ZURICH – The IIHF European Women’s Champions Cup (EWCC) enters its fifth season this week as the first round of the annual event begins.

19 champions from as many countries will play for the women’s European crown in seven tournaments played in three rounds.

The biggest surprise is that the winner won’t be Swedish team AIK Solna, who has won every previous EWCC title. The Stockholm-based team lost the national championship against Segeltorps IF and was not eligible for this year’s tournament.  

The kick-off will be on Friday in the Royal town of Slany, 25 kilometres from Prague. Same as their male colleagues in the Champions Hockey League, Slavia Prague’s women’s team won the national championship and wants to qualify for the second round. The Czechs’ opponents are Terme Maribor (Slovenia), FTC Budapest (Hungary) and Polis Akademisi Ankara (Turkey).

All other three groups of the first round will be played one week later from October 31 to November 2, 2008.

Click here for the structure and schedules.