Euro Round-Up: International break and new restrictions

Photo: Scott Wiggins

This past week saw the last rounds of games across most European leagues before the November international break.

The break itself has become somewhat of a hot potato, with several countries pulling out of travelling abroad for tournaments and different teams being reluctant to release players in the current situation.

After an excellent start to the season, it was a quiet week for Rasmus Bjerrum who didn't pick up any points for Esbjerg, although his team did manage four points from six and stay third overall. Marc LeFevre's Odense continue to struggle at the wrong end of the table, and in a no-points week for Mike Hammond the team lost both of their games by a combined score of 10-3.

Former Blaze man Andrew Johnston notched a goal and two assists for Bordeaux in their rout of Brainçon, a game which also had an assist for Luke Ferrara. Evan Mosey and Gap have now not played since 20 October.

On the subject of no games, there was another week off for Sam Herr and Gleason Fournier in Austria. The ICEHL cancelled every game last week meaning the majority of teams have now sat out a fortnight due to Coronavirus cases among teams. Over the weekend, the authorities in Austria announced a ban on any spectators in arenas, and the league does not expect to have any further fixtures until at least 10 November. Elsewhere in Europe, the Czech Republic has now been without any sport taking place for a month under the government's current regulations.

In Hungary, Kyle Just scored a pair for Újpest but it wasn't enough to deny Davey Phillips' Dunaújvaros their third two-point win of the season. The 'Steel Bulls' have yet to win a game in regulation after seven played, but got the win in this one thanks to two goals from another former Steeler Martin St. Pierre. 

Up in Norway, Joey Martin was again among the goal scorers but couldn't stop Stavanger falling to two more defeats. He scored shorthanded in a 7-2 thrashing to Stjernen, and his team remain in the relegation places. Former Devil Mark Louis played his first two gamers for Dukla Michalovce and although he didn't register any points, the team won both games and are joint top.

Finally, Mike Cazzola was 1+1 with an assist for Brett Perlini as well in Val Pusteria's 4-3 win against Fassa in the Alps League.