Release from 16.12.2024

Alps Hockey League returns with four games from international break

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After no games were scheduled in the Alps Hockey League last week, it's back to business as usual. A total of four games are scheduled for Tuesday. Among others, league leaders EK Die Zeller Eisbären will face HC Meran/o Pircher and KHL Sisak plays at S.G. Cortina Hafro.

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League leader Zell am See currently have a four-point lead over their closest rivals Kitzbühel. On Tuesday, the “Polar Bears” will host HC Meran/o Pircher, who are in eleventh place and beat Celje 3:2 before the break. Prior to that, the South Tyroleans suffered four defeats in a row. They have not won away from home since October 27 and four games. Zell have won their last three games and have only conceded two defeats in their last 15 games. The Pinzgau side won their first match of the season against Merano 6:1 at home. Jarrod Skalde will no longer be on the head coach of Merano. The double burden of his work at HC Meran and his duties as coach of the Japanese national team has become increasingly demanding. Jarrod wants to concentrate on the Japanese senior national team and the preparations for the U20 World Championship in the future, HCM announced in a press release. Assistant coach Christian Borgatello will temporarily take over the position of head coach.

EC Bregenzerwald is the second Austrian team to play a home game on Tuesday. The team from Vorarlberg will face HC Gherdeina valgardena.it. The South Tyroleans won 4:2 at home in the first game of the season. However, Val Gardena are currently not in good form, with just two wins from their last ten games. They are bottom of the table with 23 points. Bregenzerwald, who also have 23 points, are immediately ahead of them. The ECB have failed to win their last three games, but with four wins from their last ten games they are currently in slightly better form than Gherdeina, who strengthened their squad with Finnish forward Emil Oskanen during the break.

In the clash between Hockey Unterland Cavaliers and SIJ Acroni Jesenice, the fourth-placed team in the table (JES) will play at the eighth-placed team in the table (CAV). The Slovenians defeated Ritten 5:3 before the break. It was one of three wins from the last five encounters. Unterland defeated Merano 4:3/OT at home before the break. Before that, the South Tyroleans had suffered three defeats in a row. The Cavaliers do not have fond memories of their first clash of the season with Jesenice. Jesenice clearly won 9:2 in front of their home crowd. The 2023 AHL champions were 4:0 ahead after just 14 minutes.

In the fourth game of the day, S.G. Cortina Hafro will take on KHL Sisak. Both teams currently have 34 points and are in fifth (SIS) and sixth (SGC) place. Important points are at stake in the battle for the Master Round and direct playoff qualification. Both teams celebrated two wins before the international break. For league newcomers Sisak, it was their first success after six defeats in a row. Tuesday's clash will also be the last encounter between the two teams for the time being. So far, the away team has always prevailed, Sisak in Cortina with 8:4 and Cortina in Sisak with 4:2. On the Croatian side, league top goalscorer Bruno Idzan will be sorely missed from now on. The 18-year-old has moved to the Lincoln Stars in the USHL.

Alps Hockey League:
Tuesday, 17.12.2024:
19:30: EC Bregenzerwald – HC Gherdeina valgardena.it
Referees: HOLZER, HUBER, Divis, Jäger. | >> valcome.tv <<

19:30: EK Die Zeller Eisbären – HC Meran/o Pircher
Referees: HLAVATY, UNTERWEGER, Legat, Seewald J. | >> valcome.tv <<

20:00: Hockey Unterland Cavaliers – SIJ Acroni Jesenice
Referees: LAZZERI, PINIE, Abeltino, Brondi. | >> valcome.tv <<

20:30: S.G. Cortina Hafro – KHL Sisak
Referees: BAJT, MOSCHEN, Cristeli, Markizeti. | >> valcome.tv <<