Cardiff Devils chase International Ice Hockey Federation Continental Cup glory
- Published
Cardiff Devils claimed wins over Zemgale Jelgava and Bruleurs de Loups to progress in the International Ice Hockey Federation Continental Cup
Cardiff Devils aim to win a first European title when they host the final round of the International Ice Hockey Federation Continental Cup at the weekend.
The Continental Cup is European hockey's second-level club tournament.
The Devils progressed from round three in November.
They face Nomad Astana, GKS Katowice and Herning Blue Fox, with head coach Pete Russell urging fans to stick with his team.
Cardiff's progress to this stage was far from easy, after they lost their opening game in Grenoble, France, to reigning Kazakhstan champions Nomad Astana 4-3.
The Devils rekindled their hopes in the Continental Cup - the second-tier tournament after the Champions Hockey League - with a 5-2 win over Zemgale Jelgava, the winners of the Latvian Hockey Higher League.
They secured second place in their group by defeating French hosts Bruleurs de Loups 1-0.
"They [Bruleurs de Loups] had a chance of still going through as well and I thought we played fantastically in that game," said Cardiff Devils head coach Pete Russell.
"We showed a lot of character and togetherness. We got through and the fans were amazing over there. I think there were over 300 [Devils supporters] there - they dragged the team over the line."
It will be another difficult challenge for the Devils in Cardiff, where they again play three games in three days.
On Friday, they face a rematch with Nomad Astana, after they won the group in the last round.
They then meet Polish side GKS Katowice, who are eight-time champions of the Polska Hokej Liga, on Saturday, before completing their final-round games on Sunday against Herning Blue Fox, who are 16-time winners of the Danish Championship, the Superisligaen.
'We're asking the fans to stick with us'
Since round three of the Continental Cup, the Devils have had a relentless schedule, playing 20 games in six weeks.
Injuries, suspensions and the heavy workload resulted in 11 wins and nine losses, which included a quarter-final exit in the Challenge Cup.
That is hardly the form needed to mount a serious challenge for the Elite League.
As a result, the Devils squad and coaching staff have been subjected to boos and jeers from their own fans at the end of recent home defeats at the Vindico Arena.
The negativity has disappointed Russell.
Pete Russell was named Cardiff Devils head coach in May 2023
"The fans are allowed to say what they want - fire the coach, the team isn't good enough - that's sport," he said.
"I can understand the fans' frustration, but they've got to look at the bigger picture.
"I said when I came here that we're trying to build a team and it was a rebuild season, and we started really well.
"We were missing players so we had to change the lines. A lot of it now is down to fatigue - the schedule has been insane. The guys need a little bit of help right now.
"I don't want the fans to be that angry with us. We're asking for them to stick with us.
"Honestly, I think that we need the fans more than ever now to help us push things forward."
Despite the disappointing recent results, the Devils sit in second place in the Elite Ice Hockey League, 12 points behind leaders Sheffield Steelers.
"We want to be with Sheffield, but right now they are the best team in the league. They haven't had a slump, they're steamrolling teams," Russell added.
"But we're going to keep pushing - nobody's quitting on it."
A Devils success this weekend would be one of the greatest achievements in the club's history.
Lifting the Continental Cup for the first time would make them only the second British team, after Nottingham Panthers, to win a major European tournament.
"I would like the fans to come and back us to the hilt and create that passionate Welsh atmosphere," added Russell.
"I think of the rugby nights and the Welsh team playing and the whole place singing the national anthem - it's an amazing atmosphere.
"We know we're in Wales and the history of mining and people working hard with tin hats on and we want to create that here.
"I would love the fans to come here, sell this place out and create an atmosphere that the players feel the hairs on the back of their neck standing up and push them over the line."
IIHF Continental Cup 2024 final round matches at Vindico Arena, Cardiff:
Friday, 12 January
GKS Katowice v Herning Blue Fox (16:00 GMT)
Nomad Astana v Cardiff Devils (20:00 GMT)
Saturday, 13 January
Herning Blue Fox v Nomad Astana (15:00 GMT)
GKS Katowice v Cardiff Devils (19:00 GMT)
Sunday, 14 January
Nomad Astana v GKS Katowice (15:00 GMT)
Cardiff Devils v Herning Blue Fox (19:00 GMT)