Ice Hockey: Belfast final good news for league

Dave Whistle, the Belfast Giants coach, believes they have shown how good the Superleague is after reaching the Continental Cup final. The Ulster side enjoyed a 100 per-cent record over the three-day tournament at their own Odyssey Arena and booked a date with Lugano in January.

Britain's élite league has been thrown into turmoil this season after Manchester Storm and Scottish Eagles went bust. There are now five teams left in the league, with initial talks about a link-up with the second-tier British National League already underway.

Whistle, who believes his side's achievement has given Superleague a massive lift, said: "I think it is great for the Superleague that a team is representing the group in the top teams of Europe. That says a lot for our league and the type of quality everyone here gets to watch and we get to play and be involved in."