The four semi-finalists in the EBEL playoffs have now been established and, with the other three clubs already qualified for next year's Champions Hockey League, Klagenfurt AC qualify for the fourth and final spot from the league. 

CHL News

They've done it the hard way, first beating out local rivals Graz 99ers by one point for the eighth and final playoff spot, then disposing of a hot Orli Znojmo squad 4 games to 1 in the quarter-finals. Now Klagenfurt AC are in the EBEL semi-finals and have qualified for the 2015–16 Champions Hockey League. 

When the Linz Black Wings edged out HC Bolzano 4–3 on Saturday night to take the series by the same score, the semi-final pool was complete. Because Linz had already grabbed a CHL B-License by finishing second in the regular season and the other semi-finalists, Red Bull Salzburg and the Vienna Capitals, are A-License holders, Klagenfurt qualify for the remaining B-License, completing the list of EBEL qualifiers to Europe's top club hockey competition.

Another thing Saturday's result ensures is that the EBEL championship will return to Austria, and that the same team will claim both the league title and the Austrian championship. Last season, HC Bolzano made a magical playoff run to win the title by beating Salzburg in the final, which qualified them for the CHL this past season. They were unable to duplicate that feat this year, though they put up a valiant effort against Linz, losing by the narrowest of margins. 

In the semi-finals, which start on Sunday, Salzburg will face the upstart Klagenfurt squad, while Linz will host Vienna.