The defending champions start their Champions Hockey League defence against a tournament debutant in the form of Wolfsburg. The DEL side made it all the way to their league finals last year before coming up short, and have added Kris Foucault and Alexander Weiss to their squad ahead of this coming season. Frolunda. on the other hand. will be the team that everyone wants to beat in this year's competition. With no less than 10 new players on their roster for this season, they will be trying to do what Lulea could not last season – defend their trophy, or at least make it to the Final game.

“We are looking forward to our first Champions League game against one of the best teams in Europe," stated Grizzlys' head coach Pavel Gross. "We have to keep it simple and we have to work hard all over the ice. It is no secret which team is the favourite, but our team will be ready for the game.”

Frolunda head coach Roger Ronnberg added, "Wolfsburg is a strong team and will test us at a early state of the season. And that's a good thing."