Notttingham, Motorpoint Arena — The Nottingham Panthers are IIHF Continental Cup champions again.
Danny Stewart’s side survived a late Torpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk fightback in the gold medal game, regaining the title they last held in 2017 with a 4-2 win on home ice.
Matt Spencer set Nottingham on their way in the 17th minute, scoring on the rebound to convert a delayed penalty into the final’s opening goal.
The Panthers’ delight doubled in the second period when Nolan Volcan found Bryan Lemos unchecked in the right face-off circle.
Volcan’s dish skipped across the crease and Lemos fired his one-timer over the glove of Vladimir Pestov.
Cooper Zech scored a second period penalty shot to hand Nottingham a 3-0 lead, which lasted until the final two minutes of play.
Stanislav Borovikov scored against the run of play to get Torpedo on the board, before Mikhail Rakhmanov brought the champions of Kazakhstan back within punching distance in minute-58.
Zsombor Garat released the tension moments later, scoring into an empty net from the defensive zone to ice Nottingham’s 4-2 win.
Takeaway 1: Nottingham Panthers’ physicality the difference in win over Torpedo
It all started in the ninth second when Torpedo centreman Nikita Kolobov lost the opening face-off and was left sprawled on the ice.
The Panthers came into the final with a clear size advantage and immediately made it count.
As the first period wore on, Nottingham’s chippy-ness frustrated the visitors, who created little offensively and were often cramped in their own zone.
In the 17th minute, Ilya Bykov lost his cool, threw a pair of cross-checks in a failed attempt to defend the rush, and forced the officials into raising their arms.
Kevin Carr sprinted to the bench and the Panthers made Torpedo pay after a prolonged possession cycle, with Spencer firing into an almost empty cage.
Nottingham’s mastery of the dark arts, knowing when and how to engage physically, gained even greater significance in the middle period.
Didrik Henbrant, Nottingham Panthers (Image: Panthers Images)
Torpedo’s ill-discipline took over the game, with Andrei Runov, Alexandr Panchenko, Ilya Ryzhiy, and Artur Glukhikah sent to the penalty box in short order.
Forced to kill a prolonged five-on-three, the Oskemen-based could never build momentum and saw their Continental Cup hopes dashed as a result.
Takeaway 2: Torpedo’s Vladislav Pestov produces standout performance in losing effort
Vladislav Pestov’s performance was one of the few bright spots for the Kazakh side.
Despite ultimately being on the losing end, Pestov stood tall in net, making a string of eye-catching saves that kept Torpedo competitive through the opening 40 minutes.
Vladislav Pestov, Torpedo (Image: Panthers Images)
His positioning and sharp movement frustrated the Panthers’ shooters and prevented what could have been an even wider margin early on.
Pestov’s form in Nottingham has been notable all tournament.
In Torpedo’s tournament opener, he was outstanding against Herning Blue Fox, stopping 41 of 43 shots to backstop steal the win for his side, denying numerous high-quality chances and setting the tone for his team’s confidence between the pipes.
His ability to remain sharp under heavy offensive pressure has been central to Torpedo’s resilience, even when the goals haven’t come at the other end.
Takeaway 3: 2026 IIHF Continental Cup showcased the best of hockey fandom
Fans of Herning Blue Fox and GKS Katowice set the tone earlier in the tournament, bringing colour, noise, and relentless energy that underlined what makes European hockey special.
Their travelling support turned daytime, midweek games into spectacles and ensured that every shift was played against a backdrop of passion from the stands.
“Phenomenal,” Stewart said of the atmosphere created at the Motorpoint Arena.
“It might be one of the best, if not the best, I’ve been a part of. We knew that the away crowds were going to make some noise and it was awesome. A lot of fun for the players and us.”
That atmosphere only intensified as the tournament reached its climax.
The Motorpoint Arena was electric for the final, with the home Panthers supporters reaching a new level altogether.
From puck drop to the final horn, the noise was unrelenting, driving the team forward and creating a cauldron that was impossible to ignore.
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