The International Ice Hockey Federation has determined the clubs, groups and dates for the 2011-2012 IIHF Continental Cup at the Annual Continental Cup Meeting in Budapest, Hungary.
The Ukrainian ice-hockey fans are to be excited by Donetsk assignement as the venue for one of the two third-round groups. The tournament will be held in Druzhba Palace in 25-27 November 2011. Ukrainian champion Donbass will face VHL-2010/11 champion Rubin Tyumen, Polish Cracovia Krakow and a pre-qualifier from round 2, group C for the only pass to the Superfinal.
Group C consists of four champions of Kazakhstan (Beibarys), Slovenia (Olimpija Ljubljana) and Romanian HSC Csikszereda from Miercurea-Ciuc.The competition will be held in Miercurea Ciuc 21-23 October 2011.
The Super Final will be held in Rouen, France, January 13-15, 2012. The Rouen Dragons hosted the event already in 2009 in their small, but atmospheric Île Lacroix Arena. The club from the Normandy region recently defended its title in the French Ligue Magnus.
Reigning Continental Cup champion Yunost Minsk from Belarus will be the other pre-qualified team for the Super Final. Common to the Ukrainian fans Yunost is a regular Continental Cup participant, having won the Belarusian championship three years in a row.
As well as Donetsk group winner, another rival for the Super Final will be determined in Danish Herning.
So here is the whole scheme and participants of IIHF Continental Cup-2011/12
First round, 30 September - 2 October 2011:
Group A in Ankara, Turkey: White Caps Turnhout (BEL), Baskent Yildizlari Ankara (TUR), Tartu Kalev-Välk (EST), Metula HC (ISR).
Second round, 21-23 October 2011:
Group B in Dunaujvaros, Hungary: HYS The Hague (NED), CH Jaca (ESP), Dunaujvarosi Jegkorong (HUN), Winner Group A.
Group C in Miercurea Ciuc, Romania: Liepajas Metalurgs (LAT), Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO), HSC Csikszereda (ROU), Beibarys Atyrau (KAZ).
Third round, 25-27 November 2011:
Group D in Herning, Denmark: HC Asiago (ITA), Sheffield Steelers (GBR), Herning Blue Fox (DEN), Winner Group B.
Group E in Donetsk, Ukraine: Rubin Tyumen (RUS), Cracovia Krakow (POL), Donbass Donetsk (UKR), Winner Group C.
Super Final, 13-15 January 2012:
Group F in Rouen, France: Rouen Dragons (FRA), Yunost Minsk (BLR), Winner Group D, Winner Group E.
