In the month leading up to the IIHF World Championships, national teams around Europe are busy getting ready and many players from the Champions Hockey League will be competing for roster spots on their respective national teams. 

CHL News

The first day of April also marks the first day of month-long preparations that most of Europe's national hockey teams will use to get ready for the World Championships. At the moment, the rosters of most teams are still in their early stages as they wait for more the conclusion of European league playoffs and the National Hockey League regular season – which will free up many more players. 

Not surprisingly, many players from the rosters of 2015–16 Champions Hockey League teams are on the rosters of many teams. Below is a list of players who are currently on national team rosters. This list will change throughout the month as more clubs qualify for the CHL, teams get eliminated from their domestic playoffs and players get cut. 

As things currently stand, 12 of the 16 teams that will compete at the IIHF World Championship in the Czech Republic have preliminary rosters that include players from CHL teams. As well, three national teams that will compete in Division I tournaments in Poland and the Netherlands – Great Britain, Hungary and Italy – have at least one CHL player on their respective rosters. This list of teams could also grow before those tournaments start on 17 April.

Below the list of players is a list of pre-tournament exhibition games that these players could compete in. Several of these will take place in arenas that are home to CHL clubs. Many of these games are played under the banner of the Euro Hockey Challenge or Euro Hockey Tour. 

List of CHL players on pre-World Championship rosters

AUSTRIA – Goal: Rene Swette (Klagenfurt). Defence: Bernhard Fechtig, Erik Kirchslager, Daniel Mitterdorfer (all Linz), Christoph Duller, Philipp Lindner (both Salzburg), Martin Schumnig (Klagenfurt). Forward: Philipp Cirtek, Manuel Geier, Thomas Hundertpfund, Daniel Nageler (all Klagenfurt), Brian Lebler, Patrick Spannring (both Linz), Ali Wukovits (Farjestad). 

CZECH REPUBLIC – Defence: Petr Caslava (Pardubice), Jakub Nakladal (TPS), Adam Polasek (Sparta). Forward: Michal Birner (KalPa), Jan Buchtele, Michal Vondrka (both Sparta), Tomas Filippi, Jakub Valsky (both Liberec), Jakub Klepis (Trinec), Petr Pohl (Berlin), Lukas Radil, Tomas Zahorna (both Pardubice), Ondrej Roman, Vladimir Svacina (both Vitkovice), Martin Rucinsky (Litvinov). 

DENMARK – Defence: Jesper B. Jensen (Farjestad). Forward: Nichlas Hardt (Linkoping).

FINLAND – Defence: Anssi Salmela (Farjestad). Forward: Jesse Joensuu (Bern), Lennart Petrell (Lulea), Mikko Rantanen (TPS), Jarkko Immonen (Zug).

FRANCE – Goal: Florian Hardy (Munich). Defence: Yohann Auvitu (HIFK), Yohann Morant (Zug), Teddy Trabiche (Gap). Forward: Teddy Da Costa (Tappara), Damien Fleury (Djurdgarden), Nicola Ritz (Gap). 

GERMANY – Goal: Dennis Endras (Mannheim), Timo Pielmeier (Ingolstadt), Niklas Teutle (Munich). Defence: Jens Baxmann, Constantin Braun, Henry Haase (all Berlin), Christopher Fischer, Daniel Reul, Nicolai Goc, Sinan Akdag (all Mannheim), Felix Petermann, Daryl Boyd (both Munich). Benedikt Schupper, Benedikt Kohl (both Ingolstadt),  Forward: Martin Buschwieser, Frank Mauer, Christoph Ullmann, Mathias Plachta, Marcus Kink, Kai Hospeldt, Dennis Endras (all Mannheim), Thomas Greilinger, Patrick Hager (both Ingolstadt), Frank Hordler, Andre Rankel, Marcel Noebels (all Berlin), Yannic Seidenberg, Felix Schutz, Michael Wolf (all Munich), Daniel Pietta, Andreas Driendl (both Krefeld).

GREAT BRITAIN – Defence: Ben O’Connor, Mark Thomas (both Sheffield). Forward: Robert Dowd, Jonathan Phillips (both Sheffield), Matt Haywood (Braehead). 

HUNGARY – Forward: Istvan Sofron (Krefeld).

ITALY – Goal: Andreas Bernard (SaiPa). Defence: Alex Trivellato (Berlin).  

LATVIA – Forward: Koba Jass (Liberec), Janis Sprunkts (Fribourg-Gotteron).

NORWAY – Defence: Alexander Bonsaksen (Tappara), Ole-Kristian Tollefsen (Farjestad). Forward: Kristian Forsberg, Mathias Trettenes (both Stavanger), Mathis Olimb, Mats Roselli Olsen (both Frolunda), Martin Roymark (Farjestad).

SLOVAKIA – Defence: Peter Ceresnak (Vitkovice), Marek Daloga, Juraj Mikus (both Sparta), Dominik Granak (Fribourg-Gotteron), Christian Jaros (Lulea). Forward: Peter Cehlarik (Lulea), Tomas Marcinko, Martin Reway (Sparta), Radoslav Tybor (both Pardubice), Michael Vandas (Vitkovice).

SLOVENIA – Goal: Luka Gracnar (Salzburg), Robert Kristian (Pardubice). Defence: Gregorc Blaz (Pardubice). Forward: Bostjan Golicic (Gap), Marcel Rodman (Klagenfurt). 

SWEDEN – Goal: Joel Lassinantti (Lulea), Fredrik Petersson Wentzel (Farjestad), Markus Svensson (Skelleftea). Defence: Daniel Gunnarsson (Farjestad), Daniel Rahimi, Mattias Sjogren (both Linkoping). Forward: Calle Ridderwall, Filip Sandberg, Anton Bengtsson, Patrik Carlsson (all HV71), Per Aslund, Joakim Nygard (both Farjestad), Mattias Janmark-Nylen, Joel Lundqvist (both Frolunda), Lucas Wallmark, Daniel Zaar (both Lulea), Marcus Sorensen (Djurgarden).  

SWITZERLAND – Goal: Benjamin Conz (Fribourg-Gotteron). Defence: Eric Blum (Bern), Felicien du Bois (Davos), Patrick Geering (Zurich), Robin Grossmann, Dominik Schlumpf (both Zug), Timo Helbling, Jeremie Kamerzin (both Fribourg-Gotteron), Dean Kukan (Lulea), Romain Loeffel (Geneve-Servette). Forward: Andreas Ambuhl (Davos), Christoph Bertschy, Thomas Rufenacht, Tristan Scherwey (all Bern), Fabrice Herzog Lino Martschini, Reto Suri (all Zug), Cody Almond, Kevin Romy (both Geneve-Servette), Reto Schappi, Morris Trachsler (Both Zurich).

List of pre-World Championship games including CHL players