HC Davos seem to have written off their Champions Hockey League rivals Cardiff Devils.
Elite League champions Devils are in Switzerland for their opening CHL group match tonight and former Swiss international Sandro Rizzi, the club’s assistant general manager, says: “Our aim is to get through this group and qualify for the knockout stages.
“With Liberec and Vaxjo in there it will be tough, but we will do everything we can.”
Rizzi made no mention of Devils, while Vaxjo’s Henrik Evertsson simply said: “We want to go all the way and win the tournament.”
Todd Kelman, Cardiff’s managing director, outlined the Welsh club’s hopes, saying: “Everybody counts us out and we are in a tough group, but we want to advance.
“We want to win two or three games, but we know the tests ahead are going to be tough.”
Devils play HC Davos this evening and Czech team Bili Tygri Liberec away on Saturday in their second group match.
Player-Coach Andrew Lord and his team face one of European hockey’s most famous clubs, HC Davos, in their opening fixture.
They have won a whopping 31 Swiss national championships, most recently in 2015. They were formed in 1921 in the Alpine town of the same name in Eastern Switzerland.
The area is a popular location for skiing enthusiasts, boasting one of Switzerland’s biggest ski resorts.
Davos play their home games at the 7,080 seater Vaillant Arena and host the annual Spengler Cup tournament every winter, winning the competition 15 times since the inaugural tournament took place in 1923.
Often referred to as ‘HCD’ by their fans, Davos have also played host to international stars, such as San Jose’s Joe Thornton and New York Rangers winger Rick Nash, during NHL lockouts.
HC Davos currently has the youngest roster of any NLA side, with an average of 25.02 years, but did secure the services of American forward Broc Little during the summer.
Little was signed from SHL outfit Linkoping HC after scoring 53 points in 52 games in the Swedish top tier last season. The 29-year-old will undoubtedly be a central figure in the Davos line-up this season as the club looks to add to its substantial collection of silverware.
Finnish winger Perttu Lindgren, who scored 40 points in 46 NLA games last season, is also expected back from injury this month following off-season hip surgery.
Andres Ambuhl, a Davos native, is the Swiss national team captain who has been the heartbeat of ‘HCD’ since re-joining from rivals ZSC Lions in 2013.
Ambuhl has been club captain for the past three seasons and was Davos’ leading scorer last season with 12 goals and 41 points in 48 NLA games, adding a further two goals and six points in six CHL games.
HC Davos CHL RECORD: 2014-15 Did Not Participate; 2015-16 Third Place; 2016-17 Round of 32 Knockout Stage.