Fewer teams and a permanent spot in the competition for Polish champion - for us those are the most important changes to the Champions Hockey League. The new format will be introduced in the 2017-18 season.

On 14 June during the General Assembly meeting in Berlin the 33 Champions Hockey League shareholders decided to make changes to the competition format. Starting with the 2017-18 season , the competition will be limited to 32 teams (instead of 48) from 13 countries, including Poland whose champion will be sure to play in the Champions Hockey League. What is more, all of the teams, including the founding members, will need to participate in on-ice qualification.

The most important rules of the new format as enumerated on championshockeyleague.net:

- 32 teams from 13 countries

- Teams can only qualify on sporting merits

- No founding club shall automatically be granted playing rights

- A maximum of 5 teams per country

- The CHL Champion of the previous season is automatically qualified for the next CHL season. However, this will not grant one extra spot for the league of the CHL winner

More info [HERE].

AT/CHL