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Post by Rich on Feb 22, 2005 23:51:45 GMT 1
I know this post is a bit premeture but does anyone know what the crack is with this competition. Like if Blaze win the league will we deffinatly be going to play in it next season. I think Sheffield turned down the chance to play in it this season, which was why Nottingham took their place. Two seasons ago though no British teams played in the competition but I think that was to do with all the complication of the Super League folding.
Also what is the crack with this competition. Where is it held and how many weekends is it over?
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Carpo
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Post by Carpo on Feb 23, 2005 11:33:28 GMT 1
The Continential Cup, is the IIHF's second string competition for european club sides, the equivalent of the UEFA cup in Football.
Each European national federation is awarded a certain amount of entries for the competition. GB at the moment is awarded one.
The top nations in Europe do not typically enter there clubs in this comeptition, as they enter there national champions in the Europeans Champions Cup.
The Continental Cup takes place over a series of rounds (usually 4). 1st round see's the weakest teams in Europe, i.e teams from for example. This season it was teams from. Lituhania, Croatia, Spain, Serbia/Montenegro
The groups are typically involve four teams, and the winner only progresses to the next round.
Each Group is hosted at one venue over a course of three days (Friday/Saturday/Sunday) with each side playing every day.
One thing that is contraversial about the Continental Cup format is that the groups and venues are decided prior to the start of the season, meaning that one team will recieve an automatic bye into the final round.
Teams from GB normally enter at the 2nd round stage.
This season the season round saw teams from:
Group C (Kazahstan, Belarus, Latvia, Romania - Qualifed from 1st round)
Group D (Italy, Great Britain, France, Slovenia)
Group E (Ukraine, Poland, Denmark, Lituhania)
As Panthers finished 2nd they were eliminated at this stage.
The group winners qualify for the 3rd round.
In previous seasons the 3rd round has been a larger competition, but this season it just saw four teams with
(Italy - Qual, Kazahstan - Qual, Norway and Ukraine - Qual).
HC Milano (who qualfied ahead of Panthers in the 2nd round), proceeded to the final, and joined the three sides that recieved an automatic bye to final round.
HKm Zvolen from Slovakia, won the comeptition this year winning the final round winning all there games.
All rounds (whether it's the 1st or final) take the same format i.e. Group of 4, single round robin, Winner goes through.
In the past few seasons (and this season especially due to the reforming of a true european championship), the competition has lost enteries from teams: dropping from 49 in the season when the London Knights were runners up in the Competition (2000) to 19 this season.
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Post by Claret & Blue Army on Feb 23, 2005 18:59:14 GMT 1
Would this be the next step for the Blaze into unchartered waters or do we need a few seasons at the Apex of the British game first before we're ready for the challenge?
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Carpo
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Post by Carpo on Feb 23, 2005 19:22:40 GMT 1
Nah Blaze would do alright asuming this years team is as strong as the last.
You have to understand though, that if Blaze played there usual game out there, they would be picking up 60-80PIM a game, they would definatly have to adapt and that's always the challenge.
In terms of skill Blaze would do fine, but you have to play a different kind of hockey in order to suceed in european hockey.
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Post by Claret & Blue Army on Feb 23, 2005 19:44:16 GMT 1
I was also thinking about how detrimental the competition was to the Panthers this year and whether they may have done better domestically without it
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Carpo
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Post by Carpo on Feb 23, 2005 21:21:20 GMT 1
Perhaps, but IMO Panthers would have struggled anyway, with the injuries and apparantly lack of team unity....
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Post by Claret & Blue Army on Feb 23, 2005 23:01:08 GMT 1
That's true. But who's to say we won't face the same problems next season
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Post by King Rich on Feb 23, 2005 23:38:34 GMT 1
Well we don't want to win every year, and I would rather sacrifice the league to go to Europe! Winning the league one year is like earning a trip to Europe the next!
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Post by Rich on Feb 24, 2005 0:13:32 GMT 1
I'd be very dissapointed if Blaze were offered the chance to play in Europe and we turned it down. It would be well harsh on the fans to deprive us of our European tour.
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Carpo
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Post by Carpo on Feb 24, 2005 9:32:39 GMT 1
At the end of the day, it bottles down to finances doesn't it?
If the Blaze can afford it as part of their business plan then they should do it, otherwise not.
We all want a stable hockey team here in Coventry as the first consideration so IF we qualify i'm sure the right decision will be made by the directors/
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Post by Claret & Blue Army on Feb 24, 2005 14:17:48 GMT 1
Agree with Carpo, the steady build up from the crash in the late 90s has culminated in what we have today. Why throw that away by being reckless. Personally think they should let the squealers into the Continental cup as their days of domestic glory are finito  |
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Post by Big Dave Steeler on Feb 24, 2005 15:47:56 GMT 1
It would be well harsh on the fans to deprive us of our European tour. Ya now know how we felt at the beginning of the year!!! Personally think they should let the squealers into the Continental cup as their days of domestic glory are finito You recon  Edited for double-post. |
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Post by Claret & Blue Army on Feb 27, 2005 1:31:43 GMT 1
Yep think so. Thursday was the first segment of a multi year domination ;D |
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Post by Big Dave Steeler on Mar 2, 2005 19:46:44 GMT 1
Yep think so. Thursday was the first segment of a multi year domination ;D Well good luck - tis all I will say. Should make for come classic sheff/cov games to come - Im all up for that!!! PS: Cheers KR |
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Post by Claret & Blue Army on Mar 3, 2005 18:47:02 GMT 1
Yep think so. Thursday was the first segment of a multi year domination ;D 2nd segment coming up |
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