European Champions Hockey League (CHL) Begins 2023-24 Season Thursday With Rule Changes, New Competition Format

By Andrew Phillip Chernoff | CanucksBanter

August 30, 2023

The Champions Hockey League 2023-24 season will begin on August 31, with 24 teams from 11 leagues prepared to win the European Trophy.

New Competition Format

The 2023/24 Champions Hockey League will start with a new format featuring 24 teams.

Each team will play six opponents, three home and three away, in the Regular Season. Teams are ranked in overall standings from 1 to 24 with the best 16 advancing to the Playoffs where their opponents will automatically be assigned to them based on their position in the standings (1st vs 16th, 2nd vs 15th, etc.).

With 16 teams in the Playoffs, four rounds are required to determine the new European Club Champions.

The playoffs start on November 14, 2023, with the first three rounds being two-game, home-and-away, aggregate-scoring series, before the season culminates with the ultimate one-game Final on
20 February 2024.
Champions Hockey League

New On-Ice Rules

In order to develop the league, the CHL will introduce three on-ice rule changes.

The following three rule changes hope to add an extra layer of interest but not undermine the credibility of the game or league.

Minor penalties dealt the same as major: A team which caused a minor penalty will remain shorthanded even if the opposing team score a goal.
Serving delayed penalties: A minor penalty will be served even if a goal is scored while a delayed penalty is pending.
Shorthander erases current minor penalty: If a shorthanded team scores, the minor penalty against the offending team will end.

“We’ve come up with three simple but efficient changes that have high potential to add extra excitement to the game,” said CHL CEO Martin Baumann. Since the CHL is a pan-European competition which teams play in addition to their national leagues, it was important to create rules which can be implemented without significant effort regarding training and education of game officials, teams and other relevant parties.

“All three changes are non-intrusive and very easy for everyone to understand. They have the right balance of innovation, excitement and credibility”, commented Baumann.

“The CHL wants to be a first mover. I’m very satisfied with the outcome and look forward to seeing how the new on-ice rules change the game.”
Champions Hockey League