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Champions Hockey League Team Previews: Part I

$EBR we did it, we survived and made it to the start of another European hockey season. Thursday afternoon things open up in the Champions League. If you have been riding with the crew for the last 2 years you know we have dominated the books with these games and we plan to do it again.

This season there are a few rule changes that will surely make the games more exciting and should create a lot more goals, which means Overs!

The 3 rules are : 

  • A team that caused a minor penalty will remain shorthanded even if the opposing team scores a goal

  • A minor penalty will be served even if a goal is scored while a delayed penalty is pending.

  • If a shorthanded team scores, the minor penalty will end

Not sure the bookmakers are paying attention to these rules, but we are and we will take full advantage. 

Giphy Images.

Now it’s time to get to the team breakdowns and the drink of choice in each city since Big Deal Brew and Pink Whitney have not made their way across the Atlantic yet.

Team: Aalborg Pirates 

League: Denmark Metal Liigaen

2022-23 Season Recap: Won the Danish League Championship

Sip ‘Em: Akvavit

Fun Fact: Team Mascot Captain Ding Dong is based on a figure from Danish history.

2023- 24 Champions League Outlook:  Huge fan of what Head Coach Garth Murray does for this team, but they just can not compete with the top European clubs. The league does not attract the big boys from around Europe. 

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ODDS TO WIN: +20,000

Player to Watch: Patrick Bjorskstrand - Older brother of Oliver who plays for the Seattle Kraken. He's got a knack for scoring the big goals like this one in Zagreb.

$EBR BETS: Fade the Pirates in most games when there is a decent line.

TEAM:  Adler Mannheim

LEAGUE:  German Hockey League - DEL

2022-23 RECAP: Finished 3rd in the Regular Season and bowed out of the playoffs in the Semi-finals.

SIP 'EM: Eichbaum beer

FUN FACT: Leon Draisaitl scored 192 points when he was 15 on the U-16 Mannheim team.

2023- 24 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE OUTLOOK: A new coach and some new players will make sure they advance to the knockout stage.

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ODDS TO WIN: +3000

PLAYER TO WATCH: Matthias Plachta is the franchise's all-time leading scorer.  He is always on the scoresheet whether deserved or not.  He is a sniffer who will always look to get points during blowouts. 

$EBR BETS: The team will play a defensive game and has strong goaltending, Unders.

TEAM:  Belfast Giants 

LEAGUE: United Kingdom Elite Ice Hockey League

2022-23 RECAP: Regular season, Playoff and Challenge Cup Champions.

SIP ‘EM - Guinness in the Cathedral Quarter

FUN FACT: The head coach is Adam Keefe, brother of Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe.  So at least one family member brought home some hardware this summer.  

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2023-24 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE OUTLOOK: Belfast owns their domestic league, but will get demolished by the big European clubs.  It also does not help that they lost their top two scorers. 

ODDS TO WIN: +75,000

PLAYER TO WATCH: Mark Cooper - This winger was 3rd on the team in scoring and has to step up with the loss of the top two scorers.  The NCAA product will be relied on heavily to get points. 

$EBR BETS: Overs and we'll take a few big puck-lines when the matchups are rigtht.

TEAM: Dynamo Paradubice

LEAGUE: Czech Extraliga

2022-23 RECAP: Regular season Champions, Lost in Semi-Finals

SIP 'EM:  Pardubicky Porter beer

FUN FACT: Home club of NHL legend Dominik Hašek. I need to watch his career highlights more often.

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2023-24 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE OUTLOOK: The team is loaded with talent that would normally be playing in the KHL. Will advance to the knockout stage with ease.  If they get a good matchup, this is the team that could cause an upset of the norm. 

ODDS TO WIN: +2000

PLAYER TO WATCH: Tomáś Hyka - Former Vegas Golden Knight will create a ton of offense for the Dynamo. He also is on pace to maybe break my record for most countries played in. 

$EBR BET: Puckline team in the early games.

Everybody Rides!!!

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Twitter: mattmurley19

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