finalists include Germany's EHC Red Bull München, Czech Republic's HC Sparta Praha, and Sweden's Skellefteå AIK.