The second round of the Continental Cup kicks off this weekend with Group B being played in Miskolc as DVTK is the host team, they will have no easy task as they face three very strong teams.
Here is a breakdown of the four teams that will be competing in Miskolc with the winner moving onto the next round.
Diósgyőri VTK:
They won the MOL League, Hungarian title and Hungarian Cup last season, the team is coached by Péter Mayer. Because of injuries the team has been relying on two 18 year old goalies, in the defensive zone they have experience and scoring power, with Jesse Dudas already ready for a goal. Among the forwards there are four players averaging over a point a game with Nikandrosz Galanizs leading the team in scoring with a three way tie for second place.
HK Mogo Riga:
The Latvian team is made of up just Latvian players and have a Latvian head coach in Mihails Beskasnovs, and they won the seven team Latvian league last season. There roster has a veteran presence with players with national team experience. On the blue line they have former second round NHL draft pick Agris Saviels, former Nové Zámky player Sergejs Tjoluskins and Renars Demiters with Janis Brakss helping with some offensive production. Look for the goals to be scored by Edgars Lipsbergs and Elvis Zelubovskis, who also doubles as the team manager
HDD Jesenice:
They compete in both the Slovenian league and the Austrian second division, inthe they won the domestic league and lost in the Austrian semifinals last season. The team has used two goalies so far this season and they have split the games right down the middle this could continue this weekend as well. On the back end the team is relatively young with their oldest defender being 27 years old. The forward unit is not that much older either, they have two players that are 31 with the rest of the roster in their twenties. Most of the offensive production will be coming from Marjan Manfreda and Sosa Rajsar. The team is coached by Dejan Varl.
C.H. Jaca:
The Spanish club is probably the most intriguing team in the group as they are strictly made up of Spaniards except for a couple of import players. Jaca is also the backbone of the Spanish national team and are teh defending Spanish champions. Montreal native and former Spanish international Miguel Baldris is the head coach of the club. Ander Alcaine who is 23 will be the starting goalie since the two backups have a total of three season of professional hockey between them. None of the defensmen have played outside of Spain but the clear lead of the unit is Guillermo Betran. Up front except for the three imports no one has played outside of Spain. The import forwards, all from the Montreal area are expected to provide the goals.
All info about the Continental Cup can be found here.Continental Cup Schedule
Friday October 23:
15:30 Acroni Jesenice-CH Jaca
19:00 DVTK PolarBears-Mogo Riga
Saturday October 24:
15:30 Mogo Riga-CH Jaca
19:00 Acroni Jesenice-DVTK PolarBears
Sunday October 25:
15:30 Mogo Riga-Acroni Jesenice
19:00 CH Jaca-DVTK PolarBears