Panthers progress to Continental Cup final

Nottingham Panthers have secured their place in the Continental Cup final in January 2017.

Corey Neilson’s team clinched top spot in Group D courtesy of a 5-4 win against Denmark’s Odense Bulldogs and a 4-3 victory over French side Ducs d’Angers.

Ukrainian champions HC Donbass defeated the Panthers 3-1 in their last game, but six points was enough to win the group.

Congrats for making the ? Continental Cup final! 13-15 Jan.@RittnerBuam ??
Nottingham @PanthersIHC ??@HCBeibarys ??@OdenseBulldogs ??

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) November 21, 2016

The Panthers and Odense will now face Italy’s Ritten Sport and Beibarys Atyrau from Kazakhstan in the four-team final.

The venue is yet to be decided and Neilson admitted it would help his team if it was staged at the National Ice Centre.

“It would be great – everyone calls it a day off but it’s a travel day, it’s gruelling,” said Neilson.

“It would be really nice to just stay home and play in front of our fans – they give us a lift so it would be good.”

(Image permission: Karl Denham)