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The opening night of the 2025-26 Champions Hockey League season featured six games that were all relatively close, including two that were decided in overtime. Swiss club EV Zug was one of the day’s winners, thanks in part to ex-NHLers Tomáš Tatar and Dominik Kubalík, who were both making their debuts with the team.
Tomáš Tatar Signs Multi-Year Deal In Switzerland Slovak forward Tomáš Tatar, 34, has signed a two-year contract in Switzerland with EV Zug,
the National League club announced on Tuesday.
Luleå Hockey (SWE) 2 – EV Zug (SUI) 3 [OT]
Swede Lukas Bengtsson scored the overtime winner for visiting Zug in Luleå, finishing off an evenly played game between two of Europe’s more skilled teams. A goal by Slovak Tatar – a pass attempt that went in off a skate – assisted by Czech Kubalík on a delayed penalty had Zug in front heading into the third period, but Heikki Liedes tied it for Luleå in the third.
Storhamar Dragons (NOR) 0 – Eisbären Berlin (GER) 3
In a match-up between two teams that are two-time reigning champions of their respective leagues, Berlin got a goal in all three periods, Jonas Müller recorded two assists, and Jonas Stettmer made 18 saves for the shutout.
ERC Ingolstadt (GER) 1 – Ilves Tampere (FIN) 3
Jens Lööke and Matias Mäntykivi had two points each to stake visiting Ilves out to a 3-0 lead after two periods. Daniel Schmölz got one for Ingolstadt early in the third but that was the only one of the German team’s 28 shots to beat Dominik Pavlát.
Belfast Giants (EIHL) 2 – KalPa Kuopio (FIN) 3 [OT]
The Giants never trailed in this game, taking leads of 1-0 and 2-1 on their home ice on the Emerald Isle, but Juuso Mäenpää tied it for KalPa with just over a minute left in regulation time and then Patrick Curry scored a beauty in overtime, finishing off a 2-on-1.
Grenoble Brûleurs de Loups (FRA) 0 – SC Bern (SUI) 2
Bern’s two goals in this game came just 18 seconds apart in the second period from Waltteri Merelä and Anton Lindholm. Otherwise, goaltenders Adam Reideborn and Matija Pintarič were perfect. There were fireworks in the late going, including a fight between Benjamin Baumgartner and Alexandre Mallet.
KAC Klagenfurt (AUT) 1 – Sparta Prague (CZE) 4
Latvian Mārtiņš Dzierkals scored twice and Devin Shore had two points as the team from the Czech capital opened with a win in Austria. Finn Van Ee got Klagenfurt’s lone goal with 7:09 to play and ex-NHLer Tomáš Hýka iced it with an empty-netter.
Predicting Latvia's 2026 Olympic roster When they beat France 5-2 on home ice on Sunday,
the Latvians qualified for the men’s ice hockey tournament at the Winter Olympics for the fifth time out of the last six possibilities. Only once, in 2014 in Sochi, did Latvia reach the quarterfinals.
Friday’s schedule:
Lukko Rauma (FIN) – Lausanne HC (SUI)
Mountfield Hradec Králové (CZE) – Odense Bulldogs (DEN)
Frölunda Gothenburg (SWE) – Bolzano Foxes (ITA)
Kometa Brno (CZE) – Brynäs Gävle (SWE)
ZSC Lions Zurich (SUI) – Pinguins Bremerhaven (GER)
Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) – GKS Tychy (POL)
Zurich Lions Win Champions Hockey League Final – Back-To-Back Titles For Switzerland For the second year in a row, a Swiss team has defeated a Swedish team in the Champions Hockey League final. On their home ice, the ZSC Lions defeated visiting Färjestad 2-1 before a sell-out crowd of 12,000 at Swiss Life Arena in Zurich.