Sweden and Austria tests for Steelers in CHL

Sheffield Steelers will face Swedish and Austrian opposition in the group stages of the Champions Hockey League (CHL) 2016/17.

Steelers have been drawn in Group P alongside HV71 Jonkoping from Sweden and Austria’s Red Bull Salzburg.

HV71 and Salzburg met at the same stage of last season’s competition, with the Swedish side recording 4-1 and 3-1 victories.

Salzburg lost against Norway’s Storhamar Ishockey in the first knock-out stage, while HV71 progressed to the last 16 before being eliminated by Espoo Blues from Finland.

Steelers lost all four of their CHL group games in 2015/16.

Full draw:

Group A: Frolunda Gothenburg (SWE), HC Pardubice (CZE), Grizzlys Wolfsburg (GER)
Group B: HC Davos (SUI), Djurgarden Stockholm (SWE), Rouen Dragons (FRA)
Group C: Tappara Tampere (FIN), HC Lugano (SUI), Adler Mannheim (GER)
Group D: ZSC Lions Zurich (SUI), Lukko Rauma (FIN), ERC Ingolstadt (GER)
Group E: Karpat Oulu (FIN), Vitkovice Ostrava (CZE), Krefeld Pinguine (GER)
Group F: Red Bull Munich (GER), Fribourg-Gotteron (SUI), Orli Znojmo (AUT)
Group G: IFK Helsinki (FIN), EV Zug (SUI), Esbjerg Energy (DEN)
Group H: Bili Tygri Liberec (CZE), TPS Turku (FIN), Lorenskog IK (NOR)
Group J: Skoda Plzen (CZE), HK Nitra (SVK), Stavanger Oilers (NOR)
Group K: JYP Jyvaskyla (FIN), Linkoping HC (SWE), Gap Rapaces (FRA)
Group L: Vaxjo Lakers (SWE), BK Mlada Boleslav (CZE), Yunost Minsk (BLR)
Group M: SC Bern (SUI), HC Kosice (SVK), Black Wings Linz (AUT)
Group N: Skelleftea AIK (SWE), Kalpa Kuopio (FIN), Vienna Capitals (AUT)
Group O: Sparta Prague (CZE), Farjestad Karlstad (SWE), Comarch Cracovia (POL)
Group P: Red Bull Salzburg (AUT), HV71 Jonkoping (SWE), Sheffield Steelers (GBR)