BRASOV, Romania – Building from the back is the key as the Transylvanian hosts Corona Brasov lean on the experience of Jaroslav Obsut to lead them through uncharted waters in the Continental Cup.

Neighbourly relations have played an integral part in the rise of Corona Brasov. While their fierce competition against its closest rival HSC Csikszereda has spurred each other on for top spot in Romania, another more amicable next door friendship is set to pay great dividends for the reigning Romanian champions as they are ready to step out on home ice for their inaugural Continental Cup experience.

With a long and distinguished resume at his disposal, Jaroslav Obsut was carefully considering his options during last summer after completing a season with Zvolen in the Slovak Extraliga. After two decades on the road, where he had tried his luck in North America, been a fan-favourite in Sweden's Luleå to playing in the KHL with a memorable Gagarin Cup final with Atlant Mytishi, Obsut was now back in his native Slovakia. Not for long though as a conversation struck up with his next door neighbour in Zvolen soon sent him packing once again.

"Our goalie here in Brasov, Patrik Polc, is my neighbour in Zvolen where I live. We used to talk a lot during the summers, and when he asked me last summer if I would be interested to come and play here, I said we'll see. The following week Brasov's President contacted me saying they were looking for defencemen," said 38-year-old Obsut.

Polc’s arrival coincided with ascent of Corona Brasov, a club which has existed in its current state since 2010 when the city's 2,000-seat ice arena Pationarul Olimpic was inaugurated. Now in his fifth season in Brasov, Polc’s goaltending has been a vital cog in the club's success. Having won their first trophy with the 2012 Romanian Cup, last season saw Brasov come to age as vice-champion in the MOL Liga before ending the season on a high when lifting their inaugural Romanian championship ending HSC Csikszereda's winning streak of seven national championships in dramatic fashion.

The reward for the big investments made by the local municipality in promoting the sport has now started to show tangible results. As the club now aims to defend its national championship while breaking new ground, Obsut will have a big part to play in his new environment shoring up the defence in front of his neighbour in the net.

"What I can say of my experience so far from the team is that there is a good atmosphere here, with a lot of great guys on the team," he said. "The season is long and it has only just started but the MOL Liga from what I see and hear is getting better each year. The differences from other leagues I have played in are small but there are still improvements to be done in aspects of the game such as faster thinking and passing for instance."

While Obsut brings bags of experience shoring up the Brasov defence, plenty more is found with the Brasov coaching staff. Following the departure of Slovak head coach Miroslav Ihnacak after barely a handful of games, Swedish coaching duo Jerry Andersson and Hakan Nygren stepped in. Now coaching in his eighth country, assistant coach Nygren gives a glaring review of his Slovak defensive rock.

"With his resume it is nothing short of fantastic that we have managed to get him to the club," Nygren said about Obsut. "When you have an established import player, he should not only be dominant out on the ice, but also teach and be willing to give input to the younger players. Obsut is a good and solid person with a good attitude so our players should be looking up to him on how he is preparing for the games and acting out on the ice," said Nygren about Obsut, who as recently as 2011/2012 was the captain of KHL team Dynamo Minsk.

"Whether you have a ‘C’ or not on your chest does not matter," said Obsut. "I just try to be the leader on the ice or the dressing room and tell the guys from the experience that I've got. I am getting older now, but I always want to improve, no matter what. Every time I go out on the ice I go out to have fun and to get better."

With four games in seven days behind them, and where five of their ten MOL Liga fixtures so far have gone to overtime, Brasov will be well prepared for what is expected to be three close encounters in the Continental Cup versus KH Sanok of Poland, Hungary's Dunaujvarosi Acelbikak and the champions of Latvia, Prizma Riga as their newly appointed coaching duo is trying to put their mark on the team.

"We have started building from the back," said Nygren. "But if we will progress in this tournament we need to get up to full steam, work hard and play simple when needed. On top of that I expect power play and box play to be playing a deciding factor."

While progress in the Continental Cup is motivation enough for the players of Corona Brasov, Obsut, who just returned to full fitness again after missing out a few games because of a groin injury, reveals he has his own added motivation to clock up more games as he plans to steam ahead for quite some time.

"Actually I was thinking of retiring during the summer, then I counted the league matches I have played and realised that I was up to 870 or something like that. Then I said to myself that if I stay healthy I will set the goal to try and play a thousand games," said Obsut.

The Continental Cup Group C is played in Brasov, Romania, 17-19 October 2014. The participating teams are KH Sanok (POL), Corona Brasov (ROU), Dunaujvarosi Acelbikak (HUN) and Prizma Riga (LAT).

At the same time Group B is played in Bremerhaven, Germany, with the Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven (GER), the Belfast Giants (GBR), the Tilburg Trappers (NED) and CSKA Sofia (BUL).

HENRIK MANNINEN