The fifth round of the Champions Hockey League, CHL, is around the corner. Four Swedish SHL teams are getting ready to go out in Europe again. After four rounds, all participating Swedish teams are above the play-off barrier in the European Games, but perform poorly on another front. Namely in audience figures.
Rögle, Skellefteå, Frölunda and Växjö are the Swedish teams participating in this year's edition of the CHL. When, early in September, they were allowed to sneak start the season, it became clear that supporters see a difference between a home premiere and a home premiere.
The first competitive match on Swedish soil this season was in Gothenburg. 2,823 supporters were present at the CHL match Frölunda-SaiPa, a full 9,221 people fewer than in the home opener in the SHL a couple of weeks later. Worth noting is that the CHL premiere was played in Frölundaborg instead of Scandinavium. Nevertheless, they did not manage to fill the 6,000 seats that the arena houses.
- We have more supporters at our SHL matches, but we want the CHL to grow here in Sweden, says Frölunda's team captain Max Friberg and points to other countries where the tournament generates a completely different interest.
One of those countries is Germany. When Kölner Haie took on Frölunda, there were 18,104 spectators in attendance. A new record for the tournament and a whopping 15,281, i.e. more than a whole Scandinavium, more people than at the reigning champion's home premiere in Frölundaborg.
Erik Gustafsson is the team captain in Luleå who made it to the final last season. He doesn't think it's any great sadness for the supporters that the team is not in this edition of the CHL.
- It is zero, non-existent I would say, he answers the question about the hype around the CHL in Sweden.
He does not know exactly why the interest in the tournament is so much greater in other countries, but would not have been surprised if the answer rhymed with the fact that the Swedish teams already play in what he says is "the best league in Europe".
- It is often, as last year, three out of four semi-finalists from Sweden. We have come a long way in hockey when compared to the rest of Europe. Then there isn't really the rivalry you otherwise have in leagues in the CHL.
Another explanation can also be found in the way the tournament is designed, according to Gustafsson.
- If I had to choose, the regular season game would be finished before the SHL starts. Then you could have a playoff where you gather all the teams in the same city and play from Wednesday to Sunday.
A solution that kills two birds with one stone. Gustafsson thinks that it is unfair that some teams are forced to play more matches than others in the league. The team captain believes that the recovery and travel perspective gives results in the SHL.
And there will be many matches if you play in Europe.
Last season Max Friberg, who won the gold with his Frölunda, played 13 CHL games. With SHL, national team, training and CHL games, he played a total of 78 games.
- There are many matches, but at the same time we have a goal to be in the CHL and win that tournament. It is clear that there will be some extra matches, but I don't think that will prevent success in any of the tournaments, he says.
The Frölunda captain refers to facts to support a thesis that contradicts Erik Gustafsson's argument. Frölunda's last two golden seasons in the SHL have been seasons in which they have also won the CHL (2016 and 2019).
At the same time, there doesn't seem to be much that can affect Frölunda during their CHL seasons. Since the tournament started in 2014, they have won the final five times. No other team has won the tournament more than once.
- It is good to have a broad squad and then you can hope to stay injury-free. The key is to have a well-trained group that can play a lot, says Friberg.
Rules, along with crowd numbers, can also be added among the differences when comparing the CHL and SHL. The most deviant are perhaps those concerning games in numerical superiority.
If a team scores a powerplay goal in the CHL, the opposing team's suspension is not lifted. If, however, the team with one less man scores, then the game returns to five against five.
- I can still like the new thinking a little, says Gustafsson. It gives an additional spice in being good in "special teams" (the game in numerical advantage and disadvantage). Then whether it's a concept that lasts over time, I don't know. An incorrect expulsion can have an even greater impact.
37-year-old Gustafsson believes that he is old and likes the rules as they are in the SHL today. But if you were to import any rule from the CHL to the SHL, it's the ejection rules he's most curious about.
Max Friberg is not completely against the concept either.
- It is clear that it is interesting. It can lead to a slightly cleaner game and that you are not willing to accept a expulsion because it can punish you quite severely. But I'm not entirely sure I want to see it in the SHL.
