TPS – Linz 6:1 (end) | Košice – Munich 2:4 (end) | Djurgården – Tappara 2:4 (end)
SønderjyskE – Salzburg 4:1 (end) | Stavanger – Třinec 4:1 (end) | Storhamar – Sparta 2:3 (end)
Frölunda – Sheffield 9:1 (end) | Växjö – Braehead 10:2 (end) | Krefeld – Kärpät 0:2 (end)
Fribourg – Lukko 3:4 (1:2 after SO) | Färjestad – Davos 0:4 (end) | Gap – Zürich 4:5 (end)
final
Växjö Lakers
10:2 (5:1, 2:0, 3:1)
Braehead Clan Glasgow
Thursday 20.08.2015, 19:00 • Vida Arena • Champions League • Group 15
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 19:00.
     
    Växjö Lakers will host Braehead Clan from Glasgow in the first game of this year's Champions Hockey League.

    Växjö Lakers is coming off a fantastic season that ended with them becoming SHL Champions for the first time when they beat Skellefteå in the finals. Doing so in only their 4th season in the SHL is to say the least impressive. They enter this season without last season's playoffs MVP Noah Welch but new players like defenseman Ilkka Heikkinen, who returns to Växjö after three seasons and right wing Richard Gynge will be interesting to watch.

    Breahead Clan are newcomers to the Champions Hockey league and will make their debut in this game. In only their 5th season as a hockey club (!) they managed to qualify for this year's CHL after finishing 2nd in the regular season of the EIHL. Last season ended after losing in the quarter finals to Hull Stingrays. Keep an eye on Stefan Meyer who was the team's top scorer the previous season and finished 5th in points out of all players.
     
    Starting lineups:

    Växjö Lakers: Steen, (Nihlstorp) – Laakso, Lundgren, Andersson, Varakas, Henessy, Murphy, C Rosén, Heikkinen, Larsson, Martinsson – Byström Johansson, Gynge, Storm, A Johansson, Kiiskinen, Rydahl, Söderqvist, Hillding, Josefsson, Friberg, Lundh, Reddox, M Johansson

    Braehead Clan Glasgow: Russel (Holt) – Fritsch, Gotz, Aarssen, Sullivan, Jackman – Davies, Keith, McKenzie, Meyer, Haywood, Leavitt, Bruton, Esders, Nesbitt, Harper, Cownie, Brooks, Pitt, Hartmann, Murray, Spiers

    Referees: Bauer (GER), Holm – Lundgren, Wernström (All SWE).
     
    Welcome everybody! Only minutes left until the puck drops.
     
    Both teams fans are already singing in Vida Arena.
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    Okay, here we go! Växjö wins the first face off.
     
    Växjö with the first shot on goal, only a few seconds into the game.
     
    01:08
    Icing from Braehead, face off in their defensive zone.
     
    Puck out of play, another face off in Braehead's defensive zone.
     
    02:32
    Växjö has a good scoring chance but a nice save from Russel.
     
    03:19
    Nice shot by Braehead's Leavitt but no problem for Steen to save it.
     
    04:21
    Goal for Växjö!
    Goal for Växjö! PATRIK LUNDH finishes off with a nice backhand in an open net. Assisted by: Joakim Hillding and Eddie Larsson. 1-0
    LUNDH - 1:0
     
    05:52
    Another good opportunity for Växjö when Hillding shoots a wrister.
     
    07:52
    Icing by Braehead. Växjö Lakers are pressing hard to extend their lead.
     
    07:59
    First penalty of the game goes to Braehead. It's Chris Bruton who goes 2 minutes for holding.
     
    08:25
    Goal for Växjö!
    ILKKA HEIKKINEN rips a slapshot that beats Russel. Assisted by: Liam Reddox and Richard Gynge. 2-0
     
    09:26
    Växjö's captain Liam Reddox is sent to the box for holding.
     
    09:59
    Visiting team at full strength.
     
    10:11
    Goal for Braehead!
    Braehead scores on the PP! STEFAN MEYER beats Steen with a wrister. 2-1. Assisted by Jamie Fritsch and Alex Leavitt.
     
    10:11
    Home team at full strength.
     
    12:18
    Breahead gets called for another penalty. This time it's Brendan Brooks who goes the box for tripping.
     
    12:26
    Tuomas Kiiskinen for Växjö gets a penalty for holding.
     
    13:09
    Goal for Växjö!
    ILKKA HEIKKINEN scores his second of the game when he beats Russel from the left circle. Assisted by: Patrik Lundh and Joakim Hillding. 3-1
     
    14:18
    Visiting team at full strength.
     
    14:26
    Home team at full strength.
     
    Växjö has had quite a few shots on goal in a short period of time but nothing that Russel hasn't been able to handle.
     
    17:33
    Goal for Växjö!
    ROBIN SÖDERQVIST beats Russel on a rebound just in front of the net and it's 4-1. Assisted by: Joakim Hillding and Patrik Lundh.
    SÖDERQVIST - 4:1
     
    17:51
    Växjö's Martinsson is slow to get up after a hit and goes to the dressing room. Face off in Breahead's defensive zone.
     
    18:14
    Ric Jackman for Braehead gets called for holding.
     
    18:53
    Goal for Växjö!
    PATRIK LUNDH beats Russel with his second of the game! A hard wrister in the top corner and it's 5-1. Assisted by: Calle Rosen and Teemu Laakso.
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    The second period starts at 19:53 CET.
     
    What an intense first period! Växjö wins the period by 5-1. Lakers really showed their skill but Braehead had some good plays as well and with better luck they could have scored at least one more goal.
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    Shots on goal in the first period were 16-3 for Växjö.
     
    20:04
    Icing by Braehead.
     
    22:50
    Good individual effort by Växjö's Alexander Johansson and he shoots but Russel manage to get the save.
     
    23:12
    Goal for Växjö!
    ALEXANDER JOHANSSON with another great shot that beats Russel this time! First set to Växjö, 6-1. Assisted by: Ilkka Heikkinen.
     
    25:26
    Shot on goal from Växjö's Andersson. Face off to the right of Russel.
     
    27:00
    Växjö continues with their pressure and it pays off with a penalty for Braehead. Stefan Meyer gets called for hooking.
     
    27:35
    Slapshot from Rosén deflects off Russel and out of play. Face off right of him.
     
    Huge save by Russel!
     
    Visiting team at full strength.
     
    Today's attendance is 2816.
     
    Växjö with most of the initiative so for in the 2nd period. Braehead is having a hard time to keep up with Växjö's pace.
     
    31:54
    Another good scoring chance for Växjö after a good set up by Heikkinen. Face off in Braehead's defensive zone.
     
    32:42
    Another face off right of Russel after he makes a save.
     
    33:51
    Steen in Växjö's net is trying to stay warm at the moment, not much work for him in the second period. Again there is a face off in Braehead's defensive zone.
     
    35:11
    Braehead with a shot on goal but Steen makes the save. Face off right of him.
     
    36:36
    Växjö comes in an odd man rush but great save by Russel to keep the game 6-1.
     
    38:00
    Goal for Växjö!
    LINUS FRIBERG extend Växjö's lead to 7-1 with a shot up close! Assisted by: Patrik Lundh and Liam Reddox.
    FRIBERG - 7:1
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    Next period begins at 20:40 CET.
     
    We got to see a lot of Växjö in the 2nd period who spent most of the time in their offensive zone while controlling the game. 2-0 in the period and 7-1 total. Shots were 19-3 to Växjö.
     
    The players are back on the ice and the 3rd period will begin shortly.
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    Braehead with the first shot on goal in the 3rd but Steen makes the save with his right pad.
     
    43:23
    Goal for Braehead!
    STEFAN MEYER scores his second of the game early in the period! A great shot over Steen's glove. Assisted by: Brendan Brooks and Scott Aarssen. 7-2
     
    Braehead has a shot that hits the post right after the goal.
     
    44:34
    Breahead's Chris Burton goes to the sinbin for slashing.
     
    46:23
    Goal for Växjö!
    Växjö makes it 8-2 in the PP! ALEXANDER JOHANSSON scores from the left circle. Assisted by: Eddie Larsson and Erik Josefsson.
     
    Visiting team at full strength.
     
    48:12
    Power break and then face off in Växjö's defensive zone.
     
    48:16
    Hard slapshot from Jackman that goes thru a bit off traffic. Another face off in Växjö's defensive zone
     
    49:51
    Shot on goal for Växjö but no problem for Russel. Face off to the right of him.
     
    50:50
    Växjö is yet again in control. A new face off in Braehead's defensive zone.
     
    51:10
    Lundh that has been one of the best players tonight has another shot on goal.
     
    52:47
    Icing from Braehead.
     
    53:36
    Another icing from Braehead.
     
    54:12
    Matt Keith gets 2 minutes for hooking. Powerplay for Växjö coming up.
     
    55:32
    Braehead are struggling to clear the puck but Växjö hasn't had any good scoring chances in the PP. Face off in Braehead's defensive zone.
     
    Visiting team at full strength.
     
    No dice on the powerplay for Växjö.
     
    57:08
    Goal for Växjö!
    JOAKIM HILLDING scores on a fantastic individual effort! Assisted by: Patrik Lundh and Linus Friberg. 9-2
     
    58:11
    Goal for Växjö!
    MIKAEL JOHANSSON takes Växjö to double digits when he finishes a shot up close. Assisted by: Albin Storm and Ville Varakas. 10-2
     
    Game over.
     
    Game, set and match! Växjö wins the last period 3-1 and the game 10-2.

    Shots in the 3rd period were 17-6 (52-12 total)
     
    This was Växjö's game from start to finish. Braehead had some chances but overall they had problems with keeping up with Växjö's fast pace.
     
    The Purple Army are singing after the game has finished. (21:20:27)
    Recommend
    Commentary by

    Pontus Bjers

    CZ@@pbjers

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 5. Lundh (Hillding, Larsson), 9. Heikkinen (Reddox, Gynge), 14. Heikkinen (Lundh, Hillding), 18. Söderqvist (Hillding, Lundh), 19. Lundh (Rosen, Laakso), 24. A. Johansson (Heikkinen), 38. Friberg (Lundh, Reddox), 47. A. Johansson (Larsson, Josefsson), 58. Hillding (Lundh, Friberg), 59. M. Johansson (Storm, Varakas) – 11. Meyer (Fritsch, Leavitt), 44. Meyer (Brooks, Aarssen)

    Växjö Lakers: Steen, (Nihlstorp) – Laakso, Lundgren, Andersson, Varakas, Henessy, Murphy, C Rosén, Heikkinen, Larsson, Martinsson – Byström Johansson, Gynge, Storm, A Johansson, Kiiskinen, Rydahl, Söderqvist, Hillding, Josefsson, Friberg, Lundh, Reddox, M Johansson
    Braehead Clan Glasgow: Russel (Holt) – Fritsch, Gotz, Aarssen, Sullivan, Jackman – Davies, Keith, McKenzie, Meyer, Haywood, Leavitt, Bruton, Esders, Nesbitt, Harper, Cownie, Brooks, Pitt, Hartmann, Murray, Spiers
    Referees: Bauer (GER), Holm – Lundgren, Wernström (All SWE)