# 2019–20 Champions Hockey League

The 2019–20 Champions Hockey League was the sixth season of the Champions Hockey League, a European ice hockey tournament. 32 teams are competing in the tournament, and qualification was on sporting merits only. The six founding leagues are represented by between three and five teams (based on a three-year league ranking), while seven "challenge leagues" are represented by one team each. One place was awarded to the champion of the 2018–19 Champions Hockey League as well as a wild card spot selected by the board. Unlike in the first three editions of the tournament, founding teams did not automatically qualify.
Swedish team Frölunda HC successfully defended their Champions Hockey League title, defeating Czech team Mountfield HK 3–1 in the final to win the European Trophy for a fourth time. For the first time in the history of the league, the final was held in the Czech Republic as Mountfield HK earned the right to host the game at ČPP Arena.

## Team allocation

A total of 32 teams from 13 different European first-tier leagues are participating in the 2019–20 Champions Hockey League. There were 24 teams from the six founding leagues, as well as the national champions from Slovakia, Norway, Denmark, France, Belarus, the United Kingdom and Poland qualified. Out of the founding leagues Sweden and Switzerland were allocated 5 teams, Finland and Czech Republic 4 with Austria and Germany given 3. Because no league was allowed more than five teams, the winner of the 2018–19 Champions Hockey League won a berth but at the expense of a place for their league.
Due to the fact that Arlan Kokshetau of the Kazakhstan Hockey Championship were ineligible to qualify for the Champions Hockey League despite winning the 2018–19 Continental Cup, it was announced that the board would select a Wild Card team in its place. On 13 February, the Champions Hockey League announced that the Belfast Giants as Continental Cup runners-up had been approved to take part as the Wild Card entry.
The qualification for these places was set out in the rules as follows:
* CHL champions
* National league champions (play-off winners)
* Regular season winners
* Regular season runners-up
* Regular season third-placed team
* Regular season fourth-placed team
* Regular season fifth-placed team
For the Austrian Hockey League teams are however picked in this order:
* League champions
* Regular season winners
* Pick Round winners
* Pick Round runners-up
* Losing playoff finalists
Note: the United Kingdom is the lone exception as the EIHL, in line with their traditions, determine their national champion following the regular season (not in the playoffs).

### Teams

| Team | City/Area | League | Qualification | Participation | Previous best |
| Frölunda HC | Gothenburg | Swedish Hockey League | 2019 CHL winner | 6th | Champion |
| Färjestad BK | Karlstad | Swedish Hockey League | Regular season winner | 4th | Round of 32 |
| Luleå HF | Luleå | Swedish Hockey League | Regular season runner-up | 4th | Champion |
| Djurgårdens IF | Stockholm | Swedish Hockey League | Regular season fourth | 5th | Round of 16 |
| Skellefteå AIK | Skellefteå | Swedish Hockey League | Regular season fifth | 5th | Semi-finals |
| SC Bern | Bern | National League | Play-off champion | 6th | Quarter-finals |
| EV Zug | Zug | National League | Regular season runner-up | 6th | Round of 16 |
| Lausanne HC | Lausanne | National League | Regular season third | 1st | First appearance |
| EHC Biel | Biel/Bienne | National League | Regular season fourth | 1st | First appearance |
| HC Ambrì-Piotta | Ambrì | National League | Regular season fifth | 1st | First appearance |
| HPK | Hämeenlinna | Liiga | Play-off champion | 1st | First appearance |
| Kärpät | Oulu | Liiga | Regular season winner | 5th | Final |
| Tappara | Tampere | Liiga | Regular season runner-up | 6th | Round of 16 |
| Pelicans | Lahti | Liiga | Regular season third | 1st | First appearance |
| Oceláři Třinec | Třinec | Czech Extraliga | Play-off champion | 5th | Semi-finals |
| Bílí Tygři Liberec | Liberec | Czech Extraliga | Regular season winner | 5th | Semi-finals |
| HC Plzeň | Plzeň | Czech Extraliga | Regular season third | 3rd | Semi-finals |
| Mountfield HK | Hradec Králové | Czech Extraliga | Regular season fourth | 3rd | Group stage |
| Adler Mannheim | Mannheim | Deutsche Eishockey Liga | Play-off champion | 5th | Round of 16 |
| Red Bull München | Munich | Deutsche Eishockey Liga | Regular season runner-up | 5th | Final |
| Augsburger Panther | Augsburg | Deutsche Eishockey Liga | Regular season third | 1st | First appearance |
| EC KAC | Klagenfurt | Austrian Hockey League | Play-off champion | 3rd | Group stage |
| Graz 99ers | Graz | Austrian Hockey League | Regular season first round winner | 1st | First appearance |
| Vienna Capitals | Vienna | Austrian Hockey League | Regular season pick round winner | 6th | Round of 16 |
| Belfast Giants | Belfast | Elite Ice Hockey League | Continental Cup Wild Card | 1st | First appearance |
| Yunost Minsk | Minsk | Belarusian Extraleague | Play-off champion | 3rd | Round of 32 |
| Frisk Asker | Asker | GET-ligaen | Play-off champion | 1st | First appearance |
| HC '05 Banská Bystrica | Banská Bystrica | Tipsport Liga | Play-off champion | 3rd | Group stage |
| Brûleurs de Loups | Grenoble | Ligue Magnus | Play-off champion | 2nd | Group stage |
| Rungsted Ishockey | Rungsted | Metal Ligaen | Play-off champion | 1st | First appearance |
| Cardiff Devils | Cardiff | Elite Ice Hockey League | Regular season runner-up | 3rd | Group stage |
| GKS Tychy | Tychy | Polska Hokej Liga | Play-off champion | 2nd | Group stage |

## Group stage

For the group stage, the teams were drawn into 8 groups of 4 teams. Each team played home and away against every other team for a total of 6 games. The best 2 teams qualify to the round of 16.

### Pots

The reigning CHL champions is the top seeded team and therefore given a place in pot 1. In the top pot there were also the reigning champions of the six founding leagues and the regular season winner of SHL. The 16 remaining teams from the founding leagues were placed to pots 2 and 3. The fourth pot include the playoff champions from the seven challenge leagues and the Belfast Giants, the wild card team following the 2018–19 IIHF Continental Cup.
| Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 |
| Frölunda HC Färjestad BK SC Bern HPK Oceláři Třinec Adler Mannheim EC KAC Luleå HF | EV Zug Kärpät Bílí Tygři Liberec Red Bull München Graz 99ers Djurgårdens IF Lausanne HC Tappara | HC Plzeň Augsburger Panther Vienna Capitals Skellefteå AIK EHC Biel Pelicans Mountfield HK HC Ambrì-Piotta | Yunost Minsk Frisk Asker HC '05 Banská Bystrica Brûleurs de Loups Rungsted Ishockey Cardiff Devils GKS Tychy Belfast Giants |

### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | BIE | TAP | KAC | FAS |
| 1 | EHC Biel | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 9 | +7 | 15 | Advance to Playoffs | — | 1–0 | 4–2 | 2–1 |
| 2 | Tappara | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 21 | 11 | +10 | 12 | Advance to Playoffs | 1–0 | — | 8–3 | 7–3 |
| 3 | EC KAC | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 18 | 20 | −2 | 9 | | 3–6 | 3–2 | — | 3–0 |
| 4 | Frisk Asker | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 22 | −15 | 0 | | 2–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | — |

### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | EVZ | PLZ | HPK | RUN |
| 1 | EV Zug | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 11 | +11 | 14 | Advance to Playoffs | — | 5–2 | 3–4 (SO) | 5–2 |
| 2 | HC Plzeň | 6 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 16 | +8 | 12 | Advance to Playoffs | 2–1 (SO) | — | 5–4 (OT) | 9–3 |
| 3 | HPK | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 16 | −3 | 7 | | 1–3 | 1–2 (OT) | — | 2–0 |
| 4 | Rungsted Ishockey | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 26 | −16 | 3 | | 0–5 | 2–4 | 3–1 | — |

### Group C

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | LHF | AUG | LIB | BEL |
| 1 | Luleå HF | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 15 | +11 | 14 | Advance to Playoffs | — | 2–3 (SO) | 4–1 | 4–0 |
| 2 | Augsburger Panther | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 15 | +3 | 12 | Advance to Playoffs | 4–5 (OT) | — | 2–3 (SO) | 3–1 |
| 3 | Bílí Tygři Liberec | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 6 | | 4–5 (OT) | 2–3 | — | 6–1 |
| 4 | Belfast Giants | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 26 | −14 | 4 | | 3–6 | 2–3 (OT) | 5–4 | — |

### Group D

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | LAU | YUN | TRI | PEL |
| 1 | Lausanne HC | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 17 | +3 | 12 | Advance to Playoffs | — | 3–2 | 5–3 | 4–3 (SO) |
| 2 | Yunost Minsk | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 17 | −2 | 9 | Advance to Playoffs | 3–2 (OT) | — | 2–0 | 2–3 (SO) |
| 3 | Oceláři Třinec | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 14 | +3 | 8 | | 2–1 (OT) | 7–2 | — | 5–3 |
| 4 | Pelicans | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 20 | −4 | 7 | | 4–5 (SO) | 2–4 | 1–0 | — |

### Group E

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | SKE | SCB | KAR | BdL |
| 1 | Skellefteå AIK | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 14 | +5 | 11 | Advance to Playoffs | — | 3–2 (SO) | 2–0 | 1–2 |
| 2 | SC Bern | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 14 | +3 | 11 | Advance to Playoffs | 4–5 (SO) | — | 1–2 (SO) | 4–1 |
| 3 | Kärpät | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 13 | +5 | 11 | | 5–4 (SO) | 2–3 (OT) | — | 3–1 |
| 4 | Brûleurs de Loups | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 21 | −13 | 3 | | 1–4 | 1–3 | 2–6 | — |
* 1 2 3 Head-to-head points: Skellefteå AIK 8, SC Bern 5, Kärpät 5.

### Group F

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | MAN | DIF | VIC | GKS |
| 1 | Adler Mannheim | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 23 | 10 | +13 | 14 | Advance to Playoffs | — | 2–1 | 4–0 | 5–0 |
| 2 | Djurgårdens IF | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 20 | 14 | +6 | 12 | Advance to Playoffs | 6–3 | — | 3–6 | 2–0 |
| 3 | Vienna Capitals | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 21 | −6 | 6 | | 1–6 | 1–2 | — | 5–2 |
| 4 | GKS Tychy | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 23 | −13 | 4 | | 2–3 (OT) | 2–6 | 4–2 | — |

### Group G

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | RBM | FBK | AMB | BAB |
| 1 | Red Bull München | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 9 | +5 | 12 | Advance to Playoffs | — | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 |
| 2 | Färjestad BK | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 10 | +7 | 11 | Advance to Playoffs | 3–1 | — | 2–1 | 6–1 |
| 3 | HC Ambrì-Piotta | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 12 | +1 | 10 | | 2–3 (SO) | 2–1 | — | 4–3 |
| 4 | HC '05 Banská Bystrica | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 23 | −13 | 3 | | 3–2 (SO) | 3–4 (OT) | 0–4 | — |

### Group H

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | FHC | MHK | CAR | GRA |
| 1 | Frölunda HC | 6 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 34 | 17 | +17 | 13 | Advance to Playoffs | — | 2–3 | 9–2 | 5–6 (SO) |
| 2 | Mountfield HK | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 13 | +9 | 12 | Advance to Playoffs | 3–4 | — | 5–2 | 7–1 |
| 3 | Cardiff Devils | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 18 | 30 | −12 | 8 | | 2–9 | 3–2 | — | 4–3 (SO) |
| 4 | Graz 99ers | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 28 | −14 | 3 | | 1–5 | 1–2 | 2–5 | — |

### Group stage tie-breaking criteria

If two teams were tied in points after the group stage is finished, the teams precedence is decided by head-to-head games. If the teams are still tied after that, then the team that was ranked higher prior to the tournament took precedence. When comparing head-to-head results, the following criteria were applied:
* more points in games against the other tied team
* better goal difference in games against the other tied team
* more goals scored against the other tied team
* more goals scored in a single game against the other tied team
* overtime wins against the other tied team
* more goals scored in the two game winning shot competitions
* higher position in the 2016–17 CHL club ranking

## Playoffs
### Qualified teams

| Group | Winners (seed) | Runners-up |
| A | EHC Biel | Tappara |
| B | EV Zug | HC Plzeň |
| C | Luleå HF | Augsburger Panther |
| D | Lausanne HC | Yunost Minsk |
| E | Skellefteå AIK | SC Bern |
| F | Adler Mannheim | Djurgårdens IF |
| G | Red Bull München | Färjestad BK |
| H | Frölunda HC | Mountfield HK |

### Format

In each round except the final, the teams played two games and the aggregate score decided which team advanced. As a rule, the first leg was hosted by the team who had the inferior record in the tournament with the second leg being played on the home ice of the other team. If aggregate score is tied, a sudden death overtime followed. If the overtime is scoreless, the team who wins the shoot out competition advances.
The final was played on the home ice of the team who had the better record in the tournament.

### Bracket

The eight group winners and the eight second-placed teams advanced to the Round of 16. The teams were divided into two seeding groups and group winners were randomly drawn against runners-up. Teams who had faced each other in the group stage could not be drawn against each other in the round of 16. The draw took place in Helsinki, Finland on 18 October 2019.
| Round of 16 | Round of 16 | Round of 16 | Round of 16 | Round of 16 | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | | Final | Final | Final | |
| 1 | Djurgårdens IF | 3 | 4 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Skellefteå AIK | 3 | 1 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Skellefteå AIK | 3 | 1 | 4 | Djurgårdens IF | Djurgårdens IF | 5 | 3 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Red Bull München | Red Bull München | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Yunost Minsk | 2 | 0 | 2 | Red Bull München | Red Bull München | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Red Bull München | 3 | 6 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Red Bull München | 3 | 6 | 9 | | | | | | Djurgårdens IF | Djurgårdens IF | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Mountfield HK | Mountfield HK | 3 | 3 | 6 | | | | | |
| 5 | Tappara | 3 | 1 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | Mountfield HK | Mountfield HK | 3 | 3 | 6 | | | |
| 12 | EV Zug | 3 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | EV Zug | 3 | 3 | 6 | EV Zug | EV Zug | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Mountfield HK | Mountfield HK | 1 | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Mountfield HK | 1 | 1 | 2 | Mountfield HK | Mountfield HK | 1 | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Adler Mannheim | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Adler Mannheim | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | Mountfield HK | Mountfield HK | 1 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Frölunda HC | Frölunda HC | 3 | |
| 6 | Augsburger Panther | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Frölunda HC | Frölunda HC | 3 |
| 11 | EHC Biel (OT) | 2 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | EHC Biel (OT) | 2 | 2 | 4 | EHC Biel | EHC Biel | 3 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Frölunda HC (OT) | Frölunda HC (OT) | 2 | 5 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Färjestad BK | 6 | 2 | 8 | Frölunda HC (OT) | Frölunda HC (OT) | 2 | 5 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Frölunda HC | 3 | 8 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Frölunda HC | 3 | 8 | 11 | | | | | | Frölunda HC | Frölunda HC | 2 | 3 | 5 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Luleå HF | Luleå HF | 3 | 1 | 4 | | | | | |
| 7 | SC Bern | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | Luleå HF | Luleå HF | 3 | 1 | 4 | | | |
| 10 | Luleå HF | 3 | 4 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Luleå HF | 3 | 4 | 7 | Luleå HF | Luleå HF | 2 | 5 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Lausanne HC | Lausanne HC | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | HC Plzeň | 1 | 4 | 5 | Lausanne HC | Lausanne HC | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Lausanne HC (OT) | 2 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Note:
* The teams listed on top of each tie were runners up in the group stage and play the first leg at home. The bottom team were group winners and play the second leg at home. Skellefteå AIK, however, would play their first leg at home in their tie against Djurgårdens IF.
* The order of the legs (which team starts at home) in the future rounds may be changed as the team with the best record should have the second game at home.

### Round of 16
#### Second Leg

* Frölunda HC won 11–8 on Aggregate.
* Luleå HF won 7–2 on Aggregate.
* Djurgårdens IF won 7–4 on aggregate.
* Mountfield HK won 2–1 on Aggregate.
* EV Zug won 6–4 on Aggregate.
* Lausanne HC won 6–5 on Aggregate in Overtime.
* EHC Biel won 4–3 on Aggregate in Overtime.
* Red Bull München won 9–2 on Aggregate.

### Quarter-finals
#### Second Leg

* Luleå HF won 7–3 on Aggregate.
* Mountfield HK won 5–1 on Aggregate.
* Frölunda HC won 7–6 on Aggregate in Overtime.
* Djurgårdens IF won 8–1 on Aggregate.

### Semi-Finals
#### Second Leg

* Frölunda HC won 5–4 on Aggregate.
* Mountfield HK won 6–1 on Aggregate.

### Final
## Statistics
### Scoring leaders

The following players led the league in points.
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | +/– | GWG | PPG | SHG | SOG | S% |
| Ryan Lasch | Frölunda HC | 13 | 6 | 16 | 22 | 0 | +5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 16.22% |
| Rhett Rakhshani | Frölunda HC | 12 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 6 | -5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 24 | 12.50% |
| Olle Alsing | Djurgårdens IF | 12 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 14 | +3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 13.04% |
| Samuel Fagemo | Frölunda HC | 11 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 4 | +10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 17.07% |
| Arttu Ilomäki | Luleå HF | 11 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 8 | +9 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 30.00% |
| Milan Gulaš | HC Plzeň | 6 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 2 | +4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 40.00% |
| Joel Lundqvist | Frölunda HC | 12 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 8 | +6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 31 | 22.58% |
| Robin Kovacs | Luleå HF | 12 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 2 | +5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 24.00% |
| Simon Hjalmarsson | Frölunda HC | 12 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 4 | +4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 38 | 15.79% |
| Nils Lundkvist | Luleå HF | 12 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 6 | +4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 8.70% |

### Leading goaltenders

The following goaltenders led the league in save percentage, provided that they have played at least 40% of their team's minutes.
| Player | Team | GP | W | L | SV | GA | SV% | GAA | SO | MIN |
| Danny aus den Birken | EHC Red Bull München | 4 | 4 | 0 | 121 | 5 | 96.03% | 1.22 | 1 | 256 |
| Luca Hollenstein | EV Zug | 5 | 3 | 1 | 102 | 5 | 95.33% | 0.98 | 1 | 305 |
| Dominik Hrachovina | HC Ambrì-Piotta | 4 | 3 | 1 | 120 | 6 | 95.24% | 1.51 | 1 | 238 |
| Jonas Hiller | EHC Biel-Bienne | 4 | 2 | 2 | 153 | 8 | 95.03% | 1.96 | 1 | 245 |
| Niklas Schlegel | SC Bern | 5 | 2 | 3 | 146 | 8 | 94.81% | 1.73 | 0 | 278 |