With the third round complete, four teams have advanced to the IIHF Continental Cup Super Final and three clubs – Yertis Pavlodar, Angers Ducs and Neman Grodno – remain in contention for a CHL wildcard berth.

by Derek O'Brien

The four finalists for the 2015 IIHF Continental Cup – and three remaining contenders for a CHL wildcard berth – are known. The third round concluded on Sunday in Ritten, Italy and Angers, France. From Rittern, Yertis Pavlodar of Kazakhstan and Fischtown Penguins Bremerhaven of Germany have advanced, while Neman Grodno of Belarus and the host Ducs are moving forward from Angers. The winner of the Continental Cup will play in the 2015–16 Champions Hockey League, with the exception of Bremerhaven, who are not eligible because they don't play in the highest tier of hockey in their home country.

Pavlodar won all three games in Group D by a combined score of 11–3 to advance with little problem. They had already clinched a spot in the next round after their second win, but completed their perfect record with a 4–0 win over host Ritten Sport. That, combined with Bremerhaven's 2–1 win over Blue Fox Herning of Denmark helped put Bremerhaven through and eliminate Ritten. Canadian forward Andrew McPherson provided the difference in both of his Bremerhaven's wins – he scored the shootout-winner in their decision over Ritten, which provided the necessary points difference, then scored the game-winner in the 48th minute against Herning. Slovak Martin Hujsa led all Group D scorers with four points on two goals and two assists.

Things were a lot tighter in Group E, as Angers, Grodno and the Belfast Giants of Great Britain finished in a three-way tie with six points each. While Angers won the group with the best goal difference (plus-4), while Grodno took second by scoring more goals than Belfast (7–3). A pair of Canadians – forward Cody Campbell with seven points and former NHL goaltender Jean-Sébastien Aubin – led the French club into the next round.

The Continental Cup Super Final will be played 9 – 11 January, with the location still to be announced by the IIHF. Whoever finishes highest between Pavlodar, Angers and Grodno will earn a spot in next season's Champions Hockey League.