Carlson Hockey Games (EU) 2023/24

The Carlson Hockey Games, currently known as the Fortuna Hockey Games, is an annual international ice hockey tournament held in the Czech Republic. Organized by the Czech Ice Hockey Association (ČSLH), the event serves as a preparatory friendly series for the IIHF World Championship rather than a competitive league tier. It sits within the pyramid of international hockey and has been a constituent part of the Euro Hockey Tour (EHT) since the 1997–98 season.

The tournament features four national teams: the Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden, and Switzerland, who replaced Russia in 2022 following suspension. The format is a single round-robin where each team plays three games. Points are awarded as 3 for a regulation win, 2 for an overtime/shootout win, 1 for an overtime/shootout loss, and 0 for a regulation loss. The winner is determined by the highest point total within the tournament. Historically, the EHT overall champion was decided by cumulative points across all four EHT legs, with no knockout finals played since the 2007–08 season.

The tournament has undergone several name changes due to sponsorship: Pragobanka Cup (1994–1997), Česká Pojišťovna Cup (1998–2008), Czech Hockey Games (2009–2011), Kajotbet Hockey Games (2012–2013), Carlson Hockey Games (2018–2023), Betano Hockey Games (2024–2025), and Fortuna Hockey Games (2026). It was not held in 2004 (due to the World Cup of Hockey), 2007, 2014–2016 (hiatus between sponsors), and 2020 (COVID-19).

The Czech Republic holds the record for most wins with 10 titles, followed by Finland with 7. Sweden has 4 wins, Russia 4, and Switzerland 1 (2023). The tournament is distinct from other EHT legs primarily by its timing, typically held in April or May as a late-season preparation for the World Championships, whereas other legs occur in November or February. It lacks a unique trophy tradition specific to the leg, awarding only the tournament winner, while the EHT overall champion receives the EHT Trophy.