Champions league ice hockey is coming to the city after Nottingham Panthers accepted a wildcard invitation to participate in the newly formed competition during its inaugural campaign.
The Panthers competed in the Continental Cup last season and reached the 'semi-final' stage, where they narrowly missed out on progressing further in Italy.
But now the club will compete alongside some of the top teams in Europe in the new Champions Hockey League in what will be the highest level of club competition ever staged in this country or competed in by the Panthers.
Elite League winners Belfast Giants were set to take the spot but decided to turn down the chance, giving Challenge Cup winners Panthers the opportunity to step into their place – this after the tournament organisers expanded the 2014-15 season from 40 to 44 teams.
And Corey Neilson's men have been included as one of four new teams alongside Briancon Diables Rouge of France, Danish outfit SønderjyskE Vojens and Vålerenga Oslo from Norway.
They join the top teams from Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, Finland, Austria and Czech Republic and will find out who they will face when the draw for the group stages is made on May 21.
Panthers will face three other teams home and away from August 21 to October 7, before the top 16 teams then qualify for the play-off stages in November, with the eventual final on February 3.
It has been confirmed Panthers will look to play their home games from August 21-24 and on September 23, pending what happens with the draw.
And coach Neilson told the club he is excited at the prospect of taking the Panthers into a new frontier.
"It'll be fun, it's definitely a new challenge for us. The Continental Cup experience, even thought it was taxing physically, we learned a lot from," he said.
"I'm excited to do it all again. I've sneakily started to spread the word around with some import players and they're excited about the possibility of joining us and being involved in such an event to showcase their talents.
"It's going to be a long summer but I'm excited about the task ahead.
"In the Continental Cup, I thought for a bounce here or there we could have progressed. But this is even more of a step up and playing against these type of teams should be pretty special.
"As long as we do our thing and we have identity as a hockey club then hopefully we can compete at a good level."
Panthers GM Gary Moran added: "Last season we had six games in the Continental Cup, winning four and losing two, each by a single goal.
"We are thrilled to be able to move on a level with this invitation. Our inclusion is great for the sport in the UK, it will be exciting for our fans and it is a great honour for our club to once again fly the flag."
Some of the existing founder clubs include Red Bull Salzburg, Sparta Prague, IFK Helsinki, Adler Mannheim, ZSC Lions Zurich and Frölunda Gothenburg.
