Continental Cup Semifinals Day 3 Recap

Group E

Arlan Kokshetau - Cardiff Devils 6-3

Cardiff Devils fall short in dramatic Continental Cup finale against Arlan Kokshetau

The Cardiff Devils concluded their Continental Cup Third Round campaign with a hard-fought but tumultuous 6-3 loss to Kazakhstan's HC Arlan Kokshetau in Slovakia. Despite the defeat, the Devils had already secured their place in the tournament’s Superfinal in January after winning their first two matches. However, the final game highlighted both the Devils' resilience and moments of unraveling under pressure.
Maksym Dubé, making his first start in goal for the Devils, faced an early trial but stood firm in the opening exchanges. The Devils struck first at 12:13 of the first period, with Josh MacDonald converting a setup from Joey Martin and Gleason Fournier. Their lead was short-lived, as Arlan’s Fedor Khoroshev capitalized on a 5-on-3 powerplay just over a minute later, neutralizing Cardiff's advantage.
The Devils reclaimed the lead early in the second period. Zach O’Brien intercepted a miscue from the Arlan defense to net a powerplay goal at 22:17, and Evan Mosey doubled the advantage four minutes later with a precise shot through traffic. However, Arlan proved unrelenting, pulling back with Vladimir Borovkov’s powerplay goal at 31:00 and tying the game through Vladislav Nikulin’s effort at 35:59.
While the Devils penalty killers managed to fend off multiple Arlan powerplays in the third period, the team faltered in the closing moments. With just over two minutes remaining, Stepan Sannikov capitalized on a defensive lapse to beat Dubé, giving Arlan a decisive 4-3 lead. A series of late penalties against the Devils compounded their struggles, resulting in three ejections and two late powerplay goals for Arlan, sealing a 6-3 scoreline.
Despite the disappointment, the Devils' qualification for the Superfinal marks a successful tournament phase overall. Head Coach Brodie Dupont will likely emphasize discipline and composure as the team prepares for January's high-stakes matches.
While the loss to Arlan Kokshetau underscores areas for improvement, the Devils have demonstrated they can compete at this level. As they head to the Superfinal, they'll aim to channel the lessons from this game into success on an even larger stage.

Vlci Zilina - Rittner Buam 5-0

Rittner Buam close the IIHF Continental Cup 2024/25 with three defeats

The Rittner Buam SkyAlps' journey in the third stage of the IIHF Continental Cup ended with a 5-0 loss to hosts Vlci Zilina in Slovakia. Despite valiant efforts, the Italian team faced their third consecutive defeat in a tournament that had already determined its finalists—Arlan Kokshetau and the Cardiff Devils.

The game began with a quick strike from Vlci Zilina’s Nick Jones, who scored at 5:02 with a powerful shot past goaltender Florian Plattner. Although the Rittner Buam struggled to find a rhythm, they created some offensive opportunities, with Simon Kostner forcing a key save from Michal Dubek at the 18th minute.

The second period saw Vlci Zilina intensify their attack, netting three more goals. Jones doubled the lead at 23:39 during a power play, followed by Simon Betak's clever deflection at 30:43. Martin Bellus added the fourth at 39:48 with a precise long-range shot. The Buam managed some promising power-play opportunities, but Dubek, who ultimately earned "Man of the Match," held firm.
In the final period, despite a spirited attempt by the Rittner Buam to turn the game around, Jakub Dubravik sealed the match at 49:40 with Zilina’s fifth goal. The game statistics underlined the Slovak team's dominance, with a 40-21 shot advantage and a flawless performance by Dubek, who saved all 21 attempts for a 100% save rate.

Nick Jones stood out for Vlci Zilina with a two-goal performance, while teammates Bellus and Dubravik each contributed a goal and an assist. On the defensive side, Kirill Dyakov provided two assists, solidifying Zilina’s backline.
For the Rittner Buam, goalie Florian Plattner faced 40 shots, stopping 35, resulting in an 87.5% save percentage. Despite the loss, players like Tobias Graf and Simon Kostner showcased determination, creating scoring opportunities against a strong Zilina defense.

The Rittner Buam concluded the Continental Cup with three defeats, reflecting a tough but valuable experience on the international stage. Their performance highlighted areas for improvement, particularly in special teams and defensive organization. Meanwhile, Vlci Zilina ended their campaign without earning the hoped-for qualification

Grenoble - Corona Brasov 11-1

A Tough Lesson for CSM Corona Brașov

CSM Corona Brașov faced a humbling defeat at the hands of French powerhouse Grenoble Brûleurs de Loups in their final match of the Continental Cup. The Romanian team struggled to keep up with Grenoble’s relentless offense, culminating in an 11-1 scoreline.  
The lone goal for Brașov came during a power play in the second period when Czech forward Radim Valchar capitalized on assists from Jared VanWormer and Albert Zagidullin. Despite this brief highlight, Brașov found themselves overwhelmed by Grenoble’s cohesive gameplay and superior skill, as evidenced by a decisive shot total of 37-27 in favor of the French team. 
Grenoble dominated right from the start, scoring five unanswered goals in the first period. Canadian forward François Beauchemin stood out with a hat trick, earning him the Man of the Match title. The second period saw Brașov momentarily recover with Valchar’s goal, but Grenoble quickly reasserted control with two more goals. The third period was equally challenging for Brașov as Grenoble scored four additional times, sealing their resounding victory.  

For Brașov, Valchar’s goal and Jared VanWormer’s assist provided minor consolations in an otherwise tough outing. Goalie Patrik Polc struggled against Grenoble's barrage, with a save percentage of just 75%. Backup Zoltan Toke faced similar difficulties during his brief time on the ice. 
Following the match, Brașov’s coach Dave MacQueen acknowledged the significant gap in competition level, stating, “The level of play in this round of the Continental Cup was far above what our team is accustomed to.” Despite the loss, MacQueen expressed optimism that the experience would serve as a valuable learning opportunity.  

Young forward Richárd Rokaly-Boldizsár echoed his coach’s sentiment, emphasizing the importance of gaining exposure to higher-level play. “It’s a great experience to understand what it takes to compete at this level,” he said. 
Although this defeat concludes Brașov’s Continental Cup campaign, the team aims to leverage the lessons learned and refocus on domestic competitions. Grenoble, on the other hand, continues to showcase their credentials as one of Europe’s top teams, buoyed by their dominant performance.

Aalborg Pirates - GKS Katowice 1-4

GKS Katowice triumphs over Aalborg Pirates to secure Continental Cup Superfinals spot  

With an extraordinary show of skill and perseverance, GKS Katowice defeated Denmark's Aalborg Pirates 4-1, earning their place in the Continental Cup Final Tournament. A standout performance by Polish goalie Michał Kieler, who stopped 34 of 35 shots, played a pivotal role in this monumental victory. 

GKS Katowice wasted no time asserting dominance. Just 42 seconds into the game, Pontus Englund capitalized on a defensive lapse to give Katowice an early lead. However, Aalborg’s Julian Jakobsen quickly responded with a long-range effort that managed to slip past Kieler, leveling the score at 1-1. Undeterred, GKS regrouped, and Jean Dupuy redirected Aleksi Varttinen’s shot to reclaim the lead at 2-1.  
The first period set the tone for the match, showcasing intense physical play and relentless efforts on both sides.  

The middle frame was a test of endurance. Despite numerous power play opportunities, neither team could find the back of the net. The physicality increased as players on both sides paid the price for their determination, with injuries and penalties mounting. Finnish defender Aleksi Varttinen’s resilience stood out—after sustaining a bloody injury, he returned to the ice ready to fight for his team.  
The game’s defining moments came in the third period. Grzegorz Pasiut initiated a decisive counterattack, assisting Patryk Wronka for the crucial third goal. In the 55th minute, Bartosz Fraszko sealed the victory by capitalizing on a rebound from a powerful shot by Englund, driving the GKS fans into jubilant celebration.  

Aalborg pulled their goalie in the final minutes in a desperate attempt to close the gap, but Katowice's defense held firm, ensuring their promotion with the final score of 4-1.  

This victory exemplifies GKS Katowice's unwavering spirit and teamwork. Their balanced approach—combining sharp offense with heroic defense—has secured their place in the Continental Cup Superfinalsnext January

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