Bruleurs de Loups captain Sacha Treille is hoping to win the IIHF Continental Cup for the second time in his career.
photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation / James Assinder
It all comes down to this. On Sunday evening in the Welsh capital, Cardiff Devils and Bruleurs de Loups Grenoble will be 60 minutes away from making history. Both clubs are looking to win the IIHF Continental Cup for the first time and the equation is simple: whoever takes the verdict, whether in regular or OT, lifts the trophy.
Although it will be the first time for either organisation, Bruleurs de Loups’ captain Sacha Treille has been here before. In 2016 he helped Rouen win the trophy – and the memories are still bright.
“I don’t know it helps me this year, it was long ago,” Treille smiled. “But I can talk about it with my team. Whenever you raise a trophy, everything is perfect.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling and that’s what I want my team to have tomorrow.”
In domestic competition, Bruleurs de Loups is in a battle at the top of the Ligue Magnus table. But there’s no question that success in Cardiff would be a big deal as the club seeks to become only the second in France to win the Continental Cup.
“It’s a trophy,” Treille said. “Maybe it’s not the biggest European trophy but it’s something that many teams want to win.
“We’re going to do everything to raise that trophy, to bring it to our organisation for the first time. That means a lot for everyone here in Grenoble.”
It would also mean a lot in Cardiff. Traditionally, Welsh sporting prowess is tied up with memories of rugby glory, scarlet-clad legends cutting a swathe through international defences on the grassy fields of the valleys.
For the club’s managing director, Todd Kelman, winning against international opposition on the ice can only help reinforce the Devils’ burgeoning status on Cardiff’s lively sporting scene – as well as boosting the reputation of Britain’s Elite League.
“Being in international tournaments like the Continental has really helped raised the profile of the league,” Kelman said. “We want to compete, we want to win it and we want to show that’s why our league’s better.
“It’s a European Championship. It’s a great honour to win something like this. To win an IIHF title, that’s a huge thing and it would be great for our organisation.”
The teams also have recent history. Last year they met in Grenoble in the semifinals, with Cardiff edging a 1-0 verdict. That night’s goalscorer, Justin Crandall, is no longer involved but many from the 2024 rosters are back – including goalies Ben Bowns and Jakub Stepanek, who shared 55 saves in the previous encounter.
Captain Treille hopes that experience can help Bruleurs de Loups in Sunday’s bid for a first ever Continental Cup crown.
“We know a bit of what kind of game to expect after playing them last year,” he said. “Our coaching staff will do some work on Cardiff and we will have a plan.”
Meanwhile, Devils head coach Pete Russell is expecting a similarly tough test this year.
“They’re a good team,” he told the Devils website. “They move fast, they like to keep the puck. So we’ve got to be good outside the puck and we’ve got to be physical on them like we were against GKS.
“We had a really great game in their rink last year and I’m looking forward to Sunday.”
Although it will be the first time for either organisation, Bruleurs de Loups’ captain Sacha Treille has been here before. In 2016 he helped Rouen win the trophy – and the memories are still bright.
“I don’t know it helps me this year, it was long ago,” Treille smiled. “But I can talk about it with my team. Whenever you raise a trophy, everything is perfect.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling and that’s what I want my team to have tomorrow.”
In domestic competition, Bruleurs de Loups is in a battle at the top of the Ligue Magnus table. But there’s no question that success in Cardiff would be a big deal as the club seeks to become only the second in France to win the Continental Cup.
“It’s a trophy,” Treille said. “Maybe it’s not the biggest European trophy but it’s something that many teams want to win.
“We’re going to do everything to raise that trophy, to bring it to our organisation for the first time. That means a lot for everyone here in Grenoble.”
It would also mean a lot in Cardiff. Traditionally, Welsh sporting prowess is tied up with memories of rugby glory, scarlet-clad legends cutting a swathe through international defences on the grassy fields of the valleys.
For the club’s managing director, Todd Kelman, winning against international opposition on the ice can only help reinforce the Devils’ burgeoning status on Cardiff’s lively sporting scene – as well as boosting the reputation of Britain’s Elite League.
“Being in international tournaments like the Continental has really helped raised the profile of the league,” Kelman said. “We want to compete, we want to win it and we want to show that’s why our league’s better.
“It’s a European Championship. It’s a great honour to win something like this. To win an IIHF title, that’s a huge thing and it would be great for our organisation.”
The teams also have recent history. Last year they met in Grenoble in the semifinals, with Cardiff edging a 1-0 verdict. That night’s goalscorer, Justin Crandall, is no longer involved but many from the 2024 rosters are back – including goalies Ben Bowns and Jakub Stepanek, who shared 55 saves in the previous encounter.
Captain Treille hopes that experience can help Bruleurs de Loups in Sunday’s bid for a first ever Continental Cup crown.
“We know a bit of what kind of game to expect after playing them last year,” he said. “Our coaching staff will do some work on Cardiff and we will have a plan.”
Meanwhile, Devils head coach Pete Russell is expecting a similarly tough test this year.
“They’re a good team,” he told the Devils website. “They move fast, they like to keep the puck. So we’ve got to be good outside the puck and we’ve got to be physical on them like we were against GKS.
“We had a really great game in their rink last year and I’m looking forward to Sunday.”