Panthers roar!!

It’s Panthers!!! Nottingham wins the 20^th edition of Continental Cup, proving really to be the best team, having played three round of the competition. From Jaca, Spain, in October, when Panthers began their journey for the trophy, to Renon, Italy, where the dream becomes true, the Corey Neilson boys pass through the difficult of a short roster, plagued by injuries and struck by bad luck when in December lost a key piece as Slovak defender Kristian Kudroc, who left the roster due the illness of the father. It’s also the first international award for British hockey, certainly a good incentive for all the hockey movement

For the last decisive clash Nottingham Panthers, just needs one point against Ritten to claim the Cup, suffered another defection in the roster due the injury of Stephen Schultz, one of the best player so far, but has the pleasant surprise of coming back of Alex Nikiforuk, who left the team at the eve of competition to become a father: :"Mum and baby are doing okay and I 'm a hockey player, I'll see them again on Monday night but now it's back to the day job. We've got a trophy to win" Nikiforuk said this morning arriving at the team’s hotel. Renon, after the disappointing defeat against Odense, has only a goal: to win in the regulation time

Nottingham start the game very aggressive, trying to surprise Renon, suddenly open the score in the first power play, when Matt Carter finished a pass from Lindhagen in front of Killeen cage. At minute 9 Robert Farmer almost doubles shooting on the goalie from a favourable position, forgotten by Renon defense. Renon suffers the speed of Panthers’ forwards: at 14 Killeen deflects a Lindhagen shot after a speedy counter-attack. British goalie Wiikman has to work on Janis Sprukts and Thomas Spinell in the last five minutes of the period. In the power play for Nottingham that ends the period, Moran and Lawrence have chances but Killeen neutralizes the first and the second misses the net. As in the game against Odense, Renon concedes a lot of penalties with Killeen jumping between the post to denied the second goal to Nikiforuk and Moran. But it’s question of 24 seconds in the central period to secure the result for Panthers: Chris Lawrence netted on Jason Williams assist with no chances for Killeen. Renon reacts with a dangerous try by Oscar Ahlstrom, blocked by Wiikstrom and a shot by Ivan Tauferer deflected. At 28 Killeenn is simply incredible flying to deflect a shot from Lindhagen with the cage opened. At 29.38 Renon scores with Markus Spinell rebounding in the net a deflection on a shot by Alex Frei, with the chance to tie game some seconds after when Wiikman blocked a nice move of Dan Tudin. The great chance is at minute 30 when Renon has almost two minutes of double superiority, not converted in the goal awaited by the fans. It comes, instead, the third goals of the Britons, scored by Robert Farmer on power play after another penalty allowed by Renon.

In the last period, before the celebration, Panthers poke Killeen with Spang at 51 and 52 before the final empty net goal by Farmer and the celebration of the team with the fans for an historic night for British hockey and the Panthers finally champions also outside the country. Renon fights bravely but probably left the right spirit to challenge Nottingham after the defeat with Odense.

The Odense Bulldogs, bronze medallist

It was a great Superfinals weekend, with all games hard fight, but the Federation has to reconsider the decision to assign the final act of an European trophy in a small town and difficult to reach, despite the great organization by Renon.

Captain Brad Moran with the trophy

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