The eagerly anticipated 2024/25 season of the Champions Hockey League (CHL) is rapidly approaching, and the competition has officially confirmed the Challenger League places. This means that the champions of the national leagues in Denmark, France, Norway, Poland, and the United Kingdom have earned their spot to take on Europe’s elite club ice hockey teams.
The allocation of the Challenger League places is a complex process, as the CHL carefully evaluates several criteria. This includes sportive competitiveness, management structure, infrastructure, and attendance figures of the national leagues. It is a thorough process aimed at ensuring that the most deserving teams have the opportunity to shine on the European stage.
A notable change for the upcoming season is the inclusion of Poland in the Challenger League. This decision came about after the Slovak representatives fell short in CHL games over the past three seasons. The CHL deemed it fair to rotate and offer Poland the chance to prove themselves in the upcoming 2024/25 season.
The 2024/25 CHL season is set to feature 24 teams, with one place reserved for the reigning CHL Champions, Genève-Servette. Additionally, 18 places are allocated to the Shareholder Leagues, and five spots are designated for the Challenger Leagues.
It is worth noting that the United Kingdom’s representative for the Challenger League will be determined through a unique tradition. Unlike other leagues, the national champions in the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) are crowned after the Regular Season, not in the Playoffs. This demonstrates the variety of approaches taken by different leagues across Europe in determining their representatives for the CHL.
The confirmation of the Challenger League places paves the way for an exciting and competitive 2024/25 CHL season. As the countdown begins, fans can look forward to watching the best of the best from across Europe battle it out on the ice.
With the announcement of the Challenger League places, the anticipation and excitement for the upcoming 2024/25 CHL season continue to build. As the countdown to the first puck drop begins, ice hockey enthusiasts eagerly await the thrilling matches and incredible displays of skill from the participating teams. Stay tuned for more updates as the road to the 2024/25 CHL season unfolds.