Belfast Giants and GKS Katowice proceed to Final

18 Nov 2018Robert Newbolt»

The first finalists for the Continental Cup final were decided yesterday.

The Belfast Giants (EIHL) are in the final group of the IIHF Continental Cup despite suffering a 4-2 loss to Polish side GKS Katowice (Polska Hokej Liga) in their climatic third stage game.

After picking up full points in their previous two games, they weren’t able to finish with the 100% record they wanted as Katowice joined them in the final.

Earlier in the day, Medvescak Zagreb finished their campaign on a high note with a 3-1 success over Ritten Sport.

Despite ending with the same points as Belfast and Katowice, they were squeezed out, finishing their campaign on a bittersweet note.

Belfast will have to wait until the completion of the other semi final group in Lyon tomorrow before they’ll know who’ll await them in the final in January, with the venue to be set once all four teams are confirmed.

The Stena Line Belfast Giants opened their games as they defeated Croatian champions Medvescak Zagreb in an impressive display on the opening night of the International Ice-Hockey Federation Continental Cup Semi-Final group in Belfast.

Tyler Beskorowany posted a shutout, turning away 34 shots with as goals from Jim Vandermeer, Lewis Hook, Dustin Johner and Pat Dwyer helped the Giants to a win in the first of three games in as many nights at The SSE Arena.

They then defeated Ritten Sport 6-2, the Italian champions, leaving them one win away from a place in the IIHF Continental Cup Final. Blair Riley scored the game winning goal in the middle period, his second of the game, to make it two wins in as many nights for the Giants following Thursday’s win vs Medvescak Zagreb.