Panthers aim for historic home Continental Cup win

Nottingham Panthers head coach Danny Stewart says he wants to lead the club to an unprecedented four trophies this season - starting with a historic Continental Cup victory at home.

The East Midlands side will battle with five European teams at the Motorpoint Arena from 14-17 January to be crowned 2026 IIHF Continental Cup champions.

They won the right to play in the European competition following their 2025 Play-Off Championship win, and currently sit top of the Elite League table, three points clear of last season's winners, Belfast Giants, midway through the campaign.

They also are also in the last four of the Challenge Cup, where they will face Sheffield Steelers in February.

The Panthers became the first UK team to win the Continental Cup in 2016-2017 and this year's competition gives them an opportunity to make history as no British side has ever won the competition on multiple occasions.

Stewart, a former forward and Coventry Blaze head coach, took over the managerial role in 2024-2025, leading the side to play-off victory.

He said he is well aware of the opportunity his side have this weekend in front of their home crowd.

He told BBC East Midlands Today that the team were "revved up and ready to go", and that high level competitions are "what we play the game for".

"We want to win. It's a special opportunity for these guys and everyone else involved," Stewart continued.

"It's great that the club is hosting it as well. We put forth our goals at the start of the year and that was to compete and win every trophy, and that is the first one we are able to play for. We are still in the mix for every other one."

The prospect of winning all four trophies in one season - a feat never achieved in British ice hockey - equally excites Omar Pacha, Nottingham Panthers' chief executive.

He highlighted the importance of a Continental Cup win at their home arena.

In an interview for the Panthers website, external before the season started, he said the club had "a great tradition and record in Europe" that they want to live up to.

Speaking ahead of this week's tournament, Pacha told BBC East Midlands Today of its importance to the fans who "really embrace the club," and "have been there through thick and thin".

The success of the side also means more following the death of Adam Johnson in October 2023 when the Panthers player died after suffering a serious cut to his neck from a skate, in a fixture against Sheffield Steelers.

Pacha said they always "have it in the back of our minds".

The Panthers begin their 2026 IIHF Continental Cup campaign on Wednesday at 19:00 GMT against Latvian side HK Mogo, before playing Polish team GKS Katowice on Friday, also at 19:00.