The Stavanger Oilers were impressive in their first CHL campaign, and it looks like they are headed back after clinching top spot in the Norwegian Ligaen on Saturday.

CHL News

On the day after the Herning Blue Fox clinched first place in the Danish Ligaen regular season, another Scandinavian club has qualified for a Champions Hockey League C-License. On their home ice on Saturday night, the Stavanger Oilers defeated the Storhamar Dragons 2–1.

Heading into the game, all teams in the league had four games remaining and Storhamar, who trailed Stavanger by eight points, were the only team with a mathematical chance of catching the leaders. The visitors from Storhamar had a 1–0 lead after two periods, thanks to a Christian Larrivée shorthanded goal, but the Oilers turned up the heat in the third. The shots were 18–4 in favour of Stavanger over the last 20 minutes and they scored twice to win the game. Christian Hanson tied it early in the period and then Josh Soares, author of the very first CHL goal back on 21 August in Tampere, scored the game-winner with 5:04 on the clock.

Stavanger were a pleasant surprise in the 2014–15 CHL season, finishing second in Group E with 11 points, just one point shy of advancing to the Playoff Stage. 

Despite the loss, Storhamar still have a chance of joining Stavanger in next year's CHL. The Norwegian Ligaen gets two C-Licenses, and the Dragons can claim the second one if they win the playoff title, or if Stavanger win the playoff title and they hold onto second place. Storhamar currently have a nine-point lead on Sparta Sarpsborg and Lorenskog IK and a 10-point lead on Frisk Asker – all three of those teams have four games remaining, while Storhamar have three left to play.