Cardiff Devils Ready For Champions Hockey League Draw In May

Slovakian team Banska Bystrica and Cardiff Devils, who played each other in challenge matches last year, have both qualified for Champions League hockey.

Bystrica secured the Slovakian Extraliga title and completed the 32 teams in the 2017-18 CHL competition.

Coach Andrew Lord’s Devils earned a 3-2 win in the first match, while the visitors bounced back to win the second clash 4-2 at Ice Arena Wales.

The Bystrica team are nicknamed Barani, which means Rams in English.

The CHL group stage draw will be made on Wednesday, May 17 at the IIHF World Championship in Cologne, Germany, with each of the 32 participating teams ranked and placed into one of four baskets of eight teams each.

Elite League champions Cardiff are in for the first time, while Nottingham Panthers, who qualify after winning the Continental Cup, make their second appearance having previously taken part in the inaugural 2014-15 tournament.

2017-18 Champions League teams:

Founding Leagues (Team allocation according to CHL league ranking)

Sweden (5 teams): Brynäs IF, HV71 Jönköping, Frölunda Gothenburg, Malmö Redhawks, Växjö Lakers

Finland (5): IFK Helsinki, Jyp Jyväskylä, KalPa Kuopio, Tappara Tampere, TPS Turku

Switzerland (4):  EV Zug, HC Davos, SC Bern, ZSC Lions Zurich

Czech Republic (4): Bili Tigry Liberec, HC Ocelari Trinec, Kometa Brno, Mountfield HK

Germany (3): Adler Mannheim, Grizzlys Wolfsburg, Red Bull Munich

Austria/EBEL (3): KAC Klagenfurt, Red Bull Salzburg, Vienna Capitals

Challenge Leagues:

Slovakia: Banska Bystrica

Norway: Stavanger Oilers

Belarus: Neman Grodno

Denmark: Esbjerg Energy

Great Britain: Cardiff Devils

France: Gap Rapaces

Poland: Comarch Cracovia

IIHF Continental Cup winners: Nottingham Panthers

Devils season ticket holders are reminded the deadline to renew is Monday, May 1 (5pm).