ELEKTRENAI/MIERCUREA CIUC – Ukrainian champion Sokil Kyiv and Hungary’s Dunaujvaros won their second-round groups at the Continental Cup and qualified for the third round. Both teams finished unbeaten with 3-0 records.
Sokil beat Netherland’s champion Tilburg Trappers, 6-3, in their first game and won 6-1 against Lithuanian host Energija Elektrenai in front of almost 2,000 fans, setting up a deciding game against Polish champion Cracovia Krakow, which also had six points in two games.
The Ukrainians were well-prepared for the final day. Yuri Dyachenko scored two goals and after 27 minutes of the game the score was 5-0 for Sokil. The Falcons outshot Cracovia 40-13 and easliy won the game, and the group, 7-4.
Sokil Kyiv will play in Group D in Liepaja, Latvia, November 21-23, against host Liepajas Metalurgs, Keramin Minsk (Belarus) and Gornyak Rudny (Kazakhstan).
Group C in Miercurea Ciuc, Romania, also had two undefeated teams after two days. Host SC Miercurea Ciuc and Hungary's Dunaujvaros both won their games against Spain's CG Puigcerdà and Serbian champion HC Novi Sad.
The final game was a familiar affair as both squads play in the Hungarian league. SC Miercurea Ciuc, who is ranked higher in the league standings, had a strong start and outshot Dunaujvaros, 41-24. But Dunaujvaros had great goaltending as Slovakian goalkeeper Branislav Hippik was the difference, making 40 saves. The Bulls ended the game with a 4-1 victory.
Dunaujvaros qualified for Group E in Bolzano, Italy, November 21-23, where they play hosts Bolzano Foxes, the Coventry Blaze (Great Britain) and HDK Maribor (Slovenia).
