European Trophy European Trophy ( previously named " Nordic Trophy " between 2006 and 2009 ) is a pre - season ice hockey tournament , traditionally composed of teams from some of the higher - level ice hockey leagues in countries across Europe . With 24 participating teams from six different countries as of 2011 , European Trophy is currently the biggest active pre - season ice hockey tournament in Europe . Sweden and Finland have always participated , and they were the only two countries participating when the tournament was named " Nordic Trophy " . No team has ever won the tournament more than one time . Since the tournament ' s inauguration in 2006 , eight countries have been represented : Sweden , Finland , Austria , Czech Republic , Germany , Slovakia , Switzerland , and Norway . In 2007 , the tournament expanded from six to eight teams and included the respective clubs ' junior team . In 2008 the league expanded again with another two teams . In 2010 , the tournament changed name to European Trophy and featured clubs also from Norway , Germany , Czech Republic , Switzerland and Austria , in addition to the Finnish and Swedish clubs . In 2011 , the tournament included 24 teams . Slovakia was for the first time represented in the tournament , but Norway and Switzerland were not represented . The 2012 tournament will have 32 teams ; among the new ones , Switzerland will return with four teams . Teams . In 2006 and 2007 , the Nordic Trophy consisted of four Swedish teams , Djurgården , Frölunda , Färjestad and Linköping ; and four Finnish teams , HIFK , Oulun Kärpät , Tappara and TPS . In 2008 , the tournament was expanded with two teams , Swedish team HV71 and Finnish team Jokerit . It got expanded again in 2009 , when Malmö Redhawks from Sweden and Lukko from Finland . However , the Swedish and Finnish teams were split that year and instead , there were two tournaments : a Swedish 2009 Nordic Trophy tournament for the Swedish teams only ; and a Finnish 2009 Nordic Trophy tournament for the Finnish teams only . In 2010 , the tournament became European . Lukko from Finland disappeared , and was replaced by fellow Nordic team Vålerenga from Norway . Adler Mannheim and Eisbären Berlin from Germany , and Czech team Sparta Praha , completed the Capital Division ; while Austrian team Red Bull Salzburg , along with Bern and ZSC Lions from Switzerland , completed the Central Division . These new teams prompted the changing of the tournament name to European Trophy . In the 2011 tournament , there were 24 teams . Sweden and Finland were represented by six teams each . Luleå HF replaced the Swedish team Malmö Redhawks . From Finland , KalPa was for the first time included in the tournament . Seven teams from the Czech Republic participated : HC Slavia Praha , HC Sparta Praha , HC Mountfield České Budějovice , HC Liberec , HC Pardubice , HC Plzeň 1929 , and HC Kometa Brno . The German teams Eisbären Berlin and Adler Mannheim remained in the tournament . Besides EC Red Bull Salzburg , there was now a second team from Austria , the Vienna Capitals . Slovakia was for the first time represented in the European Trophy tournament , with HC Slovan Bratislava . Norway and Switzerland , however , were no longer represented . The 2012 edition of the tournament will be expanded further by eight teams , for a total of 32 teams . The Swedish team Brynäs IF has been confirmed to join the tournament this year ; Switzerland will return with four teams ; another two German teams will participate ; and another team from Finland will join the tournament . Presently it ' s not known how the teams will be divided . The schedule will be similar to 2011 : the regulation round will be played in August – September , while the playoffs will be played in December . Tournament structure . In the 2011 edition of the European Trophy , the tournament is divided into regular round games between August and September , when teams play each other in a predefined schedule , and a playoff weekend in December which is an elimination tournament where two teams play against each other to win in order to advance to the next round . The final remaining team is crowned the " European Trophy Champion " . Regular round games . In the regular round games , the 24 teams are divided into four divisions and each team plays against each other team in the same division , and an additional three games against teams from the other divisions , for a total of eight games per team . Points are awarded for each game , where three points are awarded for a win in regulation time , two points for winning in overtime or penalty shots , one point for losing in overtime or penalty shots , and zero points for a loss in regulation time . The two highest ranked teams in each division qualify for the playoffs . However , the worst second ranked team out of all four divisions misses the playoffs if EC Red Bull Salzburg qualify as hosts . Playoffs . The European Trophy playoffs are played as the " Red Bull Salute " in Salzburg and Vienna during a weekend in December . It is a single - elimination tournament , where two teams play against each other in order to advance to the next round . Trophies and awards . At the end of the final weekend , the winner of the final game is crowned the European Trophy Champions . There are four player awards based on their statistics during the tournament : the RBK Nordic Star , best goalkeeper , best defencemen and best forward .