Champions Hockey League 2008/09

The 2008/09 season of the Champions Hockey League was the first and only staging of the competition of the International Ice Hockey Federation IIHF . The CHL was the highest competition in European club ice hockey . It replaced the previous European Champions Cup . A total of 14 teams from seven nations took part in the competition, which was played between September 2008 and January 2009. The first-time winners were the ZSC Lions from Zurich . They met in the 2009 Victoria Cup on the Chicago Blackhawks from the North American National Hockey League .

Attendees

In the 2008/09 season, a total of 14 clubs from the seven top European leagues on the IIHF league rankings took part. The champions of the leagues in 2008 and, as a rule, the winners of the main rounds were eligible to participate. As an exception, the Finnish runner-up and Magnitogorsk took part as the European Champions Cup winners of the previous season. If the main round winner was also the champion, the second in the main round moved up.

The following were directly qualified for the group stage:

• Salawat Julajew Ufa ( Super League Champion )
• HK Metallurg Magnitogorsk (winner of the European Champions Cup 2008 )
• Kärpät Oulu (Master of the SM-liiga )
• Espoo Blues (runner-up in SM-liiga )
• HC Slavia Prague ( extra league champions )
• HC Mountfield České Budějovice (main round first in the Extraliga )
• HV71 Jönköping (Master of the Elitserien )
• Linköpings HC (second in the main lap of the Elitserien )
• HC Slovan Bratislava ( extra league champions )
• ZSC Lions Zurich (Champion of the National League A )
• Eisbären Berlin (Champion of the German Ice Hockey League )

The participants in the qualifying tournament were:

• HC Košice (second in the main round of the Extraliga )
• SC Bern (first in the main round of the National League A )
• Sinupret Ice Tigers Nürnberg (first round of the German ice hockey league )

Nuremberg Ice Tigers HC Košice SC Bern Polar bears Berlin Kärpät Oulu HK Metallurg Magnitogorsk HV71 Jönköping Espoo Blues Salawat Yulayev Ufa HC České Budějovice HC Slovan Bratislava HC Slavia Prague Linköpings HC ZSC Lions Zurich

Field of participants in the 2008/09 season Participants in the group stage and participants in the qualification

qualification

The qualification was played from September 12 to 14, 2008 in a tournament in the Nürnberger Versicherung Arena in Nuremberg . The tournament was played in the everyone-versus-everyone mode. The winner of the tournament, the Swiss representative SC Bern , qualified with two wins for group B of the group stage.

A total of 10,278 spectators attended the three games, which corresponds to an average of 3,426 spectators per game. The best scorers were the Bernese Ramzi Abid , with three goals and an assist, and Simon Gamache , with one goal and three preparations, emerged from the qualification.

September 12, 2008 7:30 p.m.	Sinupret Ice Tigers A. Savage (35:52)	1: 4 (0: 0, 1: 1, 0: 3) Match report (PDF; 21 kB)	SC Bern R. Abid (30:07) P. Bärtschi (41:13) S. Gamache (50:52) S. Bordeleau (59:41)	Arena Nürnberger Versicherung , Nuremberg Spectators: 5,046
September 13, 2008 6:30 p.m.	SC Bern L. Goren (6:59) C. Dubé (10:49) P. Bärtschi (28:23) R. Abid (35:17) R. Abid (52:03)	5: 4 (2: 0, 1: 2, 2: 2) Match report (PDF; 22 kB)	HC Košice J. Faith (26:38) M. Šimurda (27:09) M. Šimurda (28:43) J. Faith (44:26)	Arena Nürnberger Versicherung, Nuremberg Spectators: 1,859
September 14, 2008 6:30 p.m.	HC Košice J. Kmiť (24:27) M. Miklik (28:22) J. Sýkora (50:19)	3: 5 (0: 2, 2: 2, 1: 1) Match report (PDF; 23 kB)	Sinupret Ice Tigers B. Leeb (1:31) M. Périard (15:30) B. Leeb (24:46) C. Laflamme (34:56) P. Fical (48:03)	Arena Nürnberger Versicherung, Nuremberg Spectators: 3,373

Pl.		Sp	S.	OTS	OTN	N	Gates	Points
1.	SC Bern	2	2	0	0	0	09: 05	6th
2.	Sinupret Ice Tigers Nuremberg	2	1	0	0	1	06: 07	3
3.	HC Košice	2	0	0	0	2	07:10	0

Group stage

The group stage was played in four groups with three teams each. In each group everyone played against everyone, each with a return leg. The games took place on Wednesdays. The group winners qualified for the semi-finals.

Group A

As expected, the Russian KHL participant and European Champions Cup winner of the previous year, HK Metallurg Magnitogorsk , prevailed in Group A. After victories in the first three games, they secured group victory on the fifth match day. The German champion Eisbären Berlin caused a little surprise, winning both comparisons against the Finnish title holder Kärpät Oulu as well as his final home game against Magnitogorsk.

October 8, 2008 7:30 p.m.	Eisbären Berlin T. Mulock (1:35) A. Rankel (20:52) D. Pederson (40:34)	3: 2 (1: 1, 1: 0, 1: 1) Match report (PDF; 21 kB)	Kärpät Oulu I. Mikkola (4:33) T. Koivisto (47:45)	O 2  World , Berlin spectators: 13,000
October 22, 2008 7:30 p.m.	Kärpät Oulu	0: 2 (0: 0, 0: 1, 0: 1) Match report (PDF; 21 kB)	HK Metallurg Magnitogorsk J. Marek (34:30) W. Atjuschow (43:46)	Oulun Energia Areena , Oulu Spectators: 6,614
October 29, 2008 4:00 p.m.	HK Metallurg Magnitogorsk T. Rolinek (0:36) D. Chlystow (4:09) J. Kudrna (8:16) J. Marek (11:54) D. Platonow (44:37)	5: 2 (4: 0, 0: 1, 1: 1) Match report (PDF; 21 kB)	Eisbären Berlin S. Ustorf (30:21) S. Ustorf (59:56)	Arena Metallurg , Magnitogorsk Spectators: 7,701
November 12, 2008 7:30 p.m.	Kärpät Oulu J. Andersson (19:40) J. Aaltonen (47:40)	2: 3 n.P. (1: 0, 0: 1, 1: 1, 0: 1) Match report (PDF; 21 kB)	Eisbären Berlin D. Quint (22:03) N. Robinson (42:18) S. Felski (PS)	Oulun Energia Areena, Oulu Spectators: 4,619
November 19, 2008 4:00 p.m.	HK Metallurg Magnitogorsk W. Buljin (21:27) J. Birjukow (39:18) T. Rolinek (58:20)	3: 1 (0: 0, 2: 0, 1: 1) Match report (PDF; 21 kB)	Kärpät Oulu O. Korpikari (41:26)	Arena Metallurg, Magnitogorsk Spectators: 7,539
December 3, 2008 7:30 p.m.	Eisbären Berlin A. Roach (19:13) D. Pederson (26:37)	2: 1 (1: 0, 1: 1, 0: 0) Match report (PDF; 21 kB)	HK Metallurg Magnitogorsk T. Rolinek (29:06)	O 2 World, Berlin spectators: 13,500

Pl.		Sp	S.	OTS	OTN	N	Gates	Points
1.	HK Metallurg Magnitogorsk	4th	3	0	0	1	11: 05	9
2.	Polar bears Berlin	4th	2	1	0	1	10:10	8th
3.	Kärpät Oulu	4th	0	0	1	3	05:11	1

Group B

With four wins from four games, the Finnish runner-up Espoo Blues confidently secured victory in the group ahead of the Swedish title holder HV71 Jönköping and the winner of the qualification tournament, SC Bern . Espoo secured group victory, as did Magnitogorsk in Group A, after the fifth match day, as Jönköping and Bern each won once in the direct duels. Nevertheless Espoo won the meaningless game in Jönköping with 6-0.

October 8, 2008 7:30 p.m.	HV71 Jönköping T. Laine (18:29) T. Laine (20:20) M. Tedenby (22:31) M. Thörnberg (44:22) J. Lindström (44:36) B. Melin (51:38)	6: 2 (1: 0, 2: 0, 3: 2) Match report (PDF; 22 kB)	SC Bern S. Bordeleau (48:36) C. Dubé (55:41)	Kinnarps Arena , Jönköping spectators: 6,903
October 22, 2008 7:30 p.m.	SC Bern S. Gamache (53:55)	1: 3 (0: 2, 0: 0, 1: 1) Match report (PDF; 21 kB)	Espoo Blues T. Kähkönen (3:19) E. Rajamäki (19:39) J. Uhlbäck (59:55)	PostFinance Arena , Bern spectators: 6,756
October 29, 2008 7:30 p.m.	Espoo Blues S. Ryhänen (6:00) J. Tolsa (9:44) C. Miettinen (54:07)	3: 2 (2: 1, 0: 0, 1: 1) Match report (PDF; 21 kB)	HV71 Jönköping J. Voutilainen (12:54) T. Laine (49:07)	LänsiAuto Areena , Espoo spectators: 6,083
November 12, 2008 7:30 p.m.	SC Bern M. Plüss (1:01) S. Gamache (23:41) C. Dubé (24:44) C. Dubé (33:57) R. Josi (49:50) I. Rüthemann (53:45) C. Dubé (54:49)	7: 5 (1: 3, 3: 0, 3: 2) Match report (PDF; 22 kB)	HV71 Jönköping P. Gustafsson (10:46) K. Beech (12:18) M. Thörnberg (19:05) P. Puistola (50:26) N. Angell (58:45)	PostFinance Arena, Bern spectators: 7,057
November 19, 2008 7:30 p.m.	Espoo Blues J. Puustinen (6:28) R. Keller (15:26)	2: 1 (2: 1, 0: 0, 0: 0) Match report (PDF; 21 kB)	SC Bern C. Dubé (0:47)	LänsiAuto Areena, Espoo spectators: 6,247
December 3, 2008 7:30 p.m.	HV71 Jönköping	0: 6 (0: 3, 0: 1, 0: 2) match report (PDF; 22 kB)	Espoo Blues S. Ryhänen (7:37) P. Lostedt (11:12) S. Ryhänen (15:26) T. Konttinen (28:20) J. Lajunen (43:03) T. Konttinen (48:32)	Kinnarps Arena, Jönköping spectators: 5,028

Pl.		Sp	S.	OTS	OTN	N	Gates	Points
1.	Espoo Blues	4th	4th	0	0	0	14: 04	12
2.	HV71 Jönköping	4th	1	0	0	3	13:18	3
3.	SC Bern	4th	1	0	0	3	11:16	3

Group C

Group C was dominated by the reigning Russian champions Salawat Julajew Ufa , who, like the Espoo Blues in Group B, won all four games. In addition to two clear home wins, which they made victorious with a goal difference of 15: 3, they also clearly won their two away games. The HC Mountfield Ceske Budejovice and HC Slovan Bratislava won each in a direct duel their home game, had the chance by losing to Ufa but early gambled on a semi-final.

October 8, 2008 4:00 p.m.	Salawat Julajew Ufa K. Kalzou (11:19) R. Nurtdinow (21:15) A. Pereschogin (34:06) I. Grigorenko (39:11) L. Čermák (43:17) A. Pereschogin (45:57 ) K. Kalzou (55:37)	7: 1 (1: 0, 3: 0, 3: 1) Match report (PDF; 40 kB)	HC České Budějovice T. Kůrka (45:19)	Ufa-Arena , Ufa spectators: 7,835
October 22, 2008 7:30 p.m.	HC České Budějovice M. Hudec (1:17) P. Gřegořek (22:52) I. Huml (29:49) O. Veselý (40:28) R. Horák (46:47)	5: 2 (1: 0, 2: 1, 2: 1) Match report (PDF; 21 kB)	HC Slovan Bratislava Ľ. Vaic (24:08) R. Kukumberg (50:28)	Budvar Aréna , Budweis spectators: 4,250
October 29, 2008 7:30 p.m.	HC Slovan Bratislava M. Lažo (6:54) R. Liščák (23:01)	2: 4 (1: 0, 1: 3, 0: 1) Match report (PDF; 21 kB)	Salawat Yulayev Ufa I. Shchadilow (20:50) W. Vorobyov (30:09) A. Radulow (39:11) K. Kolzow (48:15)	Samsung Aréna , Bratislava Spectators: 5,238
November 12, 2008 7:30 p.m.	HC České Budějovice	0: 3 (0: 2, 0: 1, 0: 0) match report (PDF; 21 kB)	Salawat Yulayev Ufa A. Medvedev (11:34) M. Mikeska (15:06) A. Tereschchenko (24:39)	Budvar Aréna, Budweis spectators: 4,109
November 19, 2008 7:30 p.m.	HC Slovan Bratislava Ľ. Vaic (0:57) M. Hujsa (14:02) R. Döme (17:25) R. Kukumberg (54:17) M. Lažo (59:47)	5: 3 (3: 0, 0: 0, 2: 3) Match report (PDF; 21 kB)	HC České Budějovice M. Guláš (44:56) I. Huml (53:23) T. Mertl (53:38)	Samsung Aréna, Bratislava Spectators: 4,880
December 3, 2008 4:00 p.m.	Salawat Yulayev Ufa A. Medvedev (3:03) A. Sidjakin (24:52) M. Mikeska (26:49) A. Pereschogin (29:19) A. Sidjakin (30:50) A. Taratuchin (52:48 ) L. Čermák (54:05) A. Kuteikin (57:55)	8: 2 (1: 1, 4: 1, 3: 0) Match report (PDF; 39 kB)	HC Slovan Bratislava M. Hujsa (6:51) Ľ. Vaic (24:27)	Ufa-Arena, Ufa spectators: 8,292

Pl.		Sp	S.	OTS	OTN	N	Gates	Points
1.	Salawat Yulayev Ufa	4th	4th	0	0	0	22: 05	12
2.	HC Mountfield České Budějovice	4th	1	0	0	3	09:17	3
3.	HC Slovan Bratislava	4th	1	0	0	3	11:20	3

Group D

The reigning Swiss champions ZSC Lions from Zurich , who prevailed against the Czech champions HC Slavia Prague , caused the surprise of the preliminary round . After ZSC had just lost their home game in the penalty shootout, they won the final group game in Prague with a strong performance in the final third and reached the semi-finals as the fourth and last team. The Swedish runner-up Linköpings HC presented himself without a chance, losing all of his four games and remaining pointless.

October 8, 2008 7:30 p.m.	HC Slavia Prague M. Vondrka (15:26) R. Červenka (17:24) R. Červenka (38:26) J. Bednář (49:19)	4: 2 (2: 1, 1: 1, 1: 0) Match report (PDF; 21 kB)	Linköpings HC J. Fransson (8:31) P. Petterström (36:30)	O₂ Arena , Prague spectators: 4,108
October 22, 2008 7:30 p.m.	Linköpings HC M. Laumann-Ylvén (2:32) J. Eriksson (18:59)	2: 7 (2: 2, 0: 2, 0: 3) Match report (PDF; 21 kB)	ZSC Lions Zurich S. Blindenbacher (6:47) T. Monnet (17:53) P. Sejna (26:59) P. Sejna (38:24) C. Bühler (42:42) T. Monnet (47:30 ) D. Pittis (57:51)	Cloetta Center , Linköping spectators: 7,961
October 29, 2008 7:30 p.m.	ZSC Lions Zurich M. Seger (26:53) B. Forster (44:44) M. Seger (58:11) R. Gardner (58:29)	4: 5 n.P. (0: 1, 1: 1, 3: 2, 0: 1) Match report (PDF; 21 kB)	HC Slavia Prague T. Micka (10:17) J. Bednář (38:58) J. Doležal (43:54) J. Sklenář (52:53) J. Bednář (PS)	Hallenstadion , Zurich Spectators: 8,220
November 12, 2008 7:30 p.m.	Linköpings HC J. Eriksson (22:22) I. Majeský (25:53) É. Beaudoin (38:34) J. Eriksson (41:27)	4: 5 (0: 2, 3: 1, 1: 2) Match report (PDF; 21 kB)	HC Slavia Prague J. Sklenář (5:16) J. Novák (14:26) R. Červenka (23:20) J. Bednář (45:52) J. Doležal (48:21)	Cloetta Center, Linköping spectators: 6,842
November 19, 2008 7:30 p.m.	ZSC Lions Zurich P. Sejna (18:50) S. Blindenbacher (32:14) R. Gardner (38:43) C. Bühler (40:57)	4: 3 (1: 1, 2: 1, 1: 1) Match report (PDF; 21 kB)	Linköpings HC N. Persson (17:05) J. Hlaváč (37:02) P. Saravo (44:21)	Hallenstadion, Zurich Spectators: 8,574
December 3, 2008 7:30 p.m.	HC Slavia Prague P. Jelínek (36:28)	1: 5 (0: 1, 1: 0, 0: 4) Match report (PDF; 21 kB)	ZSC Lions Zurich J.-G. Trudel (14:12) R. Gardner (46:51) J. Alston (47:29) R. Gardner (57:36) J. Alston (59:05)	O 2 Arena, Prague spectators: 8,137

Pl.		Sp	S.	OTS	OTN	N	Gates	Points
1.	ZSC Lions Zurich	4th	3	0	1	0	19:11	10
2.	HC Slavia Prague	4th	2	1	0	1	15:15	8th
3.	Linköpings HC	4th	0	0	0	4th	11:19	0

Final round

The semi-finals and the final were each played in a home and return leg. The team with the most points in the group stage had home rights in the second game. In the semifinals, the winners of groups B and D and the winners of groups A and C met. If two teams from one country qualified for the semi-finals, they played against each other in a different way from the draw.

If both teams had won a game in the semifinals or final, or if both games ended in a draw, there was a decisive penalty shoot-out after the second game , which starts with the score 0-0. The goal difference played no role.

	Semifinals							final
	A1	HK Metallurg Magnitogorsk	1	3	1*
	C1	Salawat Yulayev Ufa	2	1	1
								SHF1	HK Metallurg Magnitogorsk	2	0	0
								SHF2	ZSC Lions Zurich	2	5	1
	D1	ZSC Lions Zurich	6th	4th	2
	B1	Espoo Blues	3	1	0

Semifinals

In the semifinals there was a direct duel between the two KHL teams from Magnitogorsk and Ufa as well as the clash between the outsiders ZSC Lions and the Espoo Blues. After a home defeat in the opening game Magnitogorsk was able to wipe out this gap in the second leg in Ufa with a strong final third. Since only the points from both games counted without the goal difference, there was a penalty shoot-out after the game , which Magnitogorsk won. The team from the Urals reached a European Cup final for the second year in a row. The home game of the ZSC Lions was held in the Diners-Club Arena in neighboring Rapperswil-Jona , the venue of the Rapperswil-Jona Lakers ; the Zurich Hallenstadion was blocked by the six-day race taking place at the same time . The ZSC Lions won both games. It was the third entry into a European Cup final for Zurich.

December 10, 2008 4:00 p.m.	HK Metallurg Magnitogorsk A. Kaigorodow (59:41)	1: 2 (0: 0, 0: 2, 1: 0) Match report (PDF; 21 kB)	Salawat Yulayev Ufa M. Blaťák (35:34) A. Pereschogin (37:42)	Arena Metallurg , Magnitogorsk Spectators: 7,750
January 7, 2009 4:00 p.m.	Salawat Julajew Ufa O. Twerdowski (27:45)	1: 3 (0: 0, 1: 0, 0: 3) Match report (PDF; 45 kB)	HK Metallurg Magnitogorsk J. Marek (43:58) D. Platonow (44:22) I. Mirnow (53:30)	Ufa-Arena , Ufa spectators: 8,500
		Penalty shootout 0: 2	J. Marek, I. Mirnow

December 10, 2008 7:30 p.m.	ZSC Lions Zurich T. Monnet (7:17) R. Gardner (27:18) P. Sejna (30:41) C. Bühler (37:29) J. Alston (47:09) J. Alston (58:40 )	6: 3 (1: 0, 3: 2, 2: 1) Match report (PDF; 21 kB)	Espoo Blues V. Lajunen (20:52) S. Sandell (33:13) J. Nättinen (54:40)	Diners-Club Arena , Rapperswil Spectators: 6,100
January 7, 2009 7:30 p.m.	Espoo Blues I. Kuoppala (33:40)	1: 4 (0: 2, 1: 0, 0: 2) Match report (PDF; 21 kB)	ZSC Lions Zurich T. Monnet (5:44) M. Seger (15:54) J.-G. Trudel (58:17) R. Gardner (58:51)	LänsiAuto Areena , Espoo spectators: 6,612

final

The finals were played by the Russian KHL club Metallurg Magnitogorsk, which won the last edition of the IIHF European Champions Cup last year, and the surprise team of the competition, the ZSC Lions from Zurich. Due to the more points achieved in the preliminary round, the ZSC had home rights in the second leg. As in the semi-finals, they had to move to the Diners Club Arena in nearby Rapperswil-Jona, as another event was scheduled in the Hallenstadion in Zurich the following day.

After Zurich had led 2-0 in the first leg in Magnitogorsk up to ten minutes before the end of the game - contrary to expectations - the Russians equalized the game in the final minutes and kept the fight for the Silver Stone Trophy open. In the second leg, which took place a week later, the Lions defeated Metallurg clearly 5-0. After winning the IIHF Continental Cup in 2001 and 2002, they secured their third European Cup.

January 21, 2009 5:30 p.m.	HK Metallurg Magnitogorsk W. Atjuschow (51:01) T. Rolinek (59:17)	2: 2 (0: 2, 0: 0, 2: 0) Match report (PDF; 21 kB)	ZSC Lions Zurich J.-G. Trudel (9:14) A. Wanker (12:05)	Arena Metallurg, Magnitogorsk Spectators: 7,700
January 28, 2009 7:30 p.m.	ZSC Lions Zurich B. Down (17:17) P. Sejna (34:48) M. Seger (48:57) J. Alston (49:51) J.-G. Trudel (57:29)	5: 0 (1: 0, 1: 0, 3: 0) Match report (PDF; 21 kB)	HK Metallurg Magnitogorsk	Diners-Club Arena, Rapperswil Spectators: 6,200

statistics

Best scorer

Abbreviations: Sp = games, T = goals, V = assists , pts = points, +/- = plus / minus , SM = penalty minutes; Fat: tournament best

player	team	Sp	T	V	Pt	+/-	SM
Jean-Guy Trudel	Zurich	8th	4th	9	13	+1	2
Adrian wanker	Zurich	8th	1	12	13	+4	4th
Domenico Pittis	Zurich	8th	1	10	11	± 0	6th
Peter Sejna	Zurich	8th	5	5	10	+8	0
Jan Marek	Magnitogorsk	8th	3	7th	10	+7	14th
Jan Alston	Zurich	8th	5	4th	9	+5	8th
Ryan Gardner	Zurich	8th	6th	1	7th	+4	4th
Thibaut Monnet	Zurich	8th	4th	3	7th	+4	0
Jaroslav Bednář	Prague	4th	4th	2	6th	+1	0
Roman Červenka	Prague	4th	3	3	6th	± 0	2

Best goalkeeper

Abbreviations: Sp = games, TOI = ice age (in minutes), GT = goals conceded, SO = shutouts , Sv% = shots saved (in%), GTS = goals conceded; Fat: tournament best

player	team	Sp	TOI	GT	SO	Sv%	GTS
Alexander Yeryomenko	Ufa	5	280: 00	7th	0	95.17	1.50
Ilya Proskuryakov	Magnitogorsk	7th	478: 29	15th	1	93.56	1.88
Ari Sulander	Zurich	8th	480: 00	17th	1	92.95	2.13
Bernd Brückler	Espoo	5	299: 09	10	1	92.65	2.01
Rob Zepp	Berlin	4th	240: 00	10	0	89.69	2.50

Awards

The Finnish goalkeeper Ari Sulander was voted the most valuable player in the competition . The 40-year-old goalkeeper of the victorious ZSC Lions played a key role in the Swiss tournament's surprising victory with consistently good performances, including a shutout in the decisive second final game.

Award	player	team
Most valuable player	Ari Sulander	ZSC Lions Zurich

Winning team

The team of the ZSC Lions used a total of 26 players in the course of the competition, including two goalkeepers, ten defenders and 14 forwards.

Champions Hockey League winner ZSC Lions Zurich

Goalkeepers: Lukas Flüeler , Ari Sulander Defenders: Severin Blindenbacher , Claudio Cadonau , Beat Forster , Patrick Geering , Kevin Gloor , Philippe Schelling , Daniel Schnyder , Steven Schoop , Mathias Seger , Radoslav Suchý Attackers: Jan Alston , Mark Bastl , Cyrill Bühler , Blaine Down , Ryan Gardner , Lukas Grauwiler , Oliver Kamber , Alexei Krutow , Aurelio Lemm , Thibaut Monnet , Domenico Pittis , Peter Sejna , Jean-Guy Trudel , Adrian Wichser Head Coach: Sean Simpson

Prize money and average attendance

team	Price received funds (in €)	Total audience	Audience cut
ZSC Lions Zurich	1,650,000	29.094	7,274
HK Metallurg Magnitogorsk	1,150,000	30,690	7,673
Salawat Yulayev Ufa	700,000	24,627	8,209
Espoo Blues	700,000	18,942	6.314
HC Slavia Prague	450,000	12,245	6.123
Polar bears Berlin	450,000	26,500	13,250
SC Bern	350,000	13,813	6,907
HV71 Jönköping	350,000	11,931	5,966
HC Mountfield České Budějovice	350,000	8,359	4,180
HC Slovan Bratislava	350,000	10.118	5,059
Kärpät Oulu	300,000	11,233	5,617
Linköpings HC	300,000	14,803	7,402
Sinupret Ice Tigers Nuremberg	50,000	-	-
HC Košice	50,000	-	-

Web links

• Official website
• Champions Hockey League Newsletter: March 2008 (PDF; 3.9 MB), April 2008 (PDF; 2.7 MB), May 2008 (PDF; 3.0 MB), July 2008 (PDF; 1.1 MB)
• Europe's new club competition founded in St. Petersburg. In: iihf.com. December 10, 2008, accessed May 12, 2017 . 
• Three teams to compete for 12th CHL spot. In: iihf.com. February 4, 2008, accessed May 12, 2017 .