Tue 17 Mar 2026 - 5:30PM
BETTERIDGE ON 'SPECIAL OCCASION' CUP FINAL
Forward Ollie Betteridge says Wednesday's Challenge Cup Final will be a very special occasion as Nottingham Panthers and Coventry Blaze go head-to-head at the Motorpoint Arena for the first domestic silverware of the season.
Panthers beat arch-rivals Sheffield Steelers over two legs in the semi-finals which started with a 3-0 victory in Nottingham in the first game as Kevin Carr secured a 26-shot shutout.
In the second leg in Sheffield, Steelers led 4-1 to take the game to overtime before a top-shelf finish from Bryan Lemos 25 seconds into overtime put Panthers in the final with a 5-4 aggregate victory.
The Blaze booked their place in the final thanks to a superb 6-3 victory on the road at Belfast Giants which secured a 9-5 success on aggregate.
Betteridge said: "It's hard to put into words the excitement around the whole dressing room and the fanbase.
"Coventry are going to come into the building and put up a huge fight. It's going to be a great game. They are a great hockey club.
"We have already seen how good they are and how well they've played, so we need to be at our best.
"It's been 10 years since we have been in a Challenge Cup Final so to be in another one is pretty huge, not only for us players but for the club in general."
Betteridge was part of the the Challenge Cup Final-winning roster in 2016 when Panthers last won the competition.
Evan Mosey scored the overtime winner as Panthers beat Cardiff Devils 1-0 in the Sheffield Arena.
"It was a whirlwind of emotions that night but it's crazy to think it was 10 years ago," continued Betteridge. "What an unbelievable experience it was, being so young.
"I just remember Mose (Evan Mosey) scoring the OT winner and skating half the ice to have that huge hug with Miika (Wiikman). What a team and what a memory that is to cherish."
The Panthers locker-room corridor has framed team photos of previous trophy-winning teams and Betteridge say it's an inspiration to see it every day.
"You walk down that corridor every day and sometimes you have to pinch yourself with so many amazing teams and cool memories," said Betteridge.
"Being able to share the ice with a lot of those players over the years has been special. To be able to think about those memories, those huge games, the accomplishments, the playoffs, the league, the Challenge Cups, the Continental Cups - it's incredible.
"Wednesday night is a huge thing for all of us and all of us are excited."
Follow the Challenge Cup Final on TV and radio
If you weren't lucky enough to get a ticket for the final, you can follow the action on TV, online and radio.
Fans can watch live on Premier Sports and more information about how to subscribe is on their website here.
The Premier Sports coverage - led by Aaron Murphy and former Panthers player and coach Paul Adey - will also be available on the Elite League TV website both in the UK and overseas.
The game is priced at £18 and can be purchased here. Coverage on all platforms gets under way at 19:00 with all the pre-match build-up including interviews from both camps.
BBC Radio Nottingham will have full-match commentary on the final on 103.8fm, 95.5fm and digital radio.
It will also be available online here and their coverage gets under way at 19:00.