The groupstage of the European Trophy 2011 is over. 96 games have been played around Europe. Eight teams have qualified for the Red Bulls Salute in Salzburg and Vienna on December 16-18.

And 228 946 spectators have watched icehockey at European toplevel being in August and early Septmeber.

”That is impressive” says tournament director Bo ”Kulon” Lennartsson as he reflects on what has been and what is to come. And he contines: ”We are very satisfied with the quality of the games, the organisation, what the clubs have done and the fact that we have had such huge crowds for hockeygames as early as in August.”

With almost 230 000 spectators the Euopean Trophy has proved to be a huge success with the fans around Europe and the organizers now look to the future and how to improve and also possibly expand the tournament.

”My feeling is that the tournament have a even bigger potential and that’s what we going for. Within the framework of four divisions there is room to bring in some more teams and we know that there are a lot of teams who are interested” says Bo ”Kulon” Lennartsson.

The draw for the playoff, Red Bulls Salute, has been confirmed and the quarterfinals of the tournament on December 16 will be played like this:

In Salzburg: Frölunda Indians (Sweden)–Linköping HC (Sweden) and HC CSOB Pojistovna Pardubice (Czech Republic)–EC Red Bull Salzburg (Austria).

In Vienna: Jokerit (Finland)–HC Mountfield Ceské Budejovice (Czech Republic) and HC Plzen 1929 (Czech Republic)–Luleå Hockey (Sweden)