KHL Sisak from Croatia and Energija Elektrėnai from Lithuania have advanced to Round 2 of the 2024-25 IIHF Continental Cup after winning their respective groups in Round 1 with perfect records. Sisak had an easier time of its Group A opponents in Bulgaria, outscoring them 28-3, while Energija had some slightly closer battles in Group B but still came out victorious.

Group A (Sofia, Bulgaria):

Crvena Zvezda Belgrade (SRB) 1 – KHL Sisak (CRO) 7

After breezing through its first two games, Sisak got a stiffer test from the Red Star team from Serbia, leading only 1-0 halfway through the game. However, a natural hat trick from Vlastimil Dostalek late in the second and early in the third provided some breathing room. Vito Izdan scored twice and Carson Brière, son of Philadelphia Flyers GM Daniel Brière, had two assists to finish with a group-leading nine points.

Liège Bulldogs (BEL) – SC Irbis-Skate Sofia (BGR)

Final standings: 1. KHL Sisak (CRO) 9 points, +25, 2. Liège Bulldogs (BEL) 3 points -4. 3. Crvena Zvezda Belgrade (SRB) 3 points, -2, 4. SC Irbis-Skate Sofia (BGR) 0 points, -19.

Group B (Narva, Estonia):

Skautafélag Reykjavíkur (ISL) – 6 CH Jaca (ESP) 1 [OT]

For the first time in this year’s competition, a game was decided beyond regulation. Hakan Magnusson tied it for Skautafélag with three seconds remaining and then Jonathan Otuoma scored in overtime to give the Icelandic team its first two points. Kari Arnarsson and Solvi Atlason had three points each for the victors while Jaime Capillas and Adrian Torralba Gutierrez did likewise for Jaca.

Energija Elektrėnai (LTU) 6 – Narva PSK (EST) 3

Group host Narva could have advanced with a regulation victory and led 1-0 after one period, but Energija took over in the second period with three straight goals. A goal by Aleksandr Titov with 3:24 left brought Narva back to within one at 4-3, but two late goals by Aivarus Bendzius completed his hat trick and sealed the game and the group for the Lithuanian champs.

Standings after two games each: 1. Energija Elektrėnai (LTU) 9 points, +13, 2. CH Jaca (ESP) 4 points, -2, 3. Narva PSK (EST) 3 points, -3, 4. Skautafélag Reykjavíkur (ISL) 2 points, -8.

While it's still to be confirmed by the IIHF, this is how it appears the rest of the 2024-25 Continental Cup program will proceed:

Round 2: October 18 – 20, 2024

Group C: Rittner Buam (Italy – host candidate), Acroni Jesenice (Slovenia), Sokil Kyiv (Ukraine), KHL Sisak (Croatia).

Group D: HK Mogo (Latvia), Ferencvárosi TC (Hungary), CSM Corona Brașov (Romania – host candidate), Energija Elektrėnai (Lithuania).

Round 3: November 15 – 17, 2024

Group E: HC Arlan (Kazakhstan), Cardiff Devils (Great Britain), Vlci Žilina (Slovakia – host candidate), Group C winner.

Group F: Aalborg Pirates (Denmark – host candidate), GKS Katowice (Poland), Bruleurs de Loups de Grenoble (France), Group D winner.

Final round: January 16 – 19, 2025

Top two teams each from Group E and Group F. 

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