Release from 10.02.2020
On Tuesday, the Alps Hockey League continues, as twelve teams – separated in two groups – fight for two more Playoff spots in the Qualification Round A and B. The six teams of the Master Round have two more days off after the IIHF break and open their final phase of the Regular Season on Thursday.
Alps Hockey League, Qualification Round A:
Tu, 11.02.2020, 7.15 pm: Red Bull Hockey Juniors – Vienna Capitals Silver
Referees: FAJDIGA, PAHOR, Bergant, Miklic.
After defending the Austrian national Alps Hockey League championship during the IIHF break, the Red Bull Hockey Juniors head into Qualification Round A facing the Vienna Capitals Silver. Both teams fight for one remaining spot in the playoffs, with Salzburg starting the Intermediate Round with two bonus points. The hosts have a six-game points streak available, winning four, while Vienna closed the Regular Season with three consecutive losses. After the “Caps” won the first season encounter 4:3 thanks to a huge last frame, the Salzburg side took revenge with a 8:1 blowout in the second meeting. The hosts did not lose at home after regulation since October 24th, grabbing points in all past ten games.
- Losing-Streak VCS: 3
- H2H AHL: 1:1
Tu, 11.02.2020, 7.30 pm: EHC Lustenau – HC Gherdeina valgardena.it
Referees: GAMPER, LEGA, Kainberger, Wimmler.
The EHC Lustenau hosts HC Gherdeina valgardena.it after losing the final of the Austrian national Alps Hockey League championship. Despite a clear home-win on the last gameday of the Regular Season, the Vorarlberg side dropped to Qualification Round A being top-ranked with four bonus points. The South Tyrolean head with one extra point in the Intermediate Round arriving after three losses prior the International Break. Gherdeina’s top-scorer Matt Wilkins and Bradley McGowan were responsible for both wins against the Austrians during the Regular Season. Prior that Lustenau had a six-game winning streak. With seven losses straight, Gherdeina struggled on the road lately, while Lustenau lost only three out of the past 14 home games.
- Winning-Streak EHC: 2
- Losing-Streak GHE: 3
- H2H AHL: 7:3 (EHC)
Tu, 11.02.2020, 8.00 pm: Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan – EC-KAC II
Referees: HUBER, STEFENELLI, Eisl, Pace.
Second-ranked Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan open the Intermediate Round with a home game against EC-KAC II. Sterzing came out short in the final race for the Master Round, although it closed the Regular Season with four consecutive wins, winning the last 4:3 against the upcoming opponent thanks to a brace of Ivan Deluca. The Austrians, which arrive after three losses in a row, won only one meeting with the “Broncos” (3:1 on October, 24th), but never snatched up a road-win at Weihenstephan Arena. In front of their crowd, the South Tyrolean won six out of the last eight games. Together with Master Round leader HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana the “Broncos” had the best PK available in the Regular Season (84,5%).
- Winning-Streak WSV: 4
- Losing-Streak KA2: 3
- H2H AHL: 9:1 (WSV)
Alps Hockey League, Qualification Round B:
Tu, 11.02.2020, 7.30 pm: VEU Feldkirch – EC Bregenzerwald
Referees: HOLZER, LAZZERI, Cristeli, Martin.
On Tuesday, Qualification Round B opens with a Vorarlberg derby as the VEU Feldkirch hosts EC Bregenzerwald. While the VEU battled until the very last second for a spot in the Master Round, the “Wälder” finished the Regular Season on 16th position. So Feldkirch heads into the Intermediate Round with three bonus points, the ECB starts with zero points, as they struggled lately, winning only one out of the past nine games. In Alps Hockey League history the VEU won all six meetings on home ice and ten overall. But the “Wälder” snatched up a 4:3 victory in the last encounter on December 27th, which was Bregenzerwald’s second last win. At hosts side Robin Soudek is about to come back after a hand injury suffered about six weeks ago. The forward is VEU’s best scorer, as he collected 26 goals and 21 assists in 23 games.
- Losing-Streak VEU: 3
- H2H AHL: 10:2 (VEU)
Tu, 11.02.2020, 7.30 pm: EK Die Zeller Eisbären – Steel Wings Linz
Referees: LEHNER, LESNIAK, Javornik, Schonaklener.
After grabbing two bonus points in the Regular Season the EK Die Zeller Eisbären target the last remaining spot in the Alps Hockey League Playoffs as they open Qualification Round B with a home-game against the Steel Wings Linz. The “polar bears” closed the Regular Season with only one win out of five games, while the Upper Austrians took one single win in the whole season. With Benjamin Lanzinger and Philip Putnik scoring in each game, the Salzburg side won both season-meetings.
- Losing-Streak EKZ: 2
- Losing-Streak SWL: 29
Tu, 11.02.2020, 8.30 pm: SHC Fassa Falcons – EC “Die Adler” Stadtwerke Kitzbühel
Referees: BENVEGNU, PINIE, De Zordo, Mantovani.
The top-ranked team in Qualification Round B – with four bonus points on the side – SHC Fassa Falcons hosts EC “Die Adler” Stadtwerke Kitzbühel. Both teams closed the Regular Season with a road loss each, as Fassa got defeated by Lustenau (2:7) and Kitbühel losing at Asiago (3:14). All previous meetings of these two teams in the Alps Hockey League were won by the home team. While the Italian side won the past four home games straight, the Austrians won only one out of the past six road games.