IIHF Continental Cup

The Continental Cup is a second-level ice hockey tournament for European clubs (behind Champions Hockey League), begun in 1997 after the discontinuing of the European Cup. It was intended for teams from countries without representatives in the European Hockey League, with participating teams chosen by the countries' respective ice hockey associations. Hans Dobida served as chairman of the Continental Cup until 2018.[1]

IIHF Continental Cup
Most recent season or competition:
2023–24 IIHF Continental Cup
FormerlyIIHF European Cup
SportIce hockey
Founded1997
FounderIIHF
Most recent
champion(s)
Kazakhstan Nomad Astana
(1st title)
Most titlesBelarus Yunost Minsk (3)
QualificationChampions Hockey League
Official websiteiihf.com

Format

edit

IIHF Federation Cup

edit

The Federation Cup was an official European ice hockey club competition created in 1995. It was the second European competition for club teams, intended for those teams who could not qualify for the European Cup, especially for those from Eastern European countries. It was the direct predecessor of the IIHF Continental Cup, which was played two seasons later.

In the first year of competition, 13 Eastern European teams from twelve countries participated in the tournament. In a KO-system with three qualifying groups, which qualifies the four participants in the finals. The following year was played in the same mode. Due to the increased number of participants (some Western European clubs had registered for the competition), an additional qualifying round was introduced.

IIIHF Continental Cup

edit

The competition began in 1997–98 with 42 clubs from 26 countries, which expanded to 48 teams for the next two years. The tournament was played in seeded rounds of qualifying groups. There were three rounds of qualifying groups, with winners of qualifying groups progressing to the next round. The three winners of the third round groups entered the semifinals, along with the host club. The first round was held in September, the second in October, the third in November and the finals in December.

In the 2000–01 season, with the European Hockey League on hiatus, the Continental Cup became the de facto European club championship. The format remained the same, with 36 teams from 27 countries.

With the beginning of the IIHF European Champions Cup from 2004 to 2005, participants included national champions of countries not in the Super Six (the top six European nations according to the IIHF World Ranking), as well as teams from Super Six leagues, which included HC Dynamo Moscow and HKm Zvolen.

Winners

edit

Federation Cup winners

edit
#SeasonWinnerScoreRunner-upThirdHost
11994–95 Salavat Yulaev Ufa4–1 HC Pardubice  SloveniaLjubljana,  Slovenia
21995–96 AS Mastini Varese4–3 Metallurg Magnitogorsk  RussiaTrenčín,  Slovakia

Continental Cup winners

edit
#SeasonWinnerRunner-upThirdHost
11997–98 TJ VSŽ Košice Eisbären Berlin Ilves Tampere
21998–99 HC Ambrì-Piotta HC Košice Avangard Omsk Košice
31999–2000 HC Ambrì-Piotta Eisbären Berlin Ak Bars Kazan Berlin
42000–01 ZSC Lions London Knights Slovan Bratislava Zürich
52001–02 ZSC Lions Milano Vipers HKm Zvolen Zürich
62002–03 Jokerit Lokomotiv Yaroslavl HC Lugano Lugano & Milan
72003–04 Slovan Bratislava HK Gomel HC Lugano Gomel
82004–05 HKm Zvolen Dynamo Moscow Alba Volán Székesfehérvár Székesfehérvár
92005–06 Lada Togliatti HK Riga 2000 ZSC Lions Székesfehérvár
102006–07 Yunost Minsk Avangard Omsk Ilves Székesfehérvár
112007–08 Ak Bars Kazan HK Riga 2000 Kazzinc-Torpedo Riga
122008–09 MHC Martin Dragons de Rouen HC Bolzano Rouen
132009–10 Red Bull Salzburg Yunost Minsk Sheffield Steelers Grenoble
142010–11 Yunost Minsk Red Bull Salzburg SønderjyskE Ishockey Minsk
152011–12 Dragons de Rouen[2] Yunost Minsk HC Donbass Rouen
162012–13 HC Donbass Metallurg Zhlobin Dragons de Rouen Donetsk
172013–14 Stavanger Oilers HC Donbass HC Asiago Rouen
182014–15 Neman Grodno Fischtown Pinguins Ducs d'Angers Bremerhaven
192015–16 Dragons de Rouen Herning Blue Fox GKS Tychy Rouen
202016–17 Nottingham Panthers Beibarys Atyrau Odense Bulldogs Ritten
212017–18 Yunost Minsk Nomad Astana Sheffield Steelers Minsk
222018–19 Arlan Kokshetau Belfast Giants GKS Katowice Belfast
232019–20 SønderjyskE Ishockey Nottingham Panthers Neman Grodno Vojens
-2020–21Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[3]
242021–22 Cracovia Saryarka Karagandy Aalborg Pirates Aalborg
252022–23 HK Nitra Ducs d'Angers Cardiff Devils Angers
262023–24 Nomad Astana Herning Blue Fox Cardiff Devils Cardiff

Medals (1997–2024)

edit
RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1  Slovakia5128
2  Belarus4419
3  Switzerland4037
4  Russia2327
5  Kazakhstan2316
6  France2226
7  Great Britain1348
8  Denmark1236
9  Ukraine1113
10  Austria1102
11  Finland1023
 Poland1023
13  Norway1001
14  Germany0303
15  Latvia0202
16  Italy0123
17  Hungary0011
Totals (17 entries)26262678

Note: Great Britain's medal total includes three teams from England, one from Northern Ireland, and one from Wales.

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Merk, Martin (19 May 2018). "Congress approves Statutes changes" (Press release). Copenhagen, Denmark: International Ice Hockey Federation. Archived from the original on 10 July 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  2. ^ Merk, Martin (15 January 2012). "Le Miracle de Rouen" (Press release). Rouen, France: International Ice Hockey Federation. Archived from the original on 26 February 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  3. ^ "IIHF cancels Continental Cup". IIHF. 25 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
edit