CHL Draw

#5
It’s live on freesports at 3 and then repeated at 630 by the looks of it. Plus Lordo is one of the 4 picking the numbers. From what I read earlier.


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#6
taken from chl email:

"I’m Andrew Lord, Head Coach of the Cardiff Devils. Last year we went into the unknown in our first CHL season. Now with our second straight Elite League title behind us, and the experience of last season’s games, I am hugely excited about another European adventure.

Any true competitor, no matter the sport or discipline, wants to compete and push themselves against the very best. For us, the Champions Hockey League gives the whole organisation a chance to test ourselves against some of the best hockey teams in Europe. For the players, it's about how they can step it up on the ice - they might be the best in our league, but now it's a new challenge. For myself as a young coach, it's about learning what I can do to better prepare my team, and what we can possibly do differently to make us better. For the off-ice team, how we can approach every day to make ourselves better.

I think it was before our first game last year in Davos that the CHL 'got real' for a lot of us from the Devils. We walked into that famous rink, the lights were off, and it just looked magical. We've all seen the Spengler Cup on TV growing up, and to actually be there was somewhat surreal.

The whole overall experience was fantastic. A year ago, when we were at our first draw, we just looked around and saw all these CEOs and GMs of massive teams in the same room as us. Then when the draw was finished we went to our 'Group Table' to meet the other teams, and that’s when you start learning. We want to see how these teams approach everything and take the best bits back to make ourselves better.
Believe it or not as a coach, we actually have pros and cons from being in the Champions Hockey League. The pros are obviously much bigger - you play at a much higher pace, against better teams, earlier in the season. However compared to the Elite League, the European game is a different style, referees call it differently, and so we have to make a few adjustments to how we play to be ready. Then when we go back to our own league, we have to adjust again. But that is all part of the fun of taking part in this type of competition, and as a coach I learn so much more about my players through it.

The two wins we got gave us a lot of confidence. It showed us in Cardiff that we have a great team, and it showed the rest of Europe that our league is growing and maybe deserves a bit more credit than it gets. We felt we let ourselves down in the opening couple of games in the Group Stage last season, but hopefully that will motivate us for next season.

Whoever comes out of the draw in our group, we know we're in for a huge challenge. There are so many great and historic teams all over Europe that you can't really go wrong. I love the challenge, and taking us outside of our comfort zone, and I'm sure the fans will be excited wherever we get to go.

Of course this season we'd love to get out of our group. Nottingham did it last year, and while they kind of stole our thunder a bit with their performances, I was so pleased for them. They've shown it can be done, and, while we want to do the best we can for ourselves, we know we're also making noise and gaining respect for our league. We'll prepare hard, and be ready to go in August wherever it may be!"
 

Jonesy83

Well-Known Member
#8
I wonder how much Vaxjo are looking forward to coming back to IAW after last season

I 110% gaurantee they won’t take us lightly and will know they’ll need to bring their A game.
 

Devil94

Well-Known Member
#9
Very happy with that draw, hopefully we will be able to play Bern and Salzburg in the one weekend, can see a lot of fans making the trip over. Very easy to travel between the two. But Vaxjo will want the same of course.

Also, Bern's rink looks incredible!
 
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Gazza272

Well-Known Member
#10
The Toughest aspect we have, is that all 3 teams have been beaten by UK opposition in the past. I think this will take away a large part of the apathy some CHL teams come in with, and they will be a LOT more up for playing us. but that should make the spectacles absolutely fantastic, and I can't wait to see us compete with the european Giants again.
 

trapped

Active Member
#11
Definitely a good draw, but it will be tough! SC Bern is an incredible hockey club and Bern is a beautiful city. My wife lived in Geneva a few years ago and she took me for a day out in Bern to watch the team. It is consistently the highest attendance in European Hockey and the atmosphere is electric!

I'm hoping it falls on a weekend so that we can go!

For those that haven't seen the dates, they are as follows... just waiting on the exact fixtures, unless anyone else has them?
  • Game Day 1 30/31 August
  • Game Day 2 01/02 September
  • Game Day 3 06/07 September
  • Game Day 4 08/09 September
  • Game Day 5 09/10 October
  • Game Day 6 16/17 October
 
#12
I'm interested to see how IAW/Devils will go about dealing with the Bern fans, I'd expect the Swiss Police to be in contact with the relevant people once the exact fixtures are out. 99% of the Bern fans will be great people but some of those who attend will be from their hooligan section which are banned from attending games in Switzerland. Notts Police and the Swiss Police worked together when Bern came to Nottingham, the Bern fans were escorted to and from the game via the back exit. Straight off the coach, into the arena, straight out the arena onto the coaches.

Don't let any of that spoil anything though and I'm sure it won't.

Best of luck for the CHL though and fingers crossed you guys can replicate or go one step further than what we did last season! What must be said though, British ice hockey has had a lot of media attention in the last year for the upsets pulled off so I wouldn't be expecting any teams to treat the games lightly.
 

Devil94

Well-Known Member
#13
I'm interested to see how IAW/Devils will go about dealing with the Bern fans, I'd expect the Swiss Police to be in contact with the relevant people once the exact fixtures are out. 99% of the Bern fans will be great people but some of those who attend will be from their hooligan section which are banned from attending games in Switzerland. Notts Police and the Swiss Police worked together when Bern came to Nottingham, the Bern fans were escorted to and from the game via the back exit. Straight off the coach, into the arena, straight out the arena onto the coaches.

Don't let any of that spoil anything though and I'm sure it won't.

Best of luck for the CHL though and fingers crossed you guys can replicate or go one step further than what we did last season! What must be said though, British ice hockey has had a lot of media attention in the last year for the upsets pulled off so I wouldn't be expecting any teams to treat the games lightly.
Yeah I think a few of the Devils fans will have a shock. Here, hockey is seen as a family sport. On mainland Europe, it’s more of a football mentality. We saw it a little bit with Davos last year but Bern will be next level.
I think it’s great and makes a fantastic atmosphere, but with the setup of IAW it might cause headaches for staff and some fans.
 
#14
When we drew Salzburg, I got really excited at the prospect of moving on from the group stages - then we drew Bern and Vaxjö. In order for the Devils to make it to the knock-out stages, either Bern or Vaxjö, or both of them, will have to fail to make it out of the group stage... How likely is that to happen?! Very unlikely in my opinion. I have no doubt that the Devils will cause some upsets, but making it out of the group over Bern or Vaxjö, or even less likely, both of them, is a big, big, big ask.
 

Devil_Abroad

Well-Known Member
#15
Yeah I think a few of the Devils fans will have a shock. Here, hockey is seen as a family sport. On mainland Europe, it’s more of a football mentality. We saw it a little bit with Davos last year but Bern will be next level.
I think it’s great and makes a fantastic atmosphere, but with the setup of IAW it might cause headaches for staff and some fans.
We personally didn’t encounter any football mentality either in Davos nor Liberec - though in Liberec they had stern looking armed police to greet us but by the time we left they were chilled and smiling.

I am concerned to hear on here about the issues at Bern.


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#16
Hi guys!
We are a couple of swedes who are thinking about coming over for the CHL match against you.
So where should we stay, eat and drink?
Best pubs and best food.
Maybe some tradmusic if that´s your thing. Perhaps a more Scottish and Irish thing.

And how do we travel from London to Cardiff?
Best regards Marcus Lakers Lakejer
 

Wannabe2

Well-Known Member
#17
Paddington Station London to Cardiff train, 2.5 hrs, Premier Inn St Mary St, which is central Cardiff. Our City is truly beautiful, loads of places to eat and drink. Rink approx 4 mls from City Centre. You will love it.
 
#18
We personally didn’t encounter any football mentality either in Davos nor Liberec - though in Liberec they had stern looking armed police to greet us but by the time we left they were chilled and smiling.

I am concerned to hear on here about the issues at Bern.


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As far as I'm aware when Panthers and fans went to Bern itself there were no issues at all and all was friendly as you'd expect. The fans that Bern will have in Cardiff for the game will not be at the game wen Devils play in Bern as I believe they are banned so the only issues will likely be during Devils' home game vs Bern but of course, it's a long time away and all kinds of things could change before then and it could be completely be fine. Just be your usual friendly selves and don't rise to any agro they create.

They will remove their tops and stand bare chested and chant quite incredibly so it's a bit 'wow'.

I'd imagine and expect the Police to be there but not a visible presence. Think there were a handful of officers, both Notts and Swiss, as well as Police dogs.
 
#19
Paddington Station London to Cardiff train, 2.5 hrs, Premier Inn St Mary St, which is central Cardiff. Our City is truly beautiful, loads of places to eat and drink. Rink approx 4 mls from City Centre. You will love it.
Thank’s for the reply.
The City looks absolutely wonderful.
Is there any fan party planned were fans meet up and have a pint together and talking hockey?
 

osh

Well-Known Member
#20
Thank’s for the reply.
The City looks absolutely wonderful.
Is there any fan party planned were fans meet up and have a pint together and talking hockey?
Assuming you are flying from Vaxjo, it would be easier to fly via Amsterdam. Cardiff Airport has about 3 daily flights to and from Amsterdam. Bus from airport into centre of Cardiff takes about 30minutes and there are plenty of hotels in the city where I would suggest it’s best for you to stay ( plenty of good restaurants, bars and clubs etc )
 
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