Tappara and Kölner Haie Make Early Statements on Champions Hockey League Opening Night

The 2026-27 Champions Hockey League season dropped the puck on Thursday, September 3, with a six-game slate that delivered high-scoring statements from European heavyweights. Now entering its 12th rebooted season, the pan-European tournament features 24 elite clubs competing in a unified, groupless regular season where every point dictates the playoff picture.[1][2]

In Finland, reigning Liiga champions Tappara Tampere opened their campaign by overpowering Czech side Bílí Tygři Liberec 6-3 at Hakametsä arena. The Finnish powerhouse dictated the pace early, rewarding a home crowd of 1,800 spectators with a relentless offensive display that overwhelmed the visitors from Liberec.[1][4]

The standout moment of Tappara's victory belonged to Oliver Suvanto, the Washington Capitals' 18th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Celebrating his 18th birthday on Thursday, the 6-foot-3 center scored his first goal of the season and added an assist to record a two-point night. Suvanto, who signed a three-year entry-level contract with Washington in July before being loaned back to Tappara, is already proving he can produce against men.[3]

Suvanto's milestone goal came 6:09 into the third period. The young pivot capitalized on a slick passing sequence from teammates Kasper Simontaival and Benjamin Rautiainen, pulling the opposing goaltender out of position before backhanding the puck into a wide-open net for Tappara's fourth tally of the evening.[3]

Meanwhile, in Austria, Germany's Kölner Haie made a triumphant return to the CHL stage, defeating EC Red Bull Salzburg 5-2 on the road. The "Sharks" from Cologne, making their first appearance in the tournament since the 2014-15 season, showed no signs of rust against the Austrian stalwarts.[1][5]

Marcel Noebels anchored the German club's offense, scoring twice—including an empty-net dagger in the 44th minute. Patrick Russell and Gregor MacLeod also found the back of the net for Kölner Haie, effectively neutralizing the offensive contributions of Salzburg's Peter Schneider and Mario Huber. "Being part of this competition again means a lot to me," noted Kölner Haie captain Moritz Müller, adding that the Cologne fanbase is "thirsty for European hockey."[1][5]

Czech clubs also made their mark on opening night. HC Pilsen shut out 2022 CHL champions Rögle BK 4-0, defying pre-game predictions of a tight, low-scoring defensive battle. Pilsen's blue line, which conceded just 104 goals in 52 Extraliga regular-season games last year, completely stifled the Swedish visitors.[4][6]

Elsewhere, reigning Czech Extraliga champions Dynamo Pardubice dismantled Polish titleholders GKS Tychy 6-0. The commanding victory underscored the ambition of the Pardubice squad. "Pardubice are a team that want to win everything—that's the goal here as well," stated forward Matěj Stránský during the CHL's virtual press conference.[2][4]

Rounding out Thursday's action, Switzerland's Fribourg-Gottéron defeated Austria's Graz99ers 4-2, while KAC Klagenfurt edged CHL newcomers Bordeaux Boxers 2-1 in a tense overtime finish. The opening results immediately shake up the unified 24-team standings, where each club plays six different opponents to determine the 16 playoff qualifiers.[2][4]

CHL President Jörgen Lindgren praised the tournament's continued growth and competitive balance. "The goals of the CHL remain the same as in the past: we want to get the CHL as visible as possible across all platforms," Lindgren said, noting that the inclusion of Challenger League teams has elevated the competition's stakes.[2]

The opening week continues on Friday as reigning CHL champions Frölunda Gothenburg begin their title defense against Finland's SaiPa Lappeenranta. For Frölunda veteran Nicklas Lasu, the CHL's all-time leader with 94 games played, the mission remains clear. "Every game counts, right from game day 1," Lasu remarked. "As a club, we always want to win and play against the best players and the best teams."[1]