Nottingham Panthers are ready to jet off to Denmark as they try and repeat their amazing feat of 2015 when they became the first British Ice Hockey team to win a major European Trophy as they face three group stage ties in the Continental Cup this weekend for a place in the finals in January.

The Panthers go in to the competition in great form off the back of 5 straight victories with defenceman Brian Connolly stating “we’re looking forward to the challenge” Connolly who’ll be making his first appearances in the tournament has previously played Champions League Hockey and is aware of the qualities of the European game but told Panthers Radio “we need to focus on what makes us successful and play our game and go from there”.

The Panthers face up against Gothiques d’Amiens on Friday before facing off against Ferencvarosi TC a day later and finally they play Sonderjyske on Sunday but who are these opponents and how good are they? We reveal them one by one below.

Gothiques d’Amiens

Where are they from? Amiens, France

How good are they? Currently third in the Ligue Magnus having won 10 of their 16 games losing their last match to Angers 7-2 they have twice won the top tier in France in 1999 and 2004 and previously played the Panthers in 2016/17 pre-season with Nottingham coming out on top 5-3.

Players to watch? Canadian forwards Phillipe Halley and Tommy Giroux both have 25 points this season in the league but 6ft3in left winger Jeremie Romand has most goals with 11 and plays for the French National Team.

When is Face Off? Friday 15^th November 2019 @16:00 GMT

How can I watch it? The live YouTube feed is available on matchday by clicking here

Ferencvarosi TC

Where are they from? Budapest, Hungary

How good are they? One of the most famous teams in Hungary with 26 OB I bajnoksag titles and 13 cup wins Ferencvaros currently lie second in the Erste Liga having won 11 matches from 18 played.

Players to watch? Hungarian forward Gergo Nagy has 11 goals and 14 assists this season whilst Canadian Myles Fitzgerald has 13 goals. Finnish defencemen Lauri Karmeniemi, Jere Pulli and Anssi Rantanen have helped the team to the best defence in the league this year.

When is Face Off? Saturday 16^th November 2019 @16:00 GMT

How can I watch it? The live YouTube feed is available on matchday by clicking here

Sonderjyske Ishockey

Where are they from? Vojens, Denmark

How good are they? Currently mid table in the Danish Metal Ligaen they ended a three game losing streak by beating bottom of the table Odense last time out and have nine Danish titles to their name and a bronze placed finish in the Continental Cup in 2011.

Players to watch? The team have averaged under 2.7 goals a game this season with Danish Forwards Frank Steffen and Daniel Nielsen both netting five but the one to watch is American defenceman Mike Little who has 13 assists and 4 goals to his name and is also a big reason to why the side don’t concede too many either.

When is Face Off? Sunday 17^th November 2019 @19:30 GMT

How can I watch it? The live YouTube feed is available on matchday by clicking here

*Please note all games will be played at the Fros Arena in Vojens Denmark with live action available on the day via YouTube.

*Main image @PanthersIHC the first time Nottingham Panthers won the competition was five years ago.