Saipa Lappeenranta
(October 6 in Graz, 8:20 PM)
In contrast to KooKoo, Saipa had a good start in the Liiga; 20 points from 10 games currently mean third place. Saipa has played their way into the Finnish elite after leaner years – in the final two years ago, bronze last season (the Liiga really plays a bronze medal game).
For promotion in the CHL, two points would probably be enough for the ninth-placed team. Defender Santeri Airola is a power play specialist who has shown reliable scoring numbers for years. Otherwise, there are rather few outstanding individual talents in the team, which features eight import players from six different countries.
Eisbären Berlin
(October 7 in Salzburg, 8:20 PM & October 14 H vs KAC, 7:30 PM)
Even without successful coach Serge Aubin, who left for Bern in the summer, no major drop in performance could be observed. Second place in the DEL, but in the CHL, the fourteenth-placed team still needs points to secure promotion.
Strong as ever: The two top scorers Ty Ronning and Liam Kirk, who offensively carry the team with 13 points each from 6 DEL games. However, new goalie signing Jack LaFontaine still has room for improvement, currently standing in the shadow of his colleague Jonas Nefflin. Fans in Salzburg can certainly look forward to a squad packed with strong import players and German national team players.
Skelleftea AIK
(October 13 H vs Red Bull Salzburg, 7 PM)
Fourth in the SHL, already qualified for the round of 16 in the CHL – the Swedish champions once again live up to their excellent reputation. Two titles in the last three years, plus a seemingly never-ending supply of young players (four draft picks are on the roster).
Goalie Strauss Mann – one of only three import players – was a key player in the team last season, allowing less than two goals per game this year as well. This was not foreseeable after his season in Augsburg.
Further stars in the team: Offensive defender Jonathan Pudas and center Oscar Lindberg, who has already played in the NHL, KHL, and NL. It is questionable, however, whether coach Daniel Hermansson will send his best team into the last two CHL games.
Storhamar
(October 14, H vs Graz 99ers, 7 PM)
Lying in 17th place overall with four points – in contrast to the 99ers, the Norwegian champions still have chances for promotion. The game against the Styrians is certainly the easier task here than the one in Tampere against Tappara a week earlier.
After three consecutive championship titles, Storhamar is currently only in fifth place in the domestic EHL. Petter Thoresen's team features several familiar names: Former Caps goalie Tyler Parks, former Pioneers defender Christian Bull, and former Graz player Simon Hjalmarsson. In addition, there are national team players like Jacob Berglund (a native Swede), Eirik Salsten (rather a flop in Iserlohn), and 36-year-old Andreas Martinsen.
For the 99ers, not only an expensive trip awaits them at the CHL conclusion, but also a difficult opponent to play against.
