Euro Hockey Challenge: A field for hockey clashes
The Euro Hockey Challenge (EHC) is an elite ice hockey-friendly series among the countries of Europe. The series was launched in the 2010-2011 season, with 12 countries participating. The European continent ranks high in the world ranking of hockey leagues.
Teams in the Euro Hockey Challenge compete in three different divisions, playing a series of matches throughout April, playing a total of six games each. A win in regulation time earns three points, a win in overtime earns two points, and a loss in overtime earns one point. There are no draws in the series.
League leaders: teams that have made a name for themselves
During the existence of the Euro Hockey Tour, the most successful team has been the Czech Republic, which won the tournament three times in 2012, 2015, and 2018. The last time the Czech Republic won the trophy, they beat Finland in the final. In addition, Sweden and Finland have shown excellent results, often taking first place.
Calendar of the upcoming season: new possibilities
The Euro Hockey Challenge 2023-2024 season is scheduled to run from July 2023 to May 2024. Each team will play six matches during this period, and all games will be played in different European countries.
The path to participation: how to become part of the Euro Hockey Challenge?
Participation in the Euro Hockey Challenge is determined by the national hockey federations of each country. This series of matches is a great opportunity for teams to test their strengths before the international championships.
In the spotlight: players who have made their mark
Although the Euro Hockey Challenge does not offer separate awards for players, outstanding players still get the opportunity to showcase their skills on the international stage. In the 2018-2019 season, Lean Bergmann of Germany scored 6 goals and 1 assist in 6 games, while Arttu Ilomäki of Finland and Rudolf Cerveny of the Czech Republic each scored 7 points in 6 games.
The prize pool and individual awards for the tournament vary, but the accolades for top performers surely contribute to their standing in the global ice hockey domain.