The Champions Hockey League (CHL) takes centre stage in January, with four teams still in with a chance of winning Europe’s top ice hockey tournament.
Frolunda Indians are favourites to win the CHL for a third time if you fancy betting online, although they will face a tough test in the semi-finals.
The Indians comfortably progressed through their quarter-final courtesy of a 10-2 aggregate victory over Kometa Brno and they face another Czech side in the last four.
HC Pilsen needed a shoot-out to see off Swedish giants Skelleftea AIK 5-4 overall in the last round, but with the likes of Jan Kovar on their roster they are expected to be a difficult hurdle for Frolunda to overcome.
There was little to choose between Skelleftea AIK and Frolunda during the regular season in Sweden and the Czech side are perfectly capable of upsetting the odds once again.
The second semi-final is likely to be dubbed the energy drink derby, as Red Bull Munich take on Red Bull Salzburg.
Munich defied expectations in the quarter-finals, with Trevor Parkes’ hat-trick goal in the 64th minute of the second leg sealing a famous 7-6 aggregate success over Malmo Redhawks.
Salzburg are undoubtedly the surprise package in the last four after withstanding an onslaught by Karpat Oulu to run out 4-3 aggregate winners against the Finnish side.
They now face a match-up with Munich in the semi-finals, where one of them will become the first team from their country to reach the final.
Munich are favourites to progress to the final which will take place on Tuesday, 5 February, 2019. The semi-final schedule is as follows (all times CET):
Tuesday, 8 January, 2019 (First legs)
Frolunda Indians vs. HC Pilsen (18:00)
Red Bull Munich vs. Red Bull Salzburg (19:30)
Tuesday, 15 January, 2019 (Return leg)
HC Pilsen vs. Frölunda Indians (17:30)
Wednesday, 16 January, 2019 (Return leg)
Red Bull Salzburg vs. Red Bull Munich Red Bull (20:20)
As with previous round, the aggregate score over the two games in each series will decide the two finalists. Home advantage for the final goes to the team with the best overall record.
