The Champions Hockey League (CHL) is getting a new format: From the 2023/2024 season, the reduction from 32 to 24 teams should ensure a “balanced, attractive and entertaining” competition, as the CHL announced after its general assembly on Friday. In addition, the mode in the group and knockout phase will also be changed.
In the preliminary round, individual groups are omitted, similar to the (unsuccessfully) planned Super League in football, all teams are listed in a group. Each team plays six games against six different opponents, with the top 16 qualifying for the playoffs.
The organizers hope that this will give “more opportunities for fans to see Europe’s top teams play each other earlier in the competition. Every game counts.”