The International Ice Hockey Federation announced it has approved the groups, venues and dates for the 2020/21 Continental Cup.
In addition, and subject to approval at the 2020 IIHF Extra-Ordinary Congress, the format will be restructured to take account of most hockey seasons in Europe starting later than normal due to the coronavirus pandemic.
After an initial qualifying round, there will now be four groups in Group Stage from which only the group winners will advance to the final. The final round is scheduled to be played in January, although this time none of the teams will have met each other in the previous stage.
It's not only the Continental Cup title on the line – subject to formal approval by the CHL Board, the winning team will also be invited to play in the 2021/22 Champions Hockey League.
Qualifying Round (16-18 October 2020)
- Group A: Kaunas Hockey (LTU), Barca Hockey (ESP), Skautafelag Akureyrar (ISL, hosts), HC Bam Yat (ISR)
- Group B: Crvena Zvezda Belgrade (SRB), Mladost Zagreb (CRO), Buz Beykoz Istanbul (TUR). Irbis-Skate Sofia (BUL, hosts).
Group Stage (13-15 November 2020)
- Group C: Yertis Pavlodar (KAZ), Amiens Gothiques (FRA, hosts), Ferencvarosi TC (HUN), 2nd-place team Group B.
- Group D: Sheffield Steelers (GBR), Asiago Hockey (ITA, hosts), Club TBC (UKR), 2nd-place team Group A.
- Group E: Shakhtyor Soligorsk (BLR), Olimp Riga (LAT), Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO, hosts), Winner Group B.
- Group F: Unia Oswiecim (POL), Frederikshavn White Hawks (DEN, hosts), SC Miercurea Ciuc (ROU), Winner Group A.
Final (8-10 January 2021)
- Winners of groups C, D, E and F, to be hosted by one of the finalists.