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IFK Helsinki start their CHL campaign on the road in Switzerland, having made the Round of 32 last season and the quarterfinals the one before that. Zug lead the group after a winning in Denmark in their opener, so while no team can qualify tonight a win for the hosts would put them six points clear at the top of the table.

"Our first home game of the 2016/17 CHL is going to be a very big test for our team. IFK Helsinki is a very strong, fast skating team and lost in the Finals of the SM Liiga last year," said  Captain Josh Holden. We know we must be prepared for a hard fought, 60 minute game. Let's have some fun!"

Antti Törmänen, Head Coach of IFK added: " Zug is the fourth Swiss team we play against during the three seasons of CHL hockey and they've always been very tough games. We expect nothing less from Fridays game. We need to put in our very best effort, if we want to win. Zug is one of the top teams in the Swiss league. They have a lot of talent both on defense and among forwards. It's great to start our season with a tough game like this." In those three previous meetings with NLA sides, IFK have failed to win in Switzerland - suffering two losses (one on penalty shots) and registering a tie.