Release from 05.07.2018

Alps Hockey League heads into the third season

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After a successful second campaign, the Board of Governors has finally approved the mode for the 2018-19 season. 17 teams go about the title race with more games than ever before. With Hockey Milano Rossoblu a city with much hockey tradition and winning history joins Alps Hockey League. The Milanesi replace HC Neumarkt Riwega, who had to withdraw their entry for economic reasons.
 

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Seven Italian, seven Austrian and the two Slovenian clubs of last season confirmed their participation for the 2018-19 Alps Hockey League campaign. With Hockey Milano Rossoblu another Italian team completes the starting field. The Milanesi, who have much hockey tradition (since 1924) and winning history, are the league's first city with over one million inhabitants. They make their AHL debut on September 15 with a home game against VEU Feldkirch. On first game day of the 2018-19 season there are seven more matches with champion Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey travelling to Red Bull Hockey Juniors. The final season schedule with all starting times will be fixed until August 15.
 
Exciting mode, longer playoffs
The Alps Hockey League season 2018-19 is split in two phases. In the regular season the teams play a double round robin of 32 games for every club against each other. The eight additional local games per team complete the regular season. It's about important points for the overall table and also for the national championships of the three participating federations. During the regular season the inner-Italian games - the first home and away game between two Italian sides: in total 56 games - count for Alps hockey League and also for an own Italian standings with the four best teams qualifying for the Italian Final Four, where it’s about the „Scudetto“. The same principle applies to the seven Austrian sides who will find their red-white-red champion in the end of January, too. In addition, the first two league matches between Jesenice and Ljubljana count for the Slovenian championship as well.
 
As last year there are additional games in four local groups at four resp. five teams around Christmas time. The teams who are in a group of four got an additional opponent for two extra games (home and away) by draw. 
 
After 340 games - 40 per club - twelve teams go through to playoffs for the first time in AHL history. While the four best-placed teams are qualified for quarterfinals, the clubs between places 5 and 12 play a round of 16 in "best of three". Then, the postseason continues as last campaign: Semifinals are played in a “best-of-five” mode, while the quarters and finals will be "best-of-seven". The champion of Alps Hockey League 2018-19 will be crowned in up to 397 games.
 
Alps Hockey League provides more moving images
After live streams, moving images and highlights have been made availbale to fans last season, the league has significantly increased the offer for the upcoming campaign. The 17 teams fully committed to produce highlights of every home game to show the fans of Alps Hockey League even more moving images.  
 
Alexander Gruber (Member Boarf of Governors): „The participation of Milano in Alps Hockey League shows the great interest in our league. Last season's entry of Ljubljana was an enhancement for AHL. With Milano we are happy to welcome a city with over one million inhabitants. I think the top teams of Austria will be capable of closing the gap to the top. The new mode will make the championship even more interesting and the fans can look forward to lots of hockey action.“
 
Tommaso Teofoli (Member Board of Governors): „There is great expectation and confidence for the third edition of Alps Hockey League. This tournament is proving to have the right characteristics to be even more intense, exciting and engaging. I am convinced that the third year will be the real one of the take-off. There is the great news of Milan that has all the requirements to give a big boost to the whole championship. Personally my goal within the Board is a yearly improvement to become a real talent pool in the heart of Europe.“
 
Dejan Kontrec (Member Board of Governors): "The league's future is important for all our national teams with the clubs developing young players. We talked a lot about the mode and have found the best solution for teams, fans and media. Every year we have small adjustments as it's important to go forward. The game highlights are a good example with fans having the chance to watch all the teams play. I think that the teams at the top will come closer once again.“