2024/25 IIHF Continental Cup Preview – Part Two

The other opponents that the Devils will face are Alps League Italian club Rittner Baum/Ritten or Renon and Kazakh side, HC Arlan.

The teams join Cardiff in Žilina, Slovakia and present a mouthwatering slate of hockey for the visiting army of Welsh fans and the like.

Rittner Baum

The Italians won their group to qualify for this stage of the tournament, winning all three games against HDD Jesenice (AlpsHL, Slovenia), KHL Sisak (AlspsHL, Croatia) and Ukrainian outfit Sokil Kyiv.

Located near Bolzano, Italy, Ritten plays in the same league as last years co-hosts Cortina, when Cardiff went to Grenoble at the same stage. So playing teams they (Ritten) were familiar with and beating them was good fortune as they sit 5th in the Alps league.

They are closer to Innsbruck, Austria than the nearest major Italian city of Milan or even Venice. Some of the Devils players will be familiar with their playing style, as opponents such as Asiago were easily put away, one of the Rittner Buams’ main rivals.

They are coached by Canadian Jamie Russell, who spent most of his coaching career in the US with NCAA programmes and the ECHL, before venturing to Slovakian team HKM Zvolen, where he coached EIHL’er Jake Kupsky of the Flames and even River Rymsha’s brother, Drake.

Ritten had a hugely successful season last year, winning their league and cup. Their name translates to ‘Ritten Boys’ (Rittner Buam). They are no strangers to success, winning multiple domestic championships. For keen Devils folklorists, their story is very similar to ours.

This team seems determined to continue building on their recent success, qualifying for this stage in the campaign and flying out of the block for their domestic cup campaigns too, winning the Italian Super Cup for the 6th time in their history.

Ones to Watch

Eric Hjorth, Defense

23 year old Swedish defenceman Eric Hjorth is one to watch, particularly for fans of NHL franchise, Columbus Blue Jackets, as he is a 2019 4th round pick.

At 6’5, he is an imposing blue liner that will immediately draw your eye and would pose a physical barricade for the smaller, skilled forwards. However, coming up against players like Barrow and Busch, it should be a tasty contest.

So far he has 15 points from 12GP in the league and in Conti Cup action, 4 from 3GP. Mostly assists, so leaving him isolated with the puck on the blue line is not a good idea.

Ethan Szypula, Forward

Their top player is Canadian forward, Ethan Szypula. The 27 year old London, Ontario native has found his stride with this team and the league, with a great season putting up 54 points in 30GP in regular fixtures, then in the post season, going 13 points from 12GP.

He is so far at 1.93PPG pace with the club, making him a definite goal threat against any team and 2.00 PPG in the Conti Cup so far this campaign.

He is the leagues top scorer currently.

HC Arlan Kokshetau

Playing in the top flight of the professional Kazakh league system, Arlan Kokshetau will be an opponent that will draw some suspicion and tension from the travelling Devils fans.

Not only did their side lose to a team from this

league in Grenoble, but that team crushed the Finals in Cardiff, dashing the hopes for glory from the hosts and their fans.

They were last years pro league champions, putting up 40 wins in their campaign from 50GP. Last years Conti Cup winners, Astana Nomads came third.

A daunting prospect, but if EIHL champions Steelers can compete against Europes best and fit in, then so can the Devils against anyone in this tournament.

They briefly folded in 2020 for financial reasons, but regained their status later (via eurohockey.com). They had previously won the Continental Cup, beating fellow EIHL rivals, Belfast Giants, becoming the first team from Kazakhstan to do so but found their debt insolvent.

Ones To Watch

Danil Paramonov, Forward, Russia

If their current roster on Elite Prospects is up to date and they don’t send players down from the KHL, as happened last year with the Nomads, then their best player currently is Danil Paramonov. The Russian is 21 years old and a left shot right winger.

He currently has 18 points from 16GP and in the Kazakh Cup, 7 from 6GP. For every point gained, he has rewarded opponents with a PIM, so his inexperience can often stagnate his game, but it is clear he can drive the team offensively, even for such a young player.

Vladislav Nikulin, Forward, Dual Kazakh

If he isn’t eligible, then focus should go to Kazakh player, 30 year old dual national, Vladislav Nikulin. The right shot forward is 6 foot and has over 20 points in all competitions so far, which makes him a dangerous but exciting player to watch.

He has played recently in Belarus as well as the KHL for 2 seasons and has won multiple Kazakh championships domestically, including playing for both Barys and Astana previously.

Kazakh Goalies

Much like last years opponents, this team boast a tandem of really high quality goalies, both from Kazakhstan and if Nikita Boyarkin was anything to go by, these goalies will be formidable again.

From Timur Meider to Sergei Kudryavstev, they combine to 1.67 GAA and 93.88 SV%. That is formidable.

Schedule

Game Day 1 (Friday)

CDF vs RITT (1pm)

ARL vs VCZ (5pm)

Game Day 2 (Saturday)

RITT vs ARL (12pm)

CDF vs VCZ (4pm)

Game Day 3 (Sunday)

ARL vs CDF (1pm)

VCZ vs RITT 5pm)