Tag Archives: #2024ContinentalCup

Giants learn CHL opponents

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Belfast Giants have learned their opponents for next season’s Champions Hockey League following the draw in Tampere on Wednesday afternoon.

Under the new format, the Giants will play three teams at home, and a different three on the road. They’ll face Red Bull Salzburg (ICEHL/Austria), HC Bolzano (ICEHL/Italy) and Dynamo Pardubice (Czechia) at the SSE Arena; while visiting Lukko Rauma (Finland), Innsbruck (ICEHL/Austria) and defending champions Tappara Tampere (Finland) as part of the group stage campaign.

Among an overall ranking of all 24 teams through the opening phase, the top 16 will advance to the next round.

Photo: William Cherry

Lalonde returns to Flames blue line

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Canadian Defenceman Bradley Lalonde will be back for Guildford Flames when the new season commences in September for his second season in Surrey.

The 25-year-old finished his first Elite League season with 44 points, comprised of 13 goals and 31 assists and led his team in overtime-winning goals.

“Obviously, Bradley had a really offensive impact as a Defenceman and he was a big part of our success,” explained Head Coach Paul Dixon. “He is also a big body, skates well and can retrieve and move pucks so there are a lot of ways he was able to contribute to our success on a night to night basis.

“With what he achieved, and still just 25 years old, he had a lot of options for what he could have done, and we are super excited that he wanted to be part of what we are trying to do here. We can’t wait to see him back here when the new season kicks off.”

Photo: John Uwins

Flames retain captain Ferguson on two-year deal

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Guildford Flames have confirmed the return of captain Brett Ferguson will return to the club on a two-year contract that will mark his fifth and sixth seasons in Surrey. Last time out, the 33-year-old finished second in his team’s scoring with 23 goals and 76 points, plus being voted onto the the league’s second all star team.

In 307 career Flames starts, the  Canadian forward has 88 goals and 292 points and has been on hand since the club entered the Elite League during at the start of the 2017/2018 season.

“Brett has been the heart and soul of the club since his arrival and we can’t think of a better person to kick off our roster building news,” explained Head Coach Paul Dixon.

“Brett is obviously good in a lot of statistical categories as a guy who is always among our points leaders, but he brings a work ethic and a desire that just helps set the tone for the rest of the guys in the dressing room.

“He will do what he thinks is necessary to help win hockey games and he will do it with a healthy stack of emotional energy. Guys can’t help but try to follow his lead and it makes us a better team. We are thrilled that he is back and that we have been able to lock him down for the next two seasons.”

Photo: John Uwins

Devils to take part in IIHF Continental Cup

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Cardiff Devils will represent the Elite Ice Hockey League in the 2024 IIHF Continental Cup.

The Devils will enter the tournament in the third round, which takes place in November 2023. The final takes place in January 2024.

Managing Director Todd Kelman spoke about the tournament: “We loved taking part in the Continental Cup last season and we are looking forward to being in it again. We finished third in 2023, we think we can do even better in 2024.

“We know our fans that travelled last season to Angers had an incredible experience as did the players and staff. We want that experience again.”

Photo: Ducs D’Angers

Guildford opt out of Continental Cup place

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Guildford Flames have opted not to enter the 2024 IIHF Continental Cup, a position open to them after finishing second in the Elite League last season.

“We know this is perhaps one of the most difficult news items we have ever had to p

ass on to our supporters,” admitted Chief Operating Officer Kirk Humphreys. “As a group, we looked at it from every aspect including the honour and prestige that goes with the competition, but there were too many real issues that make this the best decision for this club, at least at this time for where we stand within the Elite League.

“Among several issues, crucially, we are unable to host any portion of the Continental Cup like other Elite teams have done because it would need virtual monopoly of Spectrum for a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday stretch which is not available to us. That means we cannot play any home games and would likely play 6 games over a pair of 3 game in 3 night stretches, all with long distance Euro travel. This is not a competition that starts before the season, but for our anticipated entry time would be in November and January as part of the already congested 70ish game schedule. The competition would also force us to miss a couple of extra weekends of home league action and shift too many games, home and away, to what is already usually a busy mid week obligation.

“This club aspires to winning Elite League, Cup and Playoff titles, none of which we have collected yet. We are hoping we might be in a window now where that might be possible. If we already had a load of silver in bank from previous recent seasons the decision factors are possibly a bit different, but for the moment we have to keep an eye trained on domestic success. Joining a 4th competition on long road trips with no home games and the resulting fixture mash up inevitably impacts the rest of our schedule and makes it harder for us to achieve domestic objectives.”

“We are fully aware of how disappointing this is for many of our supporters. It is also disappointing to us as a club, but we believe it is in the best interests of where we want to be in Elite League. There are no guarantees about when we are next challenging for a particular trophy, and this won’t change that reality, but it does allow is to put all our resources where they need to be at this time and hopefully we can put together an exciting new season ahead.”

Photo: John Uwins