Cardiff Devils host Czech Republic’s Mountfield HK and Austria’s Graz 99ers in their opening Champions Hockey League group fixtures.
Czech team Mountfield visit the Viola Arena in Cardiff Bay on Friday, September 1 followed by Austrians Graz 99ers three days later.
Devils were drawn into Group H and have home and away fixtures against Mountfield, Graz and Swiss team Frolunda Indians, who won last year’s CHL title.
“It’s a tough group, but all three opponents are teams we look forward to facing off against and learning from them on and off the ice,” said Devils’ Todd Kelman.
“It will be particularly special to face the defending Champions and the most successful team in CHL history, Frolunda Indians.
“We know our fans are going to be excited about this group.”
Devils’ first away game in Group H will be at Mountfield on September 2 and Graz two days later before rounding out the group stages with a visit to Sweden to play Frolunda Indians on 8 October before the return match against the same opponents on October 15.
Devils will host three different European opponents in pre-season action as they build towards the start of the Champions Hockey League at the end of August.
Saturday, August 10 and Sunday, August 11: Devils v Fehervar
Saturday August 17: Devils v HC Banska Bystrica
Sunday, August 25: Devils v MAC Budapest
Champions Hockey League group schedule for Cardiff Devils confirmed.
Devils will host Mountfield (Czech Republic) and Graz (Austria) in the first week of the competition before travelling the following week to take on the same teams.
Then in October, they travel to Sweden to face Frolunda before hosting the defending Champions the following week.
Home game one: Cardiff Devils v Mountfield HK – Friday August 30 (7.30pm UK time)
Home game two: Cardiff Devils v Graz 99ers – Sunday September 1 (4pm UK time)
Home game three: Cardiff Devils v Frolunda Indians – Tuesday October 15 (7.30pm UK time)
Away game one: Mountfield HK v Cardiff Devils – Thursday September 5 (6pm CEST)
Away game two: Graz 99ers v Cardiff Devils – Saturday September 7 (7.15pm CEST)
Away game three: Frolunda Indians v Cardiff Devils – Tuesday October 8 (8.30pm CEST)
All times listed are Central European Time, an hour ahead of Cardiff.
Ticket information for all pre-season and CHL games will be released later this week.
Elite League champions Belfast Giants will welcome Czech side Bili Tygri Liberec to the SSE Arena for their first ever CHL game at the end of August.
Extraliga runners-up Liberec, nicknamed the White Tigers, will be the opponents in Belfast for the opening game of the competition on Thursday, August 29.
Giants, making their debuts in the competition after qualifying through the Continental Cup and then again by winning League title, open with an August double-header at home.
Just two days after Liberec fly to Belfast Giants will host German DEL side Augsburger Panther at the SSE Arena.
The pool stages run from late August to October.
Belfast Giants CHL schedule
Thursday, August 29: 7.30pm: vs Bili Tygri Liberec
Saturday, August 31: 7.30pm: v Augsburger Panther
Thursday, September 5: 6.45pm: @ Bili Tygri Liberec
Sunday, September 8: 4pm: @ Augsburger Panther
Tuesday, October 8: 7.30: v Lulea Hockey
Tuesday, October 15: 17:00: @ Lulea Hockey
All face-offs are in Belfast time